Can mentally retarded people be taught using the Montessori method?

Question

If they can be taught, does that mean that other special needs people can also be taught using the Montessori method? People have told me that the Montessori method is only used on people without special needs.

Answer 1

Montessori did her original work with retarded kids in the slums of Italy. I love pointing that out to pushy parents who are so proud their kids go to Montessori schools. Some disabled kids would do very well in such a program and it is more appropriate for them than for kids who don;t need that enforced structure.

Answer 2

Montessori did her original work on children who had the label of "defective" in her day.  No one knows for sure, but today it is generally agreed upon that these children would be called "learning disabled" or "special needs" today. She then went into the slums of Italy and worked with what today we would call "low income, at risk children.

There are so many misconceptions about Montessori education. One was stated by the poster nean. Yes the Montessori Method works very well with children who are naturally self motivated and can pace themselves, yet it for children who are not, it can teach them to be.  I can't tell you how many times I have had someone say, "Oh, but most children can't make good choices on their own." True, but it can be taught and it is in a true Montessori environment.

As far mentally retarded children go. Well it depends on the degree and type of retardation. No, a severely retarded child will not become a Ph.D. candidate, but a child with moderate retardation will generally do better because the teacher will be able to work with him in a learning style that will follow his needs.  I am a Montessori Teacher in a poor school district and many traditional teachers with special needs children come to me to set up lessons for their students who aren’t learning in any of the traditional ways.

Answer 3

many approaches can be applied to children who are mentally retarded. but so far research shows that the best method is the concept of incidental teaching. which means teaching through daily situations, contexts and applications - which helps mentally challenged people to transfers and generalise the skills to the real world. generalizing skills is the most prominent difficulty for this special needs.

montessori might not be the best method for them cos of their limited cognitive and social understanding.

Answer 4

Maria Montessori most certainly did teach mentally challenged as well as other orphans. Her methods work because they are basd on real life situations. yahoo or google her and read up!

Answer 5

No, I don't believe they can. In the Montessori method of teaching everything depends on the child being able to pace himself, spot his own mistakes, work at his own pace, learn concepts on his own. And the proper name is mentally challenged. The mentally challenged cannot progress in cognitive, social and/or emotional development. Your concept is just too advanced. But this was a good question.