The Montessori MethodThe Montessori Method

Maria Montessori was ahead of her time.Maria Montessori was ahead of her time.Maria Montessori HistoryMaria Montessori History

Age thirteen began to attend a boys' technical school. After seven years of engineering she began premed

1896 became a physician

University of Rome psychiatric clinic

Developed an interest in the treatment of special needs children

Several years, worked, wrote, and spoke on their behalf.

History (con’t)History (con’t)

1907 she was given the opportunity to study 1907 she was given the opportunity to study "normal" children."normal" children.

Invited to the USA by Alexander Graham Bell, Invited to the USA by Alexander Graham Bell, Thomas EdisonThomas Edison

Spoke at Carnegie Hall, 1915Spoke at Carnegie Hall, 1915

Set up a classroom of 21 children; Set up a classroom of 21 children;

Watched behind a glass wall for four months.Watched behind a glass wall for four months.

Awarded two gold medals Awarded two gold medals

Twice nominated for the Nobel Peace PrizeTwice nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize

MontessoriMontessori TraditionalTraditionalEmphasis on cognitive and Emphasis on cognitive and

social developmentsocial development

Multi-sensory materials for Multi-sensory materials for physical explorationphysical exploration

Environment and method Environment and method encourage self-disciplineencourage self-discipline

Mixed age grouping Mixed age grouping

Teacher has unobtrusive role Teacher has unobtrusive role in classroomin classroom

Child works as long as he Child works as long as he

wishes on chosen projectwishes on chosen project Child spots own errors from Child spots own errors from

feedback of materialfeedback of material

Emphasis on social Emphasis on social development development

Fewer materials for Fewer materials for sensory development sensory development

Teacher is primary Teacher is primary enforcer of discipline enforcer of discipline

Same age grouping Same age grouping

Teacher is center of Teacher is center of classroom as "controller”classroom as "controller”

Child is generally Child is generally alotted specific time alotted specific time

Voluntary parent Voluntary parent involvmentinvolvment

A Closer Lookwww.woodstockmontessori.com

A Closer Look (con’t)A Closer Look (con’t)MontessoriMontessori TraditionalTraditional

Mainly individual instructionMainly individual instruction

Child chooses own workChild chooses own work

Child discovers own concepts Child discovers own concepts from self teaching materials from self teaching materials

Child sets own learning pace Child sets own learning pace

Child reinforces own learning by Child reinforces own learning by internal feelings of success internal feelings of success

Child spots own errors from Child spots own errors from

feedback of materialfeedback of material Organized program for parents Organized program for parents

to understand the Montessori to understand the Montessori philosophy and participate in the philosophy and participate in the learning process learning process

Group and individual Group and individual instructioninstruction

Curriculum is Curriculum is structured for the child structured for the child

Child usually assigned Child usually assigned own chair; encouraged own chair; encouraged to participate to participate

Child is guided to Child is guided to concepts by the teacherconcepts by the teacher

Learning is reinforced Learning is reinforced externally by rewards externally by rewards

Errors are usually Errors are usually pointed out by teacher pointed out by teacher

What I saw (and heard)….What I saw (and heard)….

Children Children engaged.engaged.– ReadingReading– BuildingBuilding– SortingSorting– WritingWriting– ExploringExploring– Soothing Soothing

musicmusic

Montessori PhilosophyMontessori Philosophy

The elementary child, when allowed to The elementary child, when allowed to work independently instead of being work independently instead of being taught in groups led by a teacher, and in taught in groups led by a teacher, and in classes with a mixed age group of 6-12- classes with a mixed age group of 6-12- year-old students inspiring and teaching year-old students inspiring and teaching each other, masters academic subjects each other, masters academic subjects usually not taught until middle or high usually not taught until middle or high school (montessori.edu)school (montessori.edu)

What I saw…..What I saw…..mastery.mastery.

Montessori MethodMontessori Method

1940's, inspired by the amazing potential of 1940's, inspired by the amazing potential of children realized in the early years, Dr. children realized in the early years, Dr. Montessori stated that age three was too late to Montessori stated that age three was too late to begin to support the work and development of begin to support the work and development of children. children.

1947 the Montessori Assistants to Infancy 1947 the Montessori Assistants to Infancy program was begun in Rome. This was a 3-year, program was begun in Rome. This was a 3-year, full-time program which is still taught today in full-time program which is still taught today in several countries (montessori.edu)several countries (montessori.edu)

What I saw….What I saw….independence.independence.

What I saw…..exploring.What I saw…..exploring.

Her Message Continues….Her Message Continues….

Her message to those who emulated her Her message to those who emulated her was always to turn one's attention to the was always to turn one's attention to the child, to "follow the child". child, to "follow the child".

It is because of this basic ideology, and It is because of this basic ideology, and the observation guidelines left by her, that the observation guidelines left by her, that Dr. Montessori's ideas will never become Dr. Montessori's ideas will never become obsolete (montessori.edu).obsolete (montessori.edu).

What I saw….children reading.What I saw….children reading.

Essence of MontessoriEssence of MontessoriNot just mentalNot just mentalRevealed only when the "Montessori method" is Revealed only when the "Montessori method" is understood and followed. understood and followed. The child has choice,The child has choice,Practical work, Practical work, Care of others, and the environment, Care of others, and the environment, High levels of concentration reachedHigh levels of concentration reachedWork is respected and not interruptedWork is respected and not interruptedReveals a human being that is superior;Reveals a human being that is superior;Not only academically, but emotionally and spiritually, Not only academically, but emotionally and spiritually, A child who cares deeply about other people and the A child who cares deeply about other people and the world, and who works to discover a unique and individual world, and who works to discover a unique and individual way to contribute. way to contribute.

Children have a choice to learn and enjoy learning.

What I saw……….What I saw……….

To Learn More……To Learn More……Absorbent Mind by Absorbent Mind by Maria MontessoriMaria Montessori, , John John Chattin-McnicholsChattin-Mcnichols

ISBN-13: ISBN-13: 9780805041569 9780805041569 Pub. Date: Pub. Date: October October

19951995

Montessori Method by Maria MontessoriPublisher: Dover Publications Pub. Date: July 2002 ISBN-13: 9780486421629

ResourcesResources

http://www.michaelolaf.net/maria.html accquired 9/27/07http://www.michaelolaf.net/maria.html accquired 9/27/07REPRINT and LINKING PERMISSION: REPRINT and LINKING PERMISSION: Feel free to use Feel free to use this text on the Internet, for schools, college research this text on the Internet, for schools, college research papers, of any nonprofit educational purpose, or to link it papers, of any nonprofit educational purpose, or to link it to an Internet site. Reference: "By permission of The to an Internet site. Reference: "By permission of The Michael Olaf Montessori Company, Michael Olaf Montessori Company, www.michaelolaf.net" www.michaelolaf.net" http://www.michaelolaf.net/FAQMontessori.htmlhttp://www.michaelolaf.net/FAQMontessori.htmlhttp://www.montessori.edu/maria.html accquired 9/27/07http://www.montessori.edu/maria.html accquired 9/27/07Montessori of Woodstock Canton Road (field trip Montessori of Woodstock Canton Road (field trip 10/4/07)10/4/07)www.woodstockmontessori.comWinston, George. Autumn (1980). Windham Hill RecordsWinston, George. Autumn (1980). Windham Hill Records