The Absorbent Mind
Maria Montessori was the first female medical doctor in Italy 1895. She studied pediatrics and psychology She developed the Montessori method of teaching, which is a method of educating young children that stresses development of a child’s own initiative and natural abilities, especially through practical play. This method allows children to develop at their own pace and provided educators with a better understanding of child development. Children deal with abstract concepts based on their newly developed powers of reasoning, imagination, and creativity.
Montessori Program
Our Montessori Program is based on self-directed, non-competitive activities, which help children develop good self-images and the confidence to face challenges and change with optimism. We emphasize:
- Independence and Problem Solving
- Enjoyment of Learning
- Development of Order, Concentration, and Coordination
- Skills in Oral Communication
- Respect for Oneself, Other People, and the Planet
- Responsible Group Membership
Montessori Schools offer many advantages over the Traditional School environment
Traditional
- Teacher is center of classroom as “controller”.
- Teacher acts as primary enforcer of discipline.
- Group and individual instruction.
- Same age grouping.
- Most teaching done by teacher.
- Curriculum structured for child.
- Instruction pace usually set by group norm.
- Errors usually pointed out by teacher.
- Learning is reinforced externally by repetition and rewards.
- Fewer materials for sensory development.
- Less emphasis on self-care and self-instruction.
- Child usually assigned their own chair, encouraged to participate and listen during group session.
Montessori
- Teacher has unobtrusive role in classroom.
- Environment and method encourage self-discipline.
- Mainly individual instruction.
- Mixed age grouping.
- Grouping encourages children to teach each other
- Child chooses own work.
- Child sets own learning pace.
- Child spots own error from feed-back material.
- Child reinforces own learning by repetition of work and internalization.
- Multi-Sensory materials for physical exploration
- Organized program for learning care of self and environment
- Child can work where he chooses, group work is voluntary
Montessori Program
- Lillard, Angeline (2005). Montessori: The Science Behind the Genius. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-516868-2.
- Lillard, Paula Polk (1972). Montessori: A Modern Approach. New York: Schocken Books. ISBN 080520394X.
- Lillard, Paula Polk (1996). Montessori Today. New York: Schocken Books. ISBN 9780805210613.
- Montessori, Maria. The montessori method: Scientific pedagogy as applied to child education in “the children’s houses” with additions and revisions by the author.. New York: Frederick A. Stokes Company. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
- Montessori, Maria (1948). The Discovery of the Child. Madras: Kalkshetra Publications Press.
- Montessori, Maria (1949). The Absorbent Mind. Madras: Theosophical Publishing House.
- Montessori, Maria (1914). Dr. Montessori’s Own Handbook. New York: Frederick A. Stokes Company.
- Montessori, Maria (1912). The Montessori Method. New York: Frederick A. Stokes Company.
- Montessori, Maria (1936). The Secret of Childhood. New York: Longmans, Green.
- Standing, E.M. (1957). Maria Montessori: Her Life and Work. New York: Plume. ISBN 0-452-26090-6.
- Trabalzini, Paola (Spring 2011). “Maria Montessori Through the Seasons of the Method”. The NAMTA Journal 36 (2).
