What is Montessori?
Montessori is a philosophy with the fundamental tenet that a child learns best
within a social environment that supports each individual's unique development.
How did it begin?
Dr. Maria Montessori, the creator of "The Montessori
Method of Education," based this new education on her
scientific observation of young children's behavior.
As the first woman physician to graduate from the University
of Rome, Montessori became involved with education as a doctor
treating children labeled as retarded. Then, in 1907, she
was invited to open a day care center for the children of
desperately poor families in the San Lorenzo slums of Rome.
She called it "A Children's House," and
based the program on her observations that young children
learn best in a homelike setting, furnished with developmentally
appropriate materials that provide experiences contributing
to the growth of self-motivated, independent learners.
Montessori's dynamic theories included such revolutionary
premises as:
- Children are to be respected as different from adults
and as individuals who are different from one another.
- Children create themselves through purposeful activity.
- The most important years for learning are from birth to
age six.
- Children possess unusual sensitivity and mental powers
for absorbing and learning from their environment, which
includes people as well as materials.
She carried her message throughout the world, including the
United States as early as 1912. After an enthusiastic first
response, interest in the U.S. waned until a reintroduction
of the method in the mid-1950s, followed by the organization
of the American Montessori Society in 1960.
How does it work?
Each Montessori class, from toddlers through high school,
operates on the principle of freedom within limits. Every
program has its set of ground rules which differ according
to the developmental levels of the children, but is always
based on core Montessori beliefs – respect for each
other and for the environment.
Children are free to work at their own pace with materials
they have chosen either alone or with others. The Directress
relies on his or her observations of the children to determine
which new activities and materials may be introduced to an
individual child at a given time. The aim is to encourage
active, self-directed learning and to strike a balance of
individual mastery with small group collaboration within the
whole group community.
What's so unique about the Montessori learning
materials?
The classroom is filled with materials and activities that
are age appropriate, child-sized and conducive to learning.
They are the kind of "toys" children enjoy and
return to play with again and again. In recognition of the
independent nature of the developing intellect, these materials
are self-correcting—that is, from their use, the child
discovers for himself whether he has the right answer. This
feature of the Montessori materials encourages the child to
be concerned with facts and truth, rather than with what adults
say is right or wrong.
The classroom seems so plain. Where are the decorations?
The colors in our classroom are purposefully natural and subdued.
The materials, not the decorations, are meant to draw the
attention of the child. Each area and its materials are
designed with a specific aim for the development of the
child.
How is creativity encouraged?
Montessorians recognize that each child learns and expresses
himself differently. Because music, art, storytelling, movement
and drama are a part of every American Montessori program,
creativity flourishes. But Dr. Maria Montessori viewed creativity
as something far more significant than the creation of colorful
drawings that would decorate the classroom walls. She believed
the most significant of creative endeavors was the making
of the personality, the construction of the child's
self.
Dr. Montessori found that the growth of a child's creativity
develops spontaneously as the child's intelligence becomes
established through his interaction with a prepared environment.
The development of creativity depends on the child's
progression through the principal stages of cognitive growth.
It is not so much developed by direct stimulation so much
as it evolves through the long process of cognitive development.
As all Montessori materials are designed to further cognitive
development, all can be construed as creative instruments
designed to eventually reveal the artist, the storyteller,
and the musician in each of us.
How can a "real" Montessori School be identified?
Since "Montessori" is in the public domain, it
is possible for any individual or institution to claim to
be Montessori. The American Montessori Society requires its
school affiliates to have Montessori-trained teachers in each
preschool classroom, a full complement of Montessori materials,
an "open door" policy for visitors, visits from
the Montessori specialists at regular intervals and strict
adherence to the AMS Code of Professional Ethics.
The best insurance for parents is to observe a class in progress,
and to verify the teachers' Montessori training as well
as the school's affiliation with a national or international
organization.
Ronald Knox Montessori School is one of the longest-standing
schools receiving full accreditation by the American Montessori
Society. Founded in 1963 by a group of parents committed to
introducing Montessori education to Chicago's North
Shore, the school enjoys a reputation that's second
to none.
What happens when a child leaves Montessori?
Montessori children are unusually adaptable. They have learned
to work independently and in groups. Since they've
been encouraged to make decisions from an early age, these
children are problem-solvers who can make choices and manage
their time well.
They have also been encouraged to exchange ideas and to discuss
their work freely with others. Their good communication skills
help ease the way in new settings. Research has shown that
the best predictor of future success is a strong sense of
self-esteem. Montessori programs based on self-directed, non-competitive
activities help children develop a positive self-image and
the confidence to face challenges and change with optimism.
