The Montessori Method The Montessori Method

Ideas to Foster the Ideas to Foster the Development of the Whole Development of the Whole

Child Child

The Montessori MethodThe Montessori Method

Dr. Montessori approached Dr. Montessori approached education with the whole education with the whole child in mind. This child in mind. This presentation explores key presentation explores key aspects of her method, and aspects of her method, and its applications inside its applications inside today’s classroom. today’s classroom.

Observe the ChildObserve the Child

Observe the ChildObserve the Child

Why: Carefully observing the child Why: Carefully observing the child helps us identify a child’s helps us identify a child’s developmental needs, and make developmental needs, and make informed decisions.informed decisions.

Observe the ChildObserve the Child

How: Set aside time to observe a child.How: Set aside time to observe a child.• How does the child interact with the How does the child interact with the

environment? With peers?environment? With peers?• What activities engage the child?What activities engage the child?• What can the child do independently?What can the child do independently?• What changes could be made in the What changes could be made in the

environment to foster independence? environment to foster independence? To provide more challenge?To provide more challenge?

Follow the ChildFollow the Child

Follow the ChildFollow the Child

Why: Dr. Montessori is clear in her own Why: Dr. Montessori is clear in her own writings that the child is to be the central writings that the child is to be the central figure around which all other decisions are figure around which all other decisions are weighed and made. The work that the child weighed and made. The work that the child accomplishes is intended to directly serve his accomplishes is intended to directly serve his or her academic, social, emotional and or her academic, social, emotional and physical needs, and so no single plan fits physical needs, and so no single plan fits every child. every child.

Odyssey MontessoriOdyssey Montessori

Follow the ChildFollow the Child

How: How:

Prepare the EnvironmentPrepare the Environment

Prepare the EnvironmentPrepare the Environment

Why: In the calm, ordered space of the Why: In the calm, ordered space of the Montessori prepared environment, Montessori prepared environment, children work on activities of their own children work on activities of their own choice at their own pace. They experience choice at their own pace. They experience a blend of freedom and self-discipline in a a blend of freedom and self-discipline in a place especially designed to meet their place especially designed to meet their developmental needs.developmental needs.

North American Montessori Teacher’s AssociationNorth American Montessori Teacher’s Association

Prepare the EnvironmentPrepare the Environment

How: How:

Entice the Child to Learn Entice the Child to Learn

Entice the Child to Learn Entice the Child to Learn

Why: Why: “The environment must be rich in motives which lend interest to activity and invite the child to conduct his own experiences.”

-Maria Montessori-Maria Montessori

Allow Freedom Within LimitsAllow Freedom Within Limits

Allow Freedom Within LimitsAllow Freedom Within Limits

Why:Why: Children are free to work at their own Children are free to work at their own pace with materials they have chosen, either pace with materials they have chosen, either alone or with others. The teacher relies on alone or with others. The teacher relies on his or her observations of the children to his or her observations of the children to determine which new activities and determine which new activities and materials may be introduced to an individual materials may be introduced to an individual child or to a small or large group. The aim is child or to a small or large group. The aim is to encourage active, self-directed learning to encourage active, self-directed learning and to strike a balance of individual mastery and to strike a balance of individual mastery within small group collaboration within the within small group collaboration within the whole group community.whole group community.----Casa MonteCasa Montessori ssori Inc.Inc.

Allow Freedom within LimitsAllow Freedom within Limits

How:How:

State Observations vs. State Observations vs. Judgments.Judgments.

State Observations vs. State Observations vs. Judgments.Judgments.

Why:Why: When we note behavior in a When we note behavior in a neutral voice, we give the child the neutral voice, we give the child the opportunity to make her own opportunity to make her own evaluations, and decide how she will evaluations, and decide how she will respond.respond.

State Observations vs. State Observations vs. Judgments.Judgments.

How:How: If a child leaves a chair pushed If a child leaves a chair pushed out, simply state your observation out, simply state your observation aloud. “I see Jessie’s chair is out. “ aloud. “I see Jessie’s chair is out. “ This gives the child the opportunity This gives the child the opportunity to evaluate the situation, and decide to evaluate the situation, and decide how to respond. The child or a how to respond. The child or a classmate have the opportunity to classmate have the opportunity to take responsibility for the situation.take responsibility for the situation.

Extinguish Negative Behavior Extinguish Negative Behavior By Limiting ChoicesBy Limiting Choices

Extinguish Negative Behavior Extinguish Negative Behavior By Limiting ChoicesBy Limiting Choices Why:Why: A number of ground rules help preserve the A number of ground rules help preserve the

order of the classroom as the students move order of the classroom as the students move about. For example, the child is free to move about. For example, the child is free to move around the classroom at will, to talk to other around the classroom at will, to talk to other children, to work with any material he children, to work with any material he understands. He is allowed to choose where he understands. He is allowed to choose where he would like to work and for how long, or to ask the would like to work and for how long, or to ask the teacher to introduce new material to him. teacher to introduce new material to him. However, a child is not allowed to interfere with However, a child is not allowed to interfere with other children at work or to mistreat the material other children at work or to mistreat the material that is so important to the child's development. that is so important to the child's development.

--- Montessori World --- Montessori World

Extinguish Negative Behavior Extinguish Negative Behavior By Limiting ChoicesBy Limiting Choices

How:How:

Employ Natural Employ Natural ConsequencesConsequences

Employ Natural Employ Natural Consequences Consequences

Why: Natural consequences motivate Why: Natural consequences motivate children to analyze situations and children to analyze situations and make decisions based on wisdom, make decisions based on wisdom, rather than make decisions based on rather than make decisions based on what they perceive the adult will do what they perceive the adult will do to them (punishment) or for them to them (punishment) or for them (reward). (reward).

Employ Natural Employ Natural Consequences Consequences

How: How:

Provide Logical Provide Logical Consequences Consequences

Provide Logical Provide Logical Consequences.Consequences.

Why: Although natural consequences Why: Although natural consequences work, they may be too severe to be work, they may be too severe to be reasonable or too time delayed to be reasonable or too time delayed to be effective. In such cases, logical effective. In such cases, logical consequences can be provided.consequences can be provided.

Provide Logical Provide Logical Consequences.Consequences.

How:How:

Utilize Multi-age Groups.Utilize Multi-age Groups.

Utilize Multi-age Groups.Utilize Multi-age Groups.Why:Why: Dr. Montessori advocated a three year Dr. Montessori advocated a three year

span so students could go through a span so students could go through a learning cycle: learning cycle:

• NoviceNovice• PractitionerPractitioner• MasterMaster This cycle allows students to have support This cycle allows students to have support

as they learn new skills, practice skills until as they learn new skills, practice skills until mastery, and then mentor younger mastery, and then mentor younger students. Research suggest that students students. Research suggest that students retain 80% of what they learn when they retain 80% of what they learn when they are given the opportunity to teach others.are given the opportunity to teach others.

Utilize Multi-age Groups.Utilize Multi-age Groups.

How: How:

Novice, practitioner, masterNovice, practitioner, master

Retain 8o%Retain 8o%

Consider How Each Piece Consider How Each Piece Fits Fits

Consider How the Pieces Fit.Consider How the Pieces Fit.

How: How:

Novice, practitioner, masterNovice, practitioner, master

Retain 8o%Retain 8o%

Consider How the Pieces Fit.Consider How the Pieces Fit.

How: How: