You’ve probably heard of Montessori schools, and maybe you like the idea behind them. But what is a Montessori school? What makes it different from other types of education? And what are some fundamental tenets of a Montessori education?
What is the definition of a Montessori school? A Montessori school is a type of educational institution that uses the Montessori method developed by Maria Montessori. In this method, students are given a lot of freedom and responsibility to explore their environment and learn from it.
Montessori School Philosophy
Montessori education is based on the idea that children are naturally curious and seek knowledge freely.
Montessori Work Cycle
The work cycle is a set of steps that students go through to complete a task. It includes four steps: preparation, execution, evaluation, and revision.
Preparation is the first step of the work cycle because it sets up your workspace ahead of time so you can focus on what you need to do next.
Execution means doing whatever needs to be done at that moment; this could be anything from writing down notes to washing the dishes.
Evaluation is analyzing what has been done so far and see if any changes need to be made before moving on to another step in the work cycle (this could also be called reflection).
Revision involves making changes or corrections based on what was evaluated during the evaluation. If something wasn’t done well during execution, then revision will help fix those mistakes!
What Makes Montessori Unique
Montessori schools have a unique approach to learning, but its philosophy is more universal than you might think. The Montessori method is not just for children. It can also be applied to adults and the workplace.
It’s also different from other teaching methods in that it doesn’t assume that some students are smarter or more gifted than others.
Students who attend Montessori schools learn how to work with other people instead of being competitive against them, which helps them develop their social skills as they grow up.
It wasn’t long ago that only the wealthy could afford education beyond high school (if they were lucky enough to get one). Nowadays, inexpensive or even free alternatives are available for those who need them most!
Key Tenets of a Montessori Education
Prepared Environment
This entails just about everything you see in a classroom, including materials, furniture, and toys. The purpose of the prepared environment is to provide a structure for children’s learning and development that allows them to progress at their own pace.
Mixed-Age Classroom
A mixed-age group enables teachers to meet specific developmental needs while maintaining natural social order within the classroom.
Younger children learn from observing older ones, younger ones learn from each other, and older ones learn responsibility by caring for those younger than themselves.
It also helps balance out individual attention with group activities that require cooperation among all students in the class.
Trained Montessori Teachers
Teachers who work closely with parents collaborate with peers across classrooms within an age range to create an integrated curriculum that incorporates all subjects into one activity.
This approach leads students through different levels of complexity while providing opportunities for creativity at every step along their journey towards independence.”
Practical Life Activities
Montessori education is all about practical life activities. And, as you might expect from the name, these activities are meant to be practical. They’re not just fun, but they also have real-world applications.
Practical life describes the many activities that help children take care of their environment. These include brushing teeth, feeding themselves, and dressing.
The Practical Life classroom has everything your child needs to learn these skills, including real-world tools like cups and spoons and dolls with clothes to dress or undress.
Uninterrupted Work Period
In these times, when kids have so much going on in their lives, school, homework, and sports, it can be hard for them to stay focused on one thing.
But when they’re given time and space to work on their projects, they’re more likely to learn how to focus on something for an extended period. This will help them succeed in school and life!
Montessori Learning Materials
The Montessori materials are designed to help children develop specific skills. The materials are made of high-quality materials and designed to be used by children in many different ways. For example, the wooden geometric blocks can be used to build houses, make walls and fences or create towers with roofs.
Child-Directed “Work”
Child-directed “work” is the cornerstone of Montessori education. The child’s choice of activity, method of learning, and interaction with materials are all guided by the child’s interests and curiosity.
Children develop their own interests, strengths, and passions through direct engagement with materials.
Montessori classrooms are filled with work that looks quite different from traditional school assignments or activities. They often don’t even appear to be in any sort of order at all.
But there is a very intentional approach to this seemingly chaotic arrangement. It allows each student to follow their particular path through the curriculum based on their interests and needs.
A child who wants to learn about insects may examine pictures in books for hours, and another may prefer counting tiny beads into jars over playing jacks outside with friends after lunchtime recess as long as he can still do both.
Summary
From the core philosophy that all children are capable and curious to the classroom structure that emphasizes hands-on learning, many factors contribute to the excellence of this approach.
And while there isn’t one single definition of a Montessori school, there are specific guidelines you can use when searching for the right program for your child.
FAQs
What is different about a Montessori school? Unlike the traditional schools, Montessori schools offer a multi-age-level approach where children can remain with a teacher for over 3 years.
What is the main disadvantage of the Montessori schools? Montessori schools are known to be very expensive and hence cannot be afforded by everybody in society.