Montessori School, Know anything about it?

Question

Its little schools all over the US, A lady named Maria Montessori started it years ago. And i would like to know more about it, if you know anything tell me PLZ!

Answer 1

Coming from an early childhood background, I don't agree with the Montessori philosphy.  I belive children learn through play and the various experinces provided to them.  I believe children should direct their own play.  In other words, whether a child wants to fingerpaint for 2 minutes or half an hour should be up to the child.  If the child primarily wants to play in one area (lets say dramatic play) then let them.  Find other ways to bring dramatic plays into other ways and let the child decide if they will explore it or not.  Children do not need to be forced to play (or "work") in certain stations for certain periods of time- they have the rest of their lives for that.  Children need to play at their own discretion with what they choose and the learning will naturally unfold.  A good book is "Einstein Never Used Flashcards"  awesome book on the area of play and learning for young children.

Answer 2

The Montessori preschools that I have visited have individual areas around the room called "centers."  Each center has an activity for the children to do.  There are science, art, math, listening, writing, and all different types of centers for the children to visit.  Usually the kids are free to visit the centers that interest them.  The activities are "hands-on" activities.  Meaning the children are learning through DOING.  The teacher usually demonstrates to each new group of children how an activity works, but the children are only GUIDED and not forced to do something "the RIGHT way."

Answer 3

I think the idea is to get kids to pay attention to what they do such as how to close a drawer.  My son went for a short time before he was three years old.  He was scared to go to the school and I'm sorry I made him.  The principals seemed very logical.  It was not the Montessori methods, but the teacher that made it a bad experience.  

Several of my family members are teachers.  It is hard work and I would not criticize any teacher for minor stuff, but this teacher was a doozy.

Answer 4

Montessori aims to nurture in children, their natural love of learning (children learn not because they have to but because they want to) and their desire to develop intellectually, emotionally, socially and spiritually.

It  is committed to providing a nurturing and supportive environment where children are able to continue the natural process of their growth and development, supporting their education for life by following Montessori ideas.

Answer 5

Correct me if I’m wrong:

Montessori believes that a child’s mind is like a sponge, it absorbs anything that he/ she senses. Montessori schools (or at least the ‘authentic’ ones) use standardized Montessori materials that a child may manipulate. Lessons are likely to be individualized as the ‘readiness’ of the child are respected. Children in the Casa program (preschool) are able to read and write in script for as young as 3 years old (amazing isn’t it?).

Subject areas in Casa are: Cultural Arts (which includes Botany, Zoology, etc.), Sensorial, Language Arts and Math.

Answer 6

This a great site to learn all about Montessori education.  

http://www.montessori-book.com

Answer 7

The Montessori Method of education believes that just as our bodies grow and change over time, so do our minds.  At different stages of development our minds process information differently. Montessorians believe that classrooms need to reflect these different stages of development and teach according to the needs of the children in their care.

Montessori education also believes that children need models and need to learn to become caretakers.  Therefore, Montessori classrooms have children of different ages working together.  In general the older children model behavior and materials for the younger ones.  Also, by having a wide range of materials in a classroom to accommodate a 3 year age span, children who are advanced or need extra work in an area can get it right away.  A child doesn't need to go to a "different" classroom or stay after school for work on their level.  This alleviates the "stigma" of being different from the child's psyche and helps them learn in the best way possible for them.

Montessorians believe that the 3-6 age group is a time when children are "organizing their environment". They are trying to find out about the world around the. "I call this the 'what' stage.  "What is that? And what is that?" Montessorians also believe that children at this age absorb information "like sponges".  Therefore a Montessori preschool/kindergarten classroom will be filled with materials that they can explore that will teach them about their environment. They will be able to compare and contrast the weight, smell, temperature and so on of many different objects, they will be able to put things in size order. They are able to learn to tie, clasp, button and so on different objects on their clothes.  Since each child is different, no child at the preschool level is forced to work with a material or given a time limit.  I have NO IDEA where Namom got her MIS-information from.  There are schools out there that call themselves Montessori, but aren't.  She sadly must have come across one of these.

Answer 8

I used to own two Montessori schools that I set up. The children came at the age of 3, and for the first school, would stay until they were 5. These children loved to learn, by the time they went on to public school. They were so confident in themselves. They read at the 2nd grade level, they did math through short division, they played the piano, they sang in choir (a Kodaly Choir, for real!), and they knew how to socialize, well. These children loved school.

Answer 9

There are actually many types of schools that pick and choose from the Montessori method. One big thing is that children of all ages are together during the day so the basic principal is that the younger children learn from the older and vice versa (older children learn how to look after younger children).  Montessori also allows children to have a lot of freedom to explore and manipulate different types of teaching tools or sensory type of objects in order to discover their purpose and meaning. They can learn math, dramatic play, music, etc...using these tools.  Depending on the school`s philosophy the lessons and dicipline approach may vary (fixed scheduals vs. total freedom).  I think to some degree, most preschools touch on some of the montessori method at least during parts of the day.