Montessori Philosophy

I am so impressed with the training so far! I've loved leanring the philosophy behind the method , and what influenced Dr. Montessori to create the methodology that she did.

Here are the basics of Montessori Phillosophy:

What is Montessori?

• Montessori is a HANDS ON learning environment where children work with MATERIALS,  to develop a CONCRETE UNDERSTANDING of the world, then move to the ABSTRACT CONCEPT. Children learn at their OWN RATE through SEQUENTIAL CURRICULUM with INDIVIDUAL INSTRUCTION. Montessori offers a GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE where children develop RESPONSIBILITY and INDEPENDENCE through CHOICE and RESPECT.

 

What are the Elements to a Montessori Education?

• Auto-education
• The children teach themselves. You give the lesson and then get out of the way, observe and take notes, but let the child use the material to teach themselves.
• Control of error- child can check their own work to see if they're correct and not ask the teacher

• Didactic Materials
• Designed to teach a specific concept.
• Isolation of difficulty. There is only 1 skill they are trying to learn.
• Ex. pink tower. Isolation of difficulty is the fact that they are ONLY trying to discriminate  it by SIZE (not shape or color too)
• Ex. all geometric solids are the same size and blue

• Individualized education
• "follow the child" philosophy. You give the child WHAT they need WHEN they need it, regardless of what your schedule is
• Makes it so INTEREST does not stagnate and also they are not pushed beyond interest or ability

• Prepared environment
• Geared 100% to the child. Few if any materials should be in the classroom that are off-limits to the child.
• Promotes ownership.
• Everything is child size and inviting to the child

• Teacher as a guide
• It is the teacher's job to guide, not direct. "it is our job to shed a ray of light and be on our way.
• "we are not the sage on the stage but the guide on the side"

 

 

 

What are the areas of study in a Montessori Curriculum?

• Practical Life
• Sensorial
• Math
• Language
• Cultural
• History
• Geography
• Botany
• Zoology
• Science
• Art
• Music
• Movement

To learn more about the philosophy for yourself, check out some of these books. This is also the list required of trainees to read during their training.

• Secret of Childhood
• Discovery of the Child
• Montessori- A Modern Approach
• The Absorband Mind
• The Montessori Method
• Maria Montessori- Her life and work

Psssst! the Absorbant Mind and The MOntessori Method are FREE if you download them from google books (the Montessori Method) or for the kindle (The Absorbant Mind)


I do more on the Philosophy of the Learner and the Role of the Learner next.
Thanks for reading, please feel free to post your comments and questions!