Montessori Education: A Child Centered Learning Environment
By
Miriam Gutting
Dr.
Maria Montessori became the first woman to graduate
from the University of Rome (1896). Her first work was
with mentally retarded children. She was amazingly successful
not only in helping them become independent, but in
teaching them academic skills. She did not rest on her
laurels, but wondered if children with problems could
be taught, why were normal children failing?
Dr.
Montessori opened her first school in 1906. She used
the teaching tools she had developed previously but,
most of all, she spent long hours observing the children
at work. In doing these observations Montessori isolated
and charted the human tendencies of the child. the childís
love of movement, love of order, love of work, love
of beauty, love of repetition, love of perfection and
more. Keeping these in mind, Montessori designed a setting
where the child could fulfill his needs. This environment
she called a ìCasa de Bambiniî or ìChildrenís
House.î
The
Montessori materials used in the classroom of today
are roughly divided into three categories. The ëdaily
livingí exercises involve the physical care of
the person and the environment, the sensorial and the
academic.
Building
Life Skills, Concentration and Pure Understanding
Because the child has already seen the adult at home
do many of the daily living activities, these are the
lessons which the child receives first. The precise
nature of these activities varies from country to country,
but no matter what the child wants to do ìwhat
mom and dad doî The lesson is given in a step-by-step
manner and because the child is drawn to do it and will
repeat it many times. The repetition and the inbuilt
desire to do better, encourages the ability to focus.
Being able to focus paves the way for concentration.
We can have no real learning without concentration.
Materials
used for the education of the senses are given to the
child to assist in the development of his intelligence.
The child is introduced to materials which isolate the
visual, tactile, auditory, thermic, chromatic and others.
The purpose of this is to help the child organize and
categorize his sense perceptions into an inner mental
order.
Academics
in Montessori Education
The academic materials are an extension of the sensorial
work. Initially, the child is introduced to the elements
of language, writing, reading, mathematics, geography
and science. The sensorial aspect allows the child to
experience the work in a concrete way and later he is
guided to a more abstract level.
The
Montessori classroom includes children of different
age groups. In the pre-school class, the children are
2 ? to 6. The elementary usually has a 6 ñ 9
and a 9 ñ 12 grouping, though 6 ñ 12 may
be in the same classroom. This allows for a wonderful
community gathering. The oldest children model the expected
behavior and are given the opportunity to help those
younger. The younger children are inspired by what they
observe. It makes for a very harmonious gathering. Daily
activities in the classroom include lessons on the materials.
Lessons are given when the child is ready. After this
the child is free to practice on that work again. The
reader may wonder if the classroom is chaotic when everyone
is choosing their own activity. On the contrary, twenty
five or so students completely absorbed in their chosen
activity makes for a surprising amount of tranquility.
Montessori
teachers have made a commitment to young children. After
their college degree work, they take special training
at a Montessori Training Center.
There
is no copyright on the name of Montessori, so not all
Montessori schools are the same. When shopping for a
school, note should be taken of the schools affiliation.
A schoolís affiliation will assure that adherence
to the purity of the philosophy of Dr. Maria Montessori.
Miriam
Gutting is the Director of Campbell Montessori School
in St. Charles, an early childhood education center
which embraces the Montessori teaching method. Campbell
Montessori is accredited by the Association Montessori
Internationale, and provides education for children
ages 2-1/2 to 12.
For
more information call 636-477-8200.
