What is Montessori Education?

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Many teachers and parents hear of Montessori education and know that it is private and costly but do not have a clear picture of how Montessori Education works. The Montessori education system was founded by Maria Montessori in Italy when she opened her first Montessori school in 1907. At the time, her ideas were deemed quite radical. However, today they are widely accepted and have gained popularity.Montessori education promotes children to be independent and learn at their own pace. Children play and work on their own and are taught to be responsible for themselves by taking care of their own needs and belongings preparing their own snacks and cleaning up their toys and tools. The Montessori system views children’s play as learning and respects their independence and natural curiosity. The Montessori system believes children ought to learn from their own mistakes and figure out how to do things on their own rather than relying on an adult to tell them.

 
What is the role of the teacher?

Upon entering a Montessori classroom, you will notice that the mood is very serious and the children are working quietly. This is quite different from the chaos in traditional pre-schools. Teachers introduce new challenges once old ones have been successfully achieved. The focus is on teaching organization and good habits. Physical activity is a large part of a Montessori curriculum, with moving and learning being nearly inseparable. The Montessori system prides itself in having their own play and learns materials designed to stimulate the senses and build motor skills. Children are encourages to sort, stack and manipulate these materials. The materials are often made of natural substances such wood, fabric or metal.

 
No grades, rewards or punishments

In the Montessori system there are no grades, rewards or punishments. This is where the Montessori system is usually critiqued. However, published studies have shown that Montessori children demonstrate advanced social skills and creativity, and perform better on reading and math tests than students in traditional program of study.