The Maria Montessori Teaching Method
Dr. Maria Montessori was born in 1870 in Italy and dedicated her life to the education of children. She was an original and brilliant educator whose theories are world renowned. Montessori education instills a love of learning in the child that will last throughout their whole life. The most basic principle in Dr. Montessori’s method is that the learning capacity of a young mind is great; she calls this: “the absorbent mind”. By the age of three, the child has already laid down the foundations of his/her personality as a human being. This is why it is crucial for young children to able to learn by exploration in a “prepared environment” – a Montessori classroom. A Montessori classroom will invite the child through learning materials which will help them develop into confident, capable, competent, and compassionate human beings.
Language
Introducing children to a variety of language activities is necessary to establish a permanent interest in literacy. Montessori Language materials include Sandpaper letters, The Movable Alphabet, Object cards and boxes. The first step in teaching a child to read and write is to make them “sound conscious”; this is why we teach the phonetic sounds of the letters before the names. Once the child has mastered the sounds of the alphabet, they then can begin to build words with the Moveable Alphabet. This eventually allows reading to come easily and fun for the child.
Sensorial Material
The child develops the sense of sight, sound, taste, touch, etc. through manipulation and experience with his surroundings. The purpose of sensorial materials is to refine and develop the child’s senses. It is throughout the senses that the child relates to his environment. Each piece of material isolates one definite quality of sense: color, size, weight, shape, texture, and sound. This stimulates extensive vocabulary building. The materials provide a basis for learning in an orderly manner which supports psychological and neurological development. Not only do they benefit immensely, they enjoy working with the various choices of material.
Mathematics
The world of numbers and their function is presented to the child in a most logical, understandable, and exciting manner. Each mathematical concept is embodied in a concrete piece of material. Math becomes not a terrifying, but a vibrant and inviting
new dimension. Dr. Montessori discovered that if a child could comprehend the numbers one through ten, then they are also capable of working with 100’s and 1000’s at the same level. Montessori math materials allow a child to easily grasp the values of abstract numbers.
Practical Life
During children’s first few years of life, they experience a developmental period when they prefer to help adults with their activities. Some of the activities are pouring, sweeping, dusting, ect. While the children are absorbed in working with these materials, they are also developing their concentration, attention to detail, and coordination. These exercises are the foundation on which the child is prepare for reading and writing.Montessori vs traditional education comparison:
