Maria montessori

Maria Montessori

1. Maria Monetessori was born in Chiaravalle , Italy on August 31, 1870 to wealthy, well educated parents. Maria grew up being encouraged to pursue education and a professional career. She was advised to become a teacher. She chose otherwise and became a medical doctor, a pediatrician. Montessori made history by becoming the first woman in Italy to graduate from medical school in 1896.(Mooney,2013,p.35 ) Montessori’s first job was to visit insane asylums and select patients for treatment. While working in the insane asylums she became interested in young children and their needs. She took special interest in children that were labeled “unteachable.” She observed the children and documented her findings . (Mooney,2013,p.35-36 ) Montessori developed methods that aided in educating these children and she was labeled a “teacher”, despite the fact that she had a doctoral degree. Maria montessori

2. In 1907 she opened her first Casa dei Bambini (Children’s house) in the slums od Rome. (Mooney,2013,p.36) She made many of her own materials. (Mooney,2013,p.36) She was nominated three times for the Nobel Peace Prize. By 1913 there were almost one hundred schools in the United States following Montessori’s methods. (Mooney,2013,p.36) 1922 she appointed a government inspector of schools in Italy. (Mooney,2013,p.36) In 1929 Dr. Montessori established the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) to support the swell of Montessori schools, teacher education programs, and national organizations around the world .( American Montessori Society, 2010 ) She was forced to leave Italy in 1934 due to her opposition of Mussolini’s fascism. She died in 1952 in Holland leaving behind ideas and writings for educational programs for children. Maria montessori

3. Casa de Bambini, also know as Children’s House was established in 1907 to keep children of working parents out of the streets. (Mooney,2013,p.36 ) Montessori created a school environment to make up for impoverished conditions of many children’s homes. (Mooney,2013,p.36 ) She determined that to be comfortable, young children needed furnishings their own size and tools that fit their small hands. (Mooney,2013,p.36 ) Montessori schools opened throughout Europe, in North and South America, and, finally, on every continent but Antarctica . (American Montessori Society, 2010) Montessori’s Children’s house

4.   Independence: It is always a goal of Montessori education in the classrooms to make the child independent and be able to do things for himself. This is achieved by giving children opportunities. Opportunities to move, to dress themselves, to choose what they want to do, and to help the adults with tasks. When the children are able to do things for themselves there is an increase in their self belief, self confidence and esteem that they may carry on throughout their life . “ Children want and need to care for themselves and their surroundings.” (Mooney,2013,p.42 ) The teacher’s job is to prepare the environment, provide appropriate materials, and then step back and allow the children the time and space to experiment. (Mooney,2013,p.42) Principles of Montessori

5.   Observation: Maria Montessori learned about children and developed her theories on child development through observing children. She observed without preconceived ideas that helped her develop materials that the children needed and were interested in. Observation is also the way adults can learn about what the child needs are . (Daily Montessori, 2014) Principles of Montessori

6. Following the Child: f ollow the child, they will show you what they need to do, what they need to develop in themselves and what area they need to be challenged in. The aim of the children who persevere in their work with an object is certainly not to “learn”; they are drawn to it by the needs of their inner life, which must be recognized and developed by its means.” –Maria Montessori   (Daily Montessori, 2014) From what you have observed from the actions of the children, follow them in what they need to do. If they want to climb, give them the opportunity to climb in a safe manner, do not be overprotective. Following the child also means being non-directive, do not tell them what to do all the time. (Daily Montessori, 2014) Children should be given freedom to choose and explore what they have an interest in or need to explore. They should not be told what they should do, but be given choices. Do not tell them what they have to do, but rather present them with choices of different materials/toys. (Daily Montessori, 2014) Principles of Montessori

7. Correcting the Child: Children make mistakes. They may spill something, drop food unintentionally and so on. There is no need to raise your voice in situations like those. Instead, calmly recognize the mistake “oh you’ve spilled the water…, why don’t we get a cloth and wipe it up.” This is an opportunity to ask the child to do some valid practical work with you. You will find that children do like to clean up as they see it as something adults do. There is no need to blatantly point out a child’s mistake, there is a way to make them realize it. For example, with a cloth bib a child who is learning how drink from a glass will find out that if he tips the glass a bit too early, the water will spill on him and he will feel it. If they mispronounce a word, there is no need to correct them, but rather say the word correctly. Correcting children may result in them being scared to attempt anything in fear of making another mistake. Children will make mistakes and we need to teach them in a nice manner. Giving the children freedom and choice , supporting them in their choice by making sure they are safe, feeding their inquiring minds in a way that they can understand and observing their needs and fulfilling these can be the key to helping your children develop their full potential . (Daily Montessori, 2014) Principles of Montessori

8. Prepared Environment: “The teacher’s first duty is to watch over the environment, and this takes precedence over all the rest. It’s influence is indirect, but unless it be well done there will be no effective and permanent results of any kind, physical, intellectual or spiritual.” –Maria Montessori. (Daily Montessori, 2014) The prepared environment is important part of Montessori. It is the link for a child to learn from adults. Rooms are child sized with activities set up  for success and allow freedom of movement and choice. The environment has to be safe for the child to explore freely. The environment has to be ready and beautiful for the children so it invites them to work. Montessori refers to work as an activity the child does or what many people might call play. She calls this work since it is through this that they create themselves and it is not just a play. Their play is their work and they are still enjoying it. The adult’s role then is to construct the environment in which they will learn. The development of the child  is therefore dependent on the environment she or he is in, and this environment also includes the parents . (Daily Montessori, 2014) Principles of Montessori

9. Absorbent Mind: Montessori observed how children learned the language without anyone teaching them. This sparked her idea for the “absorbent mind”. Children under the age of three, do not need to have lessons in order to learn, they simply absorb everything in the environment by experiencing it, being part of it. It is therefore important that the environment set up is good, nice and positive since this is what the child will absorb whether he chooses to or not. (Daily Montessori, 2014) Principles of Montessori

10. Teachers are trained to teach little and observe much. Teachers must plan activities and have materials on hand to support the children the children’s interests. Teachers are not to pull children away from projects unless its absolutely necessary. The Montessori Teacher

11. Montessori believed in providing children with real tools that work, such as sharp knives, good scissors, and woodworking and cleaning tools; Materials and equipment are to be accessible to the children and organized so they can find and put away what they need, every material should have a place and marked in a child-friendly way, with photographs or drawings as well as the printed name of the material that belongs there. (Mooney,2013,p.38 , 40) Create beauty and order in the classroom. (Mooney,2013,p.38 ) Montessori’s Beliefs on tools and classroom setup

12. Montessori objects

13. Observing a Montessori classroom

14. Montessori’s work is present in most classrooms today, her theories are specifically the basis of early childhood classrooms. Today you will find early childhood classrooms with child-sized furnishings, labeled shelves for materials, scheduled time for free play, students engaging in activities that promote independence, freedom of choice and teachers observing their students. Today some teachers create lessons tailored by the observation of their students, especially when individualizing lessons for students with special needs. Montessori made a lasting impression on the world of education and as simple as her theories are, they make a big difference in the way children are educated today. Montessori’s theories have altered the way in which teachers teach their students and the way students learn, she was a pioneer for twenty-first century education. Montessori and education today

15. Bibliography American Montessori Society. (2010). History of Montessori Education | American Montessori Society . Retrieved from https://amshq.org/Montessori-Education/History-of-Montessori-Education Daily Montessori. (2014). Montessori Theory | Daily Montessori . Retrieved from http://www.dailymontessori.com/montessori-theory/ Johnson, E. (2009, June 1). Montessori Assistant Training (Classroom Role) [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LU_qjHYGH6o Mooney, C. G. (2013). Theories of childhood: An introduction to Dewey, Montessori, Erikson, Piaget, and Vygotsky (2nd ed.). St. Paul, MN: Redleaf Press. Wikipedia. ( n.d. ). Maria Montessori [Photograph]. Retrieved from http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maria_Montessori By:Marilyn Spencer, 2014