Montessori's secrets to succesful learning

The Visionary*

Maria Montessori was born in Italy in 1870. After spending her youth committed to learning, she would emerge as the first female in her country to graduate from medical school in 1986.

It was working with young children diagnosed as "unteachable" that her fascination with the learning needs of children emerged.  She would go on to open a children's home for underpriveleged children who would blossom under her dedicated tutelage - her methods became a model for schools around the world. She was nominated for three Nobel Peace Prizes. 

Her success lay in her ability to create environments that suited the needs of children - furnishings that were just their size. Tools that fit easily in their hands. A place where children were in control and could easily initiate activities on their own. 

Child-Centered Environments

Montessori wanted teachers to create pleasant sensory experiences for children. She also believed that if their play was beautiful, orderly and matching their small bodies, children would learn better.

She said early childhood teachers should:

- provide real tools that work (sharp knives, good scissors, woodworking and cleaning tools)

- keep materials and equipment accessible to the children, organized so they can find and put away what they need

- create beauty and order in the classroom

Competence and Responsability

- Montessori encouraged educators to let kids do as much for themselves as possible

- Also, that repitition creates a sense of confidence and a real chance to develop skills

- The teacher's role is to prepare the environment and then step back for the children to go ahead and do what they will

Accordingly, educators should:

- give children the responsability of keeping space clean and orderly

- offer big chunks of time for free work and play, where children structure their own time

- offer children lots of opportunities to do "real" work, and to "help" as they so often ask to do

- help build skills -- increase a child's competency

Secret ingredient for any succesful educator:

OBSERVATION: Take time for careful observation and reflection and use these observations to guide your environment and curriculum planning.

CHILD-LED learning sums up Montessori's approach to a tee.

Thanks for reading! The next profile will be of Erik Erikson - stay tuned! 

*Summaries derived from Theories of Childhood: An Introduction to Dewey, Montessori, Erikson, Piaget and Vygotsky, written by Carol Garhart Mooney.