Montessori Teaching Method
"Education is a natural process carried out by the child and is not acquired by listening to words but by experiences in the environment."
-- Dr.Maria Montessori
"Education is a natural process carried out by the child and is not acquired by listening to words but by experiences in the environment."
-- Dr.Maria Montessori
Science Class
Maria Montessori(1870-1952) was the first woman to graduate from the University of Rome with a degree in medicine in Italy. She also studied anthropology and showed that developmentally disabled children could be educated. Then she wanted to study the potential of ‘normal’ children. She opened her first preschool called “Casa dei Bambini” or Children’s House, in a public housing project in Rome, on January 6, 1907.
Dr. Montessori was the founder of the famous Montessori Method of education which emphasized hands-on, individualized learning within mixed age groups in a child-friendly environment. She believed children must become independent. She acknowledged that each child is an individual, who learns at his/her own pace and according to his/her own interests. She designed materials that, through the child's exploration of them, teach various educational concepts. According to Montessori Method of education, the role of the teacher is to create the learning environment and guide the child step by step.
Maria Montessori made her first visit to the United States in 1913, the same year that Alexander Graham Bell and his wife Mabel founded the Montessori Educational Association at their Washington, DC, home. Among her other strong American supporters were Thomas Edison and Helen Keller. Dr. Maria Montessori was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize three times—in 1949, 1950, and 1951.
Today, Montessori educational method is in use in a number of public as well as private schools throughout the world.
Montessori Philosophy
The Montessori philosophy elaborating on the following triangle:
CHILD
/ \
Directress Environment
The child is the center of education. “ To follow the child” and to meet his needs, is the basic philosophy of Montessori. The Montessori educational philosophy believes that the educational method must support and address the nature of the child. The understanding of the inner nature of the child is based on detailed observation.
●The child has an inner need to know the world.
●The child comes to know the world through the senses.
●The child is auto-educated.
●The child repeats activities until they are fully mastered.
●The child is orderly and focused.
Based upon the inner nature of the child, the role of the directress (teacher) is defined:
The directress observes the child to determine what is of interest to the child. The directress prepares the environment to meet the observed needs of the child.
Based upon the nature of the child and the observed needs of the child, the environment is prepared to serve the child. The environment needs to be prepared to link the child to it through well-thought-out lessons,and to failitate the child’s exploration and creativity.
The Montessori class schedule has long, uninterrupted times in the morning and in the afternoon for the child to freely choose and focused on activities (jobs).
Montessori Curriculums
The five areas of Montessori at Bright Star Montessori Academy aiming to develop order, concentration, coordination and independence:
Practical Life:
The exercises for practical life are designed to teach the child to function in their own environment by teaching them how to interact with the things around them. The practical life area prepares the child indirectly for all other areas of the curriculum with order, concentration, coordination and independence. Practical life exercises include pouring, sorting, food preparation, care of self (hand washing, teeth brushing, grooming), care of the environment (table washing, floor scrubbing, dusting, polishing)
Sensorial Area:
Sensorial exercise deal with developing the five senses. By developing the five senses, the child develops intelligence and independence. Dr. Montessori wrote, “The aim (of sensorial exercises) is an inner one, namely, that the child train himself to observe; that he be led to make comparisons between objects, to form judgments, to reason and to decide; and it is in the indefinite repetition of this exercise of attention and of intelligence that a real development ensues.” The sensorial area also includes geometry as the subject is introduced to the child through their senses.
Language Area:
At the 3-6 age level, language exercises train the child to focus on sounds and noises and to discriminate between them. Writing is included in the language area of the classroom. The elementary child focuses on classifying and organizing language. The 6-9 year old child will extensively study grammar and word etymology.
Mathematics:
We begin with manipulatives, then slowly lead into abstract concepts. Mathematics is the science of numbers. Montessori mathematics focuses on numeration, the decimal system, and geometry. Our base ten system encourages the child to sequence and order his work. Beginning with numbers 1-10, 11-99, and 1-1000, the children learn linear counting and recognition of numerals, which then leads into addition, subtraction, multiplication and division concepts. This is done through fun activities which involve lots of movement, manipulatives and group work. As the child matures, individual work is encouraged and abstract learning begins to take place.
Cultural Area:
Cultural subjects include history, geography, art, physical science, cosmology, music and physical movement. The aim of studying culture is to allow the child to experience their place in the universe. They begin by exploring similarities between their culture and others, and then have appreciation and respect for differences. They learn how all beings are fundamentally related and discover ways to feel they are significant beings in this world.
Dr. Montessori was the founder of the famous Montessori Method of education which emphasized hands-on, individualized learning within mixed age groups in a child-friendly environment. She believed children must become independent. She acknowledged that each child is an individual, who learns at his/her own pace and according to his/her own interests. She designed materials that, through the child's exploration of them, teach various educational concepts. According to Montessori Method of education, the role of the teacher is to create the learning environment and guide the child step by step.
Maria Montessori made her first visit to the United States in 1913, the same year that Alexander Graham Bell and his wife Mabel founded the Montessori Educational Association at their Washington, DC, home. Among her other strong American supporters were Thomas Edison and Helen Keller. Dr. Maria Montessori was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize three times—in 1949, 1950, and 1951.
Today, Montessori educational method is in use in a number of public as well as private schools throughout the world.
Montessori Philosophy
The Montessori philosophy elaborating on the following triangle:
CHILD
/ \
Directress Environment
The child is the center of education. “ To follow the child” and to meet his needs, is the basic philosophy of Montessori. The Montessori educational philosophy believes that the educational method must support and address the nature of the child. The understanding of the inner nature of the child is based on detailed observation.
●The child has an inner need to know the world.
●The child comes to know the world through the senses.
●The child is auto-educated.
●The child repeats activities until they are fully mastered.
●The child is orderly and focused.
Based upon the inner nature of the child, the role of the directress (teacher) is defined:
The directress observes the child to determine what is of interest to the child. The directress prepares the environment to meet the observed needs of the child.
Based upon the nature of the child and the observed needs of the child, the environment is prepared to serve the child. The environment needs to be prepared to link the child to it through well-thought-out lessons,and to failitate the child’s exploration and creativity.
The Montessori class schedule has long, uninterrupted times in the morning and in the afternoon for the child to freely choose and focused on activities (jobs).
Montessori Curriculums
The five areas of Montessori at Bright Star Montessori Academy aiming to develop order, concentration, coordination and independence:
Practical Life:
The exercises for practical life are designed to teach the child to function in their own environment by teaching them how to interact with the things around them. The practical life area prepares the child indirectly for all other areas of the curriculum with order, concentration, coordination and independence. Practical life exercises include pouring, sorting, food preparation, care of self (hand washing, teeth brushing, grooming), care of the environment (table washing, floor scrubbing, dusting, polishing)
Sensorial Area:
Sensorial exercise deal with developing the five senses. By developing the five senses, the child develops intelligence and independence. Dr. Montessori wrote, “The aim (of sensorial exercises) is an inner one, namely, that the child train himself to observe; that he be led to make comparisons between objects, to form judgments, to reason and to decide; and it is in the indefinite repetition of this exercise of attention and of intelligence that a real development ensues.” The sensorial area also includes geometry as the subject is introduced to the child through their senses.
Language Area:
At the 3-6 age level, language exercises train the child to focus on sounds and noises and to discriminate between them. Writing is included in the language area of the classroom. The elementary child focuses on classifying and organizing language. The 6-9 year old child will extensively study grammar and word etymology.
Mathematics:
We begin with manipulatives, then slowly lead into abstract concepts. Mathematics is the science of numbers. Montessori mathematics focuses on numeration, the decimal system, and geometry. Our base ten system encourages the child to sequence and order his work. Beginning with numbers 1-10, 11-99, and 1-1000, the children learn linear counting and recognition of numerals, which then leads into addition, subtraction, multiplication and division concepts. This is done through fun activities which involve lots of movement, manipulatives and group work. As the child matures, individual work is encouraged and abstract learning begins to take place.
Cultural Area:
Cultural subjects include history, geography, art, physical science, cosmology, music and physical movement. The aim of studying culture is to allow the child to experience their place in the universe. They begin by exploring similarities between their culture and others, and then have appreciation and respect for differences. They learn how all beings are fundamentally related and discover ways to feel they are significant beings in this world.