Montessori schools are a unique way to learn. You’ll find that a Montessori classroom is a lot like the home you live in, and it’s clean, safe, and full of things that are interesting to the child.
What is Montessori all about? Montessori schools are focused on the ideas of Dr. Maria Montessori, who was an Italian educator and physician in the early 1900s. Dr. Montessori’s philosophy of education focuses on independence, freedom within limits, and respect for a child’s natural psychological development.
Today there are many schools worldwide that practice the Montessori philosophy of education, and indeed it’s been around for a while to be considered a movement.
Below is what Montessori is all about.
Observe How the Child Interacts With Their Environment
It observes how the child interacts with their environment. How does the child approach new situations? What are their interests? Can they remain focused for more than a few minutes? Do they follow instructions well and work independently, or does he need constant supervision and direction from an adult?
These are some of the many things to consider when determining whether or not your child would benefit from a Montessori education.
If you’re not convinced about any of these factors, it may be worth exploring whether or not this type of schooling would be a good fit for you and your family.
Follow the Child’s Lead in Their Development
In Montessori schools, teachers follow the children’s lead in their development.
They do not push the child to learn subjects they are not interested in or are not ready for.
It is up to the child Instead to choose what they want to do at that time and how they want to learn it.
For example, if a child wants to write their name on something but doesn’t know how yet (such as holding a pencil correctly and forming letters), then they will be taught how through gentle guidance and positive reinforcement.
When teaching math concepts through stories or hands-on activities, children are encouraged by teacher guidance when working independently with material such as playing cards or constructing models of things like clocks or animal habitats.
Offer a Prepared Environment
You may be wondering what “prepared environment” means, and it’s exactly what it sounds like, an environment that the teacher and parents have prepared in advance to assist your child in learning.
The teacher and parents set up Montessori materials for students to use at any time, throughout their day as needed or desired (but not too often).
These materials provide a lot of support for your child’s natural curiosity by giving them opportunities to learn about themselves, their world, and what they are capable of doing.
Encourage the Development of Concentration, Coordination, and Independence
Montessori schools encourage the development of concentration, coordination, and independence. This includes encouraging each child to work at their own pace.
The Montessori philosophy emphasizes developing an individual’s mental, physical and emotional capabilities through self-directed learning.
The school’s curriculum is based on Maria Montessori’s observations about children during her time working with them in Italy.
She found that young children respond well to environments that offer freedom and choice when it comes to learning activities.
Children are always curious about their surroundings, so they tend to explore new things when given the opportunity rather than being directed by adults who think they know what’s best for them.
Give Consistent Loving Care
Montessori curriculum and method are based on the premise that children are born innocent and that we need to provide them with a supportive environment to grow into their full potential as adults.
This means giving consistent, loving care throughout the day.
The teachers at Montessori schools are trained to provide for this environment by creating a relationship with each child, who develops an attachment bond with their teacher.
The teacher-student relationship is vital because it allows for profound learning experiences that cannot be achieved through other education methods (such as lectures).
Montessori Schools Focus on each individual’s needs Student
Flexibility
With a Montessori approach, teachers have more control over students’ time on various tasks and activities.
They can adapt the curriculum according to each student’s strengths and weaknesses. This means every child has an opportunity to learn at their own pace.
Choice
In addition to freedom from standard testing, students in Montessori schools often enjoy much more choice than their peers in traditional settings.
They’re given more say over what they study throughout the day and how they learn best (alone or with a partner). This gives them greater autonomy over their education, and it also helps foster self-assurance and positive attitudes toward learning itself.
Trained and Qualified Teachers
Rather than trying to teach all children the same way, Montessori educators spend time getting to know each child and their interests and then use this knowledge to help guide their learning.
Montessori classrooms are also designed to be flexible, allowing students to choose how to work and what materials they want to use.
Conclusion
In a nutshell, Montessori schools are all about supporting the development of children through their own personal interests.
By fostering a love of learning and self-directed exploration, they provide their students with an environment that will prepare them to succeed in school and life.
And as we’ve learned, this unique approach can be a powerful thing. If you feel you want to know more about how these schools work or whether one might be suitable for your child, or if you wish to learn some more about Dr. Montessori herself, we encourage you to do some in-depth research.
FAQs
Do Montessori students do better? Yes, this is because Montessori focuses on an individual student, thereby learning about the student and effective ways to help the kid perform better.
Does Montessori have homework? Homework in Montessori is what children do at home to help them continue to explore more about what they learned in school on how things work and why.