Montessori schools are a different kind of learning environment. You may have heard of them, or maybe you even attended one yourself. But it is still good to understand their unique philosophy, especially if you are thinking about sending your child to a Montessori school.
What is the philosophy of Montessori school? The philosophy of the Montessori school is that children are capable of learning, and that they need to be taught in the way that works best for them.
The Montessori method is designed to foster self-confidence and independence, while providing a supportive environment where children are free to explore and discover on their own.
Some Core Principles Include Independence, Respect, Inquiry, and Exploration
According to Montessori, the best way to teach children is by allowing them to learn through their own experiences.
The Montessori is filled with materials that encourage independence, exploration, and self-direction. Children are encouraged to do things for themselves (e.g., get out of bed at morning recess) rather than being told what they should do.
This includes putting away toys or cleaning up after playtime when there is no adult present in the room.
They are also treated equally regardless of gender or race, no child is singled out or given special treatment based on any factor other than their behavior (which may include asking questions).
This also means that teachers use respectful language at all times, even when correcting misbehavior, to show respect for their students’ individuality and intelligence.
Students Are Encouraged to Work at Their Own Pace and Choose Their Areas of Interest
In traditional schools, it’s more common for teachers to assign homework and other assignments that are usually completed in class under the supervision of a teacher.
Students typically work on these activities with their classmates in groups or pairs. This is how most traditional classrooms operate, students follow what the teacher says and do what they’re told.
In Montessori classrooms, students have more independence when learning (and completing) tasks. As long as they follow certain rules about following directions and maintaining good behavior in class, teachers will allow them freedom over how much time they spend doing any given task each day or week.
This includes choosing which assignment from a list best fits your current skill set. This policy promotes learning at your own pace while also giving you greater control over how much effort you put into completing an assignment.
The Montessori Classroom Has a Range of Materials for Children to Choose From
Items of interest to the child’s age
For example, if preschool-aged children are in this room, then there will be items that appeal mostly to toddlers and preschoolers. These would include building blocks, nesting cups, and puzzles.
Items of Interest to the Child’s Interests
Some children may prefer reading books about animals. In contrast, others may prefer reading stories about people who rescue puppies from burning buildings or take care of sick kittens until they get better again.
Either way works because it engages their curiosity about life outside their worldview, which is precisely why we encourage children to read and ask questions about what they’ve read so far.
Non-Montessori Schools Can Still Apply Montessori Philosophy to Classroom Practice
While the Montessori philosophy primarily applies to the classroom environment, it can be applied to other aspects of school.
The way parents support and encourage their child’s education is also a reflection of the Montessori philosophy.
A parent who encourages a child’s natural curiosity, for example, helps them develop self-motivation and independence that will benefit them throughout their lives.
Teachers can apply this same principle by ensuring our students have plenty of opportunities each day for free-choice learning. This means giving students choices about what they want to learn about, how they want to know about it (hands-on vs. reading), and how much time they want or need with each topic.
When children are provided with the freedom to choose what interests them most at any given moment without fear of judgment or criticism from adults around them.
This fosters self-confidence while allowing children time outside traditional academic subjects where they might struggle less academically but still crave personal growth opportunities just as much as any other subject area would provide.
Students Are Part of a Caring, Close Community
The community of learners is an essential aspect of Montessori education. This philosophy is that children learn best when they are part of a close, caring community.
In addition to their classroom teacher, students will usually have between two and four other teachers who teach them about specific subjects like math or science.
The philosophy also applies to the teachers in your child’s school. All Montessori teachers must go through an extensive training program before being certified as instructors.
The goal is for every student at any given time, not just the ones in their classroom, to be supported by someone who has both knowledge and experience teaching children.
Self-Correction and Self-Assessment Are an Integral Part of the Montessori Classroom Approach
One of the key differences between Montessori and traditional schools is that students learn to correct their own mistakes.
This is a crucial life skill, but it also helps students develop lasting self-confidence. In some ways, you could say that this approach promotes a sense of self-reliance and independence.
The goal is for children to evaluate their work with honesty, without any external pressure or influence from others around them, they need to know how good or bad something is without having someone else tell them so first. It’s all about teaching students to be honest with themselves from an early age.
Summary
Ultimately, the Montessori philosophy of education offers a lot to eager kids to learn and explore. It doesn’t favor every child, but it does provide some excellent tools for encouraging a lifelong love of learning.
If you believe your child might be a good fit for this educational approach, we encourage you to look into schools in your area that offer Montessori classrooms. It could very well be an ideal fit.
FAQs
What is the basic philosophy that the Montessori method is based on? It is a child-centered education approach that focuses on Scientific observation of children from their childhood through to adulthood.
Why do children need montessori training? Because montessori training will encourage children to share and work accommodatingly to explore and learn the world and how to live.