Montessori

Background

Maria Montessori was born in Italy in 1870 and sadly passed away in 1952. Montessori studied Mathematics, Science and then later went on to study medicine in the University of Rome medical school 1892.She was the only child of allessandro and renilde stoppani. Her father was in the military and was a conservative and disliked the idea of Montessori becoming a doctor. She worked for 10 years with women and children before becoming interested in children with mental disabilities in which at the time were not given an education. Montessori believed that this was wrong and that education was more needed than medical treatment so decided that they should be given one.  After deciding this she went back to university this time to study education and anthropology and was then invited to set up a nursery in a housing estate which was newly built in the slum districts of Rome. In this period the compulsory education age begun at 6 years old but it was wanted that children under this age should be looked after whilst their mothers worked. This is then where Montessori set up the first Children’s house in which where the aim was to nurture each child individually so that they reach their potential. Toys were donated to this Children’s House. Montessori believed that favourable environment is essential as well as movement and manipulation. She encouraged the children to keep their classroom in a tidy state in order to give them a sense of responsibility.  The first Montessori school was opened in America after travelling around the world to deliver lectured in 1912. There are now 22,000 schools over the world. 

Montessori organised children's development in three six year periods: birth to six (absorbent mind), siz to twelve (childhood) and twelve and eighteen (adolescene). The Motessori approach is holistic and aims to improve the child as a whole. Montessori believes that a child's early years from birth to six is the stage in which they have the best capacity to take in more and learn. 

Montessori's Key Principles of The Classroom

-       Freedom
-       Vertical Grouping-       Control of error-       Scaffolding-       Observation and assessment-       Work cycle and cycle of activity-       Freedom to make their own options-       Responsible for decisions -       Begins as they arrive-       Never let a child risk failure-       Promoting real discipline in Montessori environments. -       Table/floor making use of space-       Practical, sensory, language and literacy, cultural, creative, and mathematical.

 

A video showing Maria Montessori brief principles opposed to a conventional school.

Reference;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcgN0lEh5IA&feature=player_embedded#!
http://www.montessori.org.uk/
http://www.montessori.org.uk/what_is_montessori
http://www.absorbentminds.co.uk/acatalog/What_is_Montessori_.html