Montessori....

Who or what is Montessori?

Maria Montessori was born in chiatavale Italy in 1870. Although her father had a military background, her mother supported her to study maths, science, and medicine. From her mothers’ support and encouragement Montessori became the first woman to become a qualified doctor in Italy. Montessori dedicated her life to the study of child development and she became particularly interested in children mental disability. Bruce et al (2010)

What did Montessori do?

Montessori pioneered the way practitioners view children and their various abilities, she enabled children to take control of their own learning, actions and consequences. Montessori was the first teacher to promote the importance of the first 6 years of life. These years from birth to 6 are known as the absorbent mind. Bruce et all (2010) states that Montessori came to the conclusion ‘that children pass through sensitive periods of development when they are particularly receptive to particular areas of learning’ (p.443)

In 1906 Maria Montessori set up the first ‘Casa Dei Bambini’ (Children’s House) in a newly built estate in the San Lorenzo slum district of Rome. Montessori schools have key principles in which they follow in order to ensure that the children control their own learning and surroundings. Montessori inspired schools follow many key principles which Maria Montessori first put in place in ‘Casa Dei Bambini’ in 1906 all of which are still followed today. One of the key principles is freedom, Montessori believed that children need freedom to nurture and develop their own natural desire to learn and become a well-rounded individual within society. 

Maria Montessori Institute (2013) states that children should be allowed freedom to work and they must be able to move around within boundaries that allow them to interact as part of a social group.

Another of the key principle that Montessori schools follow is vertical grouping, this means that there is more than one age group in a class. This can have a positive effect on children’s overall development as the younger children learn from the older children and the older children have the opportunity to take on a role of a leader as it promotes and instils independence and self-discipline for all children.

‘Mixed age groups encourage all children to develop their personalities socially and intellectually at their own pace’.  Maria Montessori institute (2013)

How does Montessori’s teachings help children’s learning and development?

            Here is a YouTube clip which explains ‘how does Montessori help children’s learning and development?’

 

Montessori helped children’s learning as Montessori school do not solely focus on academics but about the child’s interests and encouraging children to developing them further. The YouTube clip explains how she developed the whole child and not just the education part of him or her. Montessori and the many of practitioners who follow Montessori’s teachings helped children become activity engaged in learning and develop inter and intrapersonal skills.

What did she leave behind?

Montessori’s theory of child development and the way in which practitioners or directors should support and encourage them to develop has spread around the world. Montessori died in 1952 but her legacy lives on as there are currently over 22,000 Montessori style schools in over 100 countries which use her teaching methods and theories today.


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