Montessori Method

The Montessori method is a revolutionary educational method developed by Italian physician Maria Montessori, which focuses on developing self-directed learning habits and utilizes discovery (instead of instruction) as the primary educational tool. Montessori’s philosophy implies exposing children early to adequate education and materials. In this text, we’ll examine why this method has been recently described as “broadly proven to lead to favorable outcomes in children’s development.”

What is the Montessori method?

Montessori education allows the children to learn at their own pace and with the material selected by themselves while the educator guides, provides knowledge, and assesses the child’s development. The teaching approach is tailored to encourage independence in performing activities and meet early childhood needs.

History of the Montessori Method

Maria Montessori created the Montessori Method at the end of the 19th century after a few years of working as a pedagogical researcher. She realized that the traditional pedagogical methods employed to educate young minds had counterproductive effects and that a new approach was needed.

7 Principles Of The Montessori Method

• Free Choice: More responsibility is taken on a child's behalf when they are given the freedom to choose their own learning path.
• Order: Recent examination of the optimal learning environment has concluded that the order in which the child experiences said environment can scale or inhibit the learning effect.
• Interest: Psychological and pedagogical researchers agree that a child’s genuine interest in the subject positively impacts the adoption of the material.
• Movement: Children learn through interaction with the environment, and the movement allows them to experience what’s out there.
• Context: Traditional teaching methods emphasize learning by memorizing and repeating. Montessori classrooms emphasize learning by doing.
• Learning From Peers: The Montessori method utilizes this trait and lets children learn from each other.
• Teacher's Guidance: Teachers in Montessori schools are meant to respond to child's needs while maintaining high expectations.

How is the Montessori method used today?

One hundred years ago, Maria Montessori taught a single schoolroom of underprivileged children in Rome. This classroom would go down in history as the first classroom that experienced the Montessori method first-hand. Since then, Montessori education has become one of the most influential forces in the modern educational landscape.

How to apply the Montessori method at home – 5 tips:

1. Empower Your Child: Teach your kid how to do some basic tasks it’s capable of, like pouring a glass of milk, putting away the dishes in the lower cabinets, or tying their shoes.
2. Encourage Your Child To Learn: Children are natural explorers who always search for new ways to discover the world around them.
3. Set An Example That’s Worth Imitating: One of the key components of Montessori education is learning through imitation.
4. Make Good Habits Easy To Start…
5. Turn Your Child’s Playroom Into A Montessori Learning Space: Psychology and pedagogy experts have developed Montessori toys that are specifically made to encourage creativity, self-directed learning, and zeal for knowledge.

Is the Montessori method effective?

Research attests that there are some definite advantages to Montessori education. Children grow up to be more self-directed, disciplined, and concentrated.

Famous Montessori Alumni

• Larry Page and Sergey Brin, co-founders of Google.com
• Jeff Bezos, financial analyst, founder, Amazon.com
• Katherine Graham, owner/editor of the Washington Post
• Prince William and Prince Harry, English royal family
• Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis, editor, former first lady (John F. Kennedy)
• Julia Child, famous chef, star of many TV cooking shows and author of numerous cookbooks
• Anne Frank, famous diarist from World War II
• Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Nobel Prize winner for Literature
• Berry Brazelton, noted pediatrician and author
• Friedensreich Hundertwasser, Austrian painter and architect
• George Clooney, Academy Award-winning actor
• Kami Cotler, actress (youngest child on long-running series The Waltons)
• Melissa and Sarah Gilbert, actors
• Elizabeth Berridge, actress (Constanze in Amadeus)

Pros and cons of the Montessori method

Pros:

• From an early age, Montessori education reinforces order, concentration and independence.
• Montessori students experience more freedom throughout their education.
• Children develop more adaptive social and emotional skills as well.

Cons:

• Finding the right Montessori educational institution in your area can be difficult.
• Montessori schools are generally more expensive than traditional ones.
• Implementing these methods in your home requires a lot of effort on your side.