Understanding Key Elements
The Montessori method was developed by Dr. Maria Montessori in Italy. The Montessori method assists children in developing concentration, order and coordination to move towards independence and develop self-esteem. It improves the behavior of children, increases their happiness, and love of learning.
The Montessori method of education is uniquely different from other preschool programs. It is based on a sensible balance between freedom and structure specifically designed for the young child. It has several key elements. They are: structure & order, nature & cultural awareness, fostering a love of learning in the child, and hand-on learning manipulatives and materials.
The classroom is a pleasant, prepared environment with carefully designed Montessori materials that meet a child's natural needs. Montessori materials are self-correcting, designed to prepare the child for future learning and they begin as a concrete experience of an idea which gradually becomes more and more abstract presentations. They aid the growth of a child by providing the stimuli that capture the attention of the child and initiates a process of concentration. In fact, the first essential ingredient for a child's development is concentration. To meet the needs of the child the Montessori curriculum is divided into several categories:
- Practical Life
- Sensorial
- Math
- Language
- Cultural
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"The environment itself will teach the child, if every error he makes is manifest to him, without the intervention of a parent or teacher, who should remain a quiet observer of all that happens."
-Maria Montessori
