Montessori method – rules and aids. Montessori school and kindergarten

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Education according to the principles created by Dr. Maria Montessori quickly gained supporters in Poland and in the world. The method is based on developing children’s skills according to their individual pace of development.

1. The Montessori education method is over 100 years old
2. The name comes from the name of its author – Dr. Maria Montessori, one of the first female doctors in Italy
3. It was she who founded a school in one of the poorest districts of Rome, which was to be open to all children, regardless of their origin or wealth.
4. You can find more such stories on the TvoiLokony home page

Montessori – what is it?

Montessori is a mental shortcut referring to the Maria Montessori method. It is a teaching method that stands in opposition to the principles of traditional education. Montessorian children learn about the world through all five senseswhile in the traditional school, learning is practiced by listening, reading and observing.

The course of Montessori education is determined by the children themselves. They, having hundreds of different possibilities, choose what they want to learn – according to their own desires, interests and talents. Thus, in teaching with the Montessori method, it is possible to independently determine the direction of education and development.

See also: Is your baby developing properly?

Maria Montessori – autorka metody

The Montessori education method is over 100 years old. The name comes from the name of its author – Dr. Maria Montessori, one of the first female doctors in Italy. It was she who founded a school in one of the poorest districts of Rome, which was to be open to all children, regardless of their origin or wealth.

Initially, Dr. Maria Montessori analyzed teaching methods in children with disabilities during her work based on the knowledge of pedagogy and anthropology. It was for them that she developed an effective Montessori method program, far removed from the traditional education system. However, she soon realized that the methods worked just as well for children without disabilities.

Read: Cognitive processes – division and characteristics, cognitive processes in a child, cognitive disorders in a child

Montessori method – assumptions

The Montessori method consists in developing areas such as:

1. teacher-led observation for each child individually to identify possible obstacles to development,
2. an individual course of development according to the child’s own abilities, based on undertaking those tasks for which the student is prepared,
3. learning through spontaneous activity – Montessori teaching assumes that teachers are partners in the educational process and do not impose any actions on their charges, social rules – work in a diverse environment allows for the exchange of experiences and understanding that you must not disturb others or destroy their things, a typical Montessori school is one in which disabled children have a chance to develop together with children without intellectual dysfunctions, and there are often groups of students of different ages,
4. concentration, which manifests itself in the study of regularity and accuracy in action,
5. independence – Montessori students alone (or together with a partner) decide where, when and on what material they will work, thanks to which they can learn to assess their own skills,
6. work in silence,
7. order in your immediate environment and understanding the social order.

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Montessori – principles and goals

The Montessori method is not only about expanding knowledge, but also developing social and personal competences. Montessorian children are to be consistent and focused on their tasks, confident and curious about the world, willing to help and socially involved. The author of Montessori teaching noticed four stages of development in students to which the program is to be adapted:

1. explorer phase (up to 6 years of age),
2. the phase of conscious exploring the world (between 6 and 12 years of age),
3. the phase of finding oneself in society (between 12 and 18 years of age),
4. the phase of co-creating the world (after the age of 18).

The aim of the Montessori method is to make the student satisfied with the acquired knowledge or skills. Learning is meant to be enjoyable, not stressful. Montessori pedagogy assumes an unconditional approach – there are no penalties and rewards.

Montessori – aids

Aids are used both by Montessori schools and kindergartens. These are usually objects for fun, which at the same time work on absorbing the world with all the senses. These are simple, carefully made and safe items for children of all ages.

Montessori toys allow you to accelerate development by arousing natural curiosity, learning independence, shaping the imagination and developing logical thinking skills. These are most often mats, wooden blocks or puzzles. According to the Montessori method, materials for children should meet the following conditions:

1. be of good quality,
2. be made of natural materials,
3. present the real world (reflect reality).

This means that Montessori aids for little ones must not be fictional. The cow is black and white, not pink, and vegetables are vegetables – not mascots with eyes and a smile.

The Montessori method rejects multi-colored, plastic toys with indefinite shapes. It also distances itself from electronic gadgets, and above all from unreal superheroes and fairy-tale creatures. After all, the child will not come into contact with them in real life.

Find out more: Speech therapy – when and why it is worth visiting a speech therapist

Montessori kindergarten – rules

The Montessori kindergarten adopts the Montessori methodology, giving children space for creative play and learning. All the equipment and furniture in such a kindergarten are at the child’s height and within easy reach. It gives a sense of independence – the preschooler does not have to ask anyone for a given item.

Typically, classrooms in Montessori kindergarten are divided into 6 zones. Each of them serves to develop different skills. According to the Montessori principles, the zones concern areas such as everyday life, science and nature, culture and art, language, mathematics and the development of the senses (sensorics).

Montessori pedagogy in kindergarten omits traditional toys such as cars, teddy bears, dolls or coloring books. In the room, however, you can find household items adapted to small children, which allow you to practice manual skills, as well as the ability to organize work and time. In addition, the Montessori preschool equipment includes development materials – one-color, most often made of natural materials, teaching logical thinking and concentration.

Most of the items in the Montessori preschool classroom are available in one copy. As a result, children must learn to share, patiently wait for their turn and, above all, take up activities other than other preschoolers.

See also: Kindergarten can accelerate the development of speech in children

Montessori school – what is it?

Montessori schools are those that implement the Montessori method in their teaching. Their rooms are equipped not only with a blackboard and benches, but also objects for performing experiments, creative tasks or imitating household items.

At the Montessori school, 6-year-olds already run independent projects, organize field trips and collect information to share later. They organize exhibitions of their works, scientific projects and artistic performances. The Montessori method considers it important to familiarize children with public speaking and to alleviate the fear associated with it.

The Montessori teacher is an observer who respects the child’s choices. Its task is to adjust the course of education to the interests and abilities of the student. According to Montessori pedagogy, the child is not assessed. However, the failures of the child are not ignored, but with them comes the message that the next time the student will certainly do the task better.

The most important features of the Montessori school include:

1. no detailed timetable,
2. lack of books and exercise books,
3. groups of children of different ages (up to 3 years difference) – in Montessori school, spontaneous learning through play in a mixed-age group allows for learning from each other, and students can determine their own level of work; it is a reflection of natural social relations in which even family members are of different ages,
4. teaching aids placed on shelves in the room – they cover various fields of knowledge (mathematics, nature, language) and thematically correspond to, or even extend, the current curriculum; according to the Montessori method, the students themselves choose which field they want to deal with at a given moment,
5. materials prepared (designed and produced) on an ongoing basis by teachers, based on individual observation of students,
6. no homework – Montessori assumes that the place to acquire and verify knowledge is school; after returning home, the child should do chores or play.

Montessori and autism

The Montessori method was created as a result of the search for the most effective teaching method in children with various types of intellectual disabilities. The author’s research, however, did not cover autism, as it was not yet recognized at that time.

Today, Montessori integration is one of the most popular methods of teaching children with autism spectrum disorder. Its effectiveness is based on an individual approach and adapting the course of education to the abilities and needs of the child.

Find out more: Autism. How is it recognized and treated?

Montessori method at home

The Montessori method is increasingly used by parents at home. From the first months of a child’s life, they make sure that the toddler is surrounded by typical Montessorian aids – sensory blankets, toys made of natural materials. They also often organize home and family life according to the method.

The implementation of Montessori principles can be difficult on a daily basis because it requires the commitment and attention of the parent. Knowledge can be found in specialized Montessori textbooks. However, there are some simple ways to create space for your child. Belong to them:

1. low furniture (also the parents’ bed),
2. storing everyday objects within the reach of a child,
3. involving the child in household activities (if possible).

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