What is the Montessori Method of Education and Teaching?

Are you wondering what the Montessori Schooling Method of Education is, or perhaps how Montessori teaching works in practice? I’ve got you covered. Here I have both an in-depth look at Montessori, and a quick summary for those of you short on time. I know how it is as a busy Mom!

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What is the Montessori Method of Teaching in a Nutshell?

Whilst traditional education systems often prioritize standardized teaching methods over individual learning paths, the Montessori approach is different. Maria Montessori, the founder of the Montessori approach, believed that every child possesses an innate curiosity and intelligence. She strongly believed that this could be nurtured through hands-on learning, mixed-age classrooms, and a focus on developing the whole child – socially, emotionally, and academically.

Montessori schools have taken these principles and continue to use them today in a method that respects and encourages individual growth. One of the things I love most about Maria Montessori’s teaching philosophy is it’s simple hands-on approach.

To sum up, the Montessori Method is self-directed, curiosity-led, and child-led, with the teacher as observer and facilitator.

Now let’s explore in more depth!

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What is the Montessori Method of Teaching?

[Detailed Explanation]

There is so much I could write about the Montessori Method of Education and Teaching. Maria Montessori’s theory makes so much sense to me. I love learning more about it and practicing it in my own home, with my kids. I believe it really helps not only their learning, but encouraging a love of learning in them too!

Below I will look at the Montessori Approach in much more depth, answering questions such as:

What are the Main Principles of the Montessori Method?
Where did the Montessori Method come from?
What are the Pros and Cons of a Montessori Education?
What is a Montessorian?
What does a Montessori Classroom look like?
What is the Role of a Montessori Teacher?
What Materials do you need to teach Montessori at Home?

Pin text reads, What is the Montessori Method and how does it work in practice. Image of a child in a Montessori classroom or playroom learning.

What are the Main Ideas or Principles of the Montessori Method?

The core principles of the Montessori method are taken from the educational philosophy of Maria Montessori, it’s founder. They include self-directed learning, mixed-age classrooms, and a perfectly adapted environment, which aims to foster independence and holistic growth in children.

The Maria Montessori theory elaborates on how children are innately curious and capable learners who thrive in an environment that respects and nurtures their individual needs.

With the Montessori approach, kids aren’t just taught academic subjects; they learn life skills and develop emotionally and socially at their own pace. It’s not just about the materials or the activities in Montessori. It is also about respecting and responding to the child’s natural process of learning.

The Maria Montessori theory, is all about creating an environment where students are encouraged to explore and learn at their own pace. It’s about facilitating rather than teaching in the conventional sense. This approach fosters independence and a lifelong love for learning.

This is the main reason I love the Montessori Approach so much myself.

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Where Did the Montessori Method Come From?

Developed over a century ago, Dr. Maria Montessori, an Italian physician, has her educational philosophy rooted in the belief that children thrive in an environment where they are given the freedom to learn at their own pace.

Through her meticulous observations, Maria came up with the Montessori Method of Education. Her educational philosophy saw the child holistically. It was not just about imparting knowledge, but nurturing the whole being of the child – socially, emotionally, and cognitively.

What is the Meaning of the Word Montessorian?

The word ‘Montessorian’ refers to an educator or parent who follows Maria Montessori’s Philosophy and Theory of Educating children.

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What are the Pros and Cons of a Montessori Education?

The Benefits of the Montessori Method of Education and Teaching

The more I explore the Montessori Approach to Learning and Education, the more I love it. I’ve had the opportunity to see its impact first-hand, as it is widely used in the nursery that both my children attended. These are just some of the amazing benefits I see to using this approach with young children.

Increased Independence: One standout feature of the Montessori approach is its emphasis on encouraging independence from an early age. Children are encouraged to choose their own activities and learn at their own pace. They develop self-care skills, instilling a sense of responsibility and self-sufficiency from a young age.

Increased Confidence: The Montessori Method encourages children to learn self-care skills from a young age, by making their environment accessible to them. Learning these skills increases their self-confidence and self-esteem.

Better Social Understanding: The mixed-age classrooms that are a staple in Maria Montessori’s theory naturally nurture social skills. Kids learn to collaborate, resolve conflicts, and respect each other’s work space. This enriches their societal interactions outside the classroom as well.

Higher Academic Performance: Maria Montessori’s philosophy isn’t just about emotional and social growth though. Children who have been taught through the Montessori approach often do well in reading, maths, and the sciences. This is often attributed to Montessori instilling a love of learning, encouraging natural curiosity, and having a hands-on approach to learning.

A Life-Long Love of Learning: How often do we see a child’s love of learning start to wilt as they are forced to learn in a certain style on subjects that are of no interest to them? This hands-on, child-led method of learning embraces their individuality and follows their interests,. This keeps them excited and curious in the learning going forward.

The Challenges of the Montessori Approach to Learning

Whilst I personally love this holistic approach to learning, it does, like all theories, come with some challenges.

Lack of Structure & Discipline: One common concern I’ve encountered is the misconception about the structure, or rather, the perceived lack of it. Critics often argue that because the Montessori approach emphasizes student-led learning and independence, it might not provide enough discipline for some students. However, understanding the Maria Montessori theory reveals that structure and freedom go together in this method of learning with the aim of encouraging self-discipline and responsibility.

Cost of Specialised Materials: Montessori materials are generally of high quality, often made of natural materials, like wood. This means they often carry a higher price tag than plastic toys. However, many Montessori toys and materials are open-ended, meaning they can be used for multiple purposes in imaginative ways. So, one could argue that they get more use out of them and learning can happen with less resources than are in a traditional classroom.

Pin text reads, What does a Montessori classroom look like and how does it work? Image of a section of a montessori classroom, with low shelves and wooden toys displayed so they are easy for children to reach and explore, baskets hold the smaller items.

The Montessori Classroom

A Montessori classroom is a calm and ordered place to be. The use of natural materials, natural light, and soft colors, helps with the calm feel.

Materials are laid out in a way that invites children’s curiosity and everything is accessible to the child so that they are able to explore and learn independently. Everything is in sight and reach of the children for easy access. However, it is presented in an ordered and structured way.

This is often achieved through the use of open, low, shelving and benches. Open, shallow containers, often made of natural materials are used to display materials, inviting the child’s curiosity.

There are often different areas and sections of the room for children to explore different ideas and concepts. However what to explore, and how, is left to the child.

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What is the Role of a Montessori Teacher?

Unlike in traditional methods of teaching, where the teacher instructs the class and they follow, the teachers (or guides as they’re referred to) in a Montessori setting, nurture a child’s natural curiosity, and take their lead from them.

Through careful observation, they are able to see what the individual child is interested in and currently learning about. They then facilitate further learning in those areas by providing materials that are accessible to the child should they wish.

I love how in Montessori, the teacher skillfully steps back, allowing room for self-directed learning, whilst also being ready to step back in when guidance or materials are needed. They’re not there to dictate the learning process but to support it.

The Role of the Montessori Teacher in Social Learning

Maria Montessori’s approach to social development involved providing opportunities for solving problems together and engaging in outdoor play. An emphasis is placed on children learning from one another, developing empathy, and understanding.

Throughout this process, the role of the teacher is to observe, ready to support if necessary.

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What Materials are Required to Teach Montessori at Home?

Many of the materials used in a Montessori classroom or home are specialized, hands-on materials that have been specifically designed for the Montessori Method.

They are often sensory-based materials with a story, a purpose, and a lesson to convey. These materials aren’t just tools; they are gateways to exploration, understanding, and development.

Six Examples of Excellent Montessori Toys for Learning

Montessori Color Tablets, like these from Amazon, are great for helping your child to differentiate color and shade. They also help with learning to order things. You can see an example of these in the top, left-hand corner of the image below.

Montessori Wooden Peg Board and Counting Beads, like these from Amazon, encourage counting, fine motor skills, and offer an opportunity to practice writing numbers. An example of this is in the top, right-hand corner of the image below.

Montessori Wooden Peg Dolls, like these from Amazon, provide opportunities for color matching, counting, and the development of fine motor skills and imagination. You can see an example of these in the bottom, left image below.

The Montessori Red Rods, like these on Amazon, are helpful in teaching children about length, ordering, and logical thinking. There is an example of these in the bottom, right-hand corner of the image below.

Wooden Rainbow Nesting Blocks, like these from Amazon, help children to learn about size, color, and 3 dimensional shapes. These are often used along with the Wooden Peg Dolls, I mentioned above, for imaginative play. There is an example of these in the image above this section.

The Montessori Shape Sorter, like this one from Amazon, is a fun way for toddlers to learn their shapes and practice their fine motor skills. This is a great independent play activity for little ones.

Pin text reads, 6 Best Montessori Toys for Learning. There are 4 images of Montessori materials used by children to learn independently.

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