THE MONTESSORI METHOD
The Montessori method is based on careful observation of the individual child and on the preservation of children’s freedom in their spontaneous manifestations. Respecting and enhancing their spontaneity and leading them to the conquest of independence, treating them with respect this allows them to have greater self-esteem, discover and learn from their mistakes. As a result, children acquire problem-solving skills and acquire the independence necessary to be prepared for adult life.
The rules included in the Montessori method are:
- Do not disturb or hit other children who are active.
- Use learning objects and materials appropriately.
WHO IS MARIA MONTESSORI
Maria Tecla Artemisa Montessori was born in Chiaravalle on August 31, 1870. She was an Italian educator, pedagogue, philosopher, physician, child neuropsychiatrist and scientist.
His career in school education began in 1904, after obtaining a free professorship in anthropology which gave him the opportunity to deal with the educational organization of kindergartens.
Maria’s goal was to change society by helping children with mental difficulties and she believed that this was possible thanks to the development of an educational method based on scientific principles.
It was thus that Maria Montessori, observing the direct work in the classrooms, began to develop a scientific pedagogy that was based above all on caring for the child in its complexity, taking into account the various factors. (In the context of physical health and social conditions.)
Maria Montessori traveled around the world to spread her educational theory. She was forced to leave Italy for political reasons and had her greatest success in the United States; in 1913 the New York Tribune featured Maria Montessori as the most interesting woman in Europe. Since then, his method has received considerable interest in North America.
CHARACTERISTICS
Be guides:
The central element is the children, put all the attention on the student.
Work on the ability to observe:
The Montessori method is based on observing and guiding the child, instead of intervening.
Prepared environment:
Offer children a prepared environment in which everyone feels free to make their own discoveries.
Respect and cooperation:
This methodology is about observing the child and then intervening, so he must have the space he needs to move, competition is not encouraged, but cooperation.
Encourage independence
The child must be allowed to express himself. Independence is the indispensable preliminary step to achieve freedom.
THE PRINCIPLES
Leave the child free to act and develop their own abilities, respecting their times and the methods they consider best for their own learning. This educational method allows you to explore the world by making and developing your intelligence to the fullest.
The first 3 years of life children are absorbent sponges; this means that all the impressions that the child receives from the outside environment are absorbed by his mind with extreme naturalness and without any effort. It relates to the environment and everything that surrounds it to capture notions and perform its own movements, behaviors, techniques and activities.
Special importance for the beauty of the classroom. Teaching material and well-prepared and well-kept objects are always in order on the shelves. Everything was created with a size within reach of children and a weight that will allow them to maneuver objects.
The Montessori material is not support but development, each material has a specific educational objective, part of the sensory (touch, smell, sight and hearing). It is very important that they are suitable materials, they are also in order and clean.
Tables and chairs are lightweight and portable, allowing the child to choose where to stay and settle freely.
We have the noise of rain, the singing of birds, the noise produced by the wind, etc. We can say that silence is an activity that allows the child to develop psychic and cognitive skills such as reflecting, concentrating and understanding.
Allowing the child to experience the world through their work and ongoing efforts.
When a child learns to move between the things of the environment, he does not prepare for school, but for life by becoming a correct individual by habit and practice. One way this happens is by maturing the quality of patience. Children will learn not to fight over objects, but to wait their turn.
In the Montessori method we can say that giving rewards and punishing children did nothing but take away their dignity.
The idea is to prepare the environment with appropriate materials gives children the opportunity to control their actions. In this way, comparisons and evaluations are avoided and self-esteem is cultivated from childhood.
Getting children to relate to nature has a strong impact on a cognitive, emotional and sensory level. Children learn by moving and experiencing everything around them, so we will have activities to put their hands in the ground, plant seeds, observe how plants grow or how leaves change color with the passing of the seasons and take care of animals, allows the child to acquire numerous skills learn to classify plants, to mature and be responsible.
All this is also part of Montessori’s “Cosmic Education”, which believes that the love that children cultivate for nature will allow them to become responsible and participatory adults capable of contributing to society.