Who was Maria Montessori?

Dr Maria Montessori (1860-1952) was Italy’s first female doctor and developed a scientific principle that schooling should work with the child; not against it. Through her medical practice her clinical observations led her to analyse how children learn, how they build themselves from what they find in their immediate environment.  

In 1906, she worked with underprivileged children in the slums of Rome, and founded the first 'Children's House' (Casa de Bambini). The news of the unprecedented success of her work soon spread around the world, and educators from all corners of the globe came to observe the children for themselves.

Dr Montessori was as amazed as anyone at the realised potential of these children and that "the peaceful atmosphere that pervaded the classroom as the children pursued their work independently”. From those early years until her death in 1952, Dr Maria Montessori continued to develop her philosophy, techniques and materials. It was her background in medicine with its scientific methods of observation that led her to formulate the most exciting developments into the role of a new kind of education: as an aid to life. Dr Montessori recognised education as a means whereby children might develop their learning dispositions, so as to eventually lead a mature and independent adulthood.

Montessori education is based on the following principles

• Children are competent and capable.
• Children want to learn.
• Every child learns at a different pace.
• Children learn through the active exploration of their environment.
• Children absorb knowledge and this lays the foundations of knowledge for the rest of their lives.
• Children pass through a series of sensitive periods where they are able to develop particular skills and concepts more easily than at other times of their lives.

Characteristics of a Montessori classroom

Teachers in a Montessori classroom rarely stand at the front of the room. Instead they move around mixed aged groups, working with children and giving tailored lessons.  Each child is on an individual programme and teachers are continually looking for the child's teachable moment.

Child-led

Montessori education is child-centered and child-led, developing a positive attitude toward themselves, toward others and towards learning. Learning is designed as a practical, multi-sensory approach that involves the child touching, thinking and experiencing. There are specific Montessori materials that facilitate this experiential learning where geography is taught with models of land features such as islands and bays and maps that are wooden puzzles. Mathematics is taught using rods, geometric solids and beads so that addition and subtraction take place with physical objects and is therefore intuitive.

Peer mentoring

Mixed-age classes enable peer mentoring and teaching where the children not only teach each other but also monitor the classroom, modeling respect for the materials and one another's work and work space. The activities and lessons in a Montessori class  involve exploration, manipulation, order, repetition, abstraction and communication.

Children have a three hour uninterrupted work cycle generally in the morning. Students  structure their own time and day with guidance from teachers. The teacher spends a significant part of their day observing the class to see what particular areas students are enjoying or need support in and then adapts the classroom environment accordingly.

Independence

Children are given opportunities to choose materials, develop their own projects and plan part of their day. As a child gains more independence, they are able to plan the majority of their workday. Children are encouraged to do a lot of deep thinking about their work. Students are taught to use the people and physical resources in the class to help them solve problems peacefully.

Children choose their work independently, this freedom of choice encourages self-discipline, self-control and a sense of self accomplishment.