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"Our
goal is not so much the imparting of knowledge
as the unveiling and developing of spiritual energy"
- Dr Maria Montessori -
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Montessori's
programme is distinct - its focus being the instruction
of the child's development … thus setting it apart
from the other educational schemes where the ultimate goal
is sheer scholastic achievement. What is it?
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1.
Appreciate
the individual child
"The child is truly a miraculous being,
and this should be felt deeply by the educator."
- Dr Maria Montessori-
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Each
child is unique and Montessori requires the teacher to have
the mind of a scientist - to systematically observe each
child under her direction and analyze the results based
on the child's natural development. This enables the teacher
to be in tune with every child which in turn allows her
to address the specific needs of the individual. Therefore
the direction and plans for a Montessori class - whether
it be individual, group or collective presentations or activities
- are directed by the particular requirements of each individual
child in the environment. In a true Montessori class, there
is a noticeable absence of a fixed timetable, no collective
traditional style academic teaching and the teacher's presence
does not dominate the environment … and yet, the environment
remains calm and relaxed with each child spontaneously seeking
his own occupation, all working harmoniously together.
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2.
The Joy of Work
"An interesting piece of work, freely chosen,
which has the virtue of inducing concentration rather than
fatigue,
adds to the child' energies and mental capacities, and leads
him to self-mastery"
- Dr Maria Montessori -
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In
the Montessori class, the child works to perfect himself
from within using the environment as his resource …
as he development progress, so too does his creative interaction
with his environment. Montessori makes available to the
child many apparatus (e.g. Pink Tower, Geometric Shapes,
Trinomial Cubes, etc.) which embodies various concepts to
be mastered. By working with these apparatus, the self-educating
child unconsciously extracts the abstract idea of the concept
from the concrete impression of the material. Traditional
rote learning and 'spoon-feeding' by the teacher makes way
for instruction based on self-discovery.
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3.
Montessori Curriculum: The Creation of the Adult
"… the most important part of life is not the
age of university studies,
but … the period from birth to the age of six.
For that is the time when a man's intelligence itself,
his greatest implement, is being formed.
But not only his intelligence; the full totality of his
psychic powers."
- Dr Maria Montessori -
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To
facilitate the child in his role as the creator of the adult
who is a contributing member of society, Montessori provides
for an instruction which is all-embracing - a balance between
development, learning, curriculum and teaching.
a. Skills development - e.g. motor skills, practical living
skills, sensorial perceptions, thinking skills, etc
b. Emotional development - e.g. the inner will, character
and personality, social skills and moral conduct, etc.
c.Intellectual development - e.g. a solid base in language,
arts and math and cultural studies on physical and cultural
geography, zoology, botany, physical science, earth science,
astronomy, history, art, music and dance.
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4.
Spontaneous Self-Discipline
"Discipline, the first result of
an order establishing itself within,
is the principal phenomenon to be looked for as the 'external
sign' of an internal process that has been initiated."
- Dr Maria Montessori -
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In
many classrooms, it is the teacher who plays a dominant
role in calling the children to order and setting them tasks
- she alone decides the type and duration of work as well
as inducing them to complete the prescribed tasks. However,
Montessori's programme is entirely the reverse - the adult
helps the child to acquire self-discipline by satisfying
his need to freely (but within limits) choose his own occupation
without interrupting his spontaneous activity. There are
no threats, rewards nor punishments.
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5.
The Montessori Environment
"The first aim of the prepared environment
is, as far as possible,
to render the growing child independent of the adult"
- Dr Maria Montessori -
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The
Montessori class is prepared, furnished and equipped so
as to allow the child to perfect himself through his own
efforts … as the child becomes increasingly active
in directing his own actions, he attains an awareness of
his own abilities. Thus the Montessori classroom is attractive
and orderly; occupied by things which assists the child's
development. Things which are obstacles or irrelevant are
specifically excluded.
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6.
Montessori Materials
" When the materials have been constructed
with great precision,
they provoke a spontaneous so coordinated and so harmonious
with the facts of internal development."
- Dr Maria Montessori -
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Based
on her scientific observation and study of the natural development
of the child, Montessori created many apparatus aimed at
the specific developmental needs of the child.
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8.
Respecting the Child
"The child is truly a miraculous
being,
and this should be felt deeply by the educator"
- Dr Maria Montessori
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The
Montessori teacher links the child to the Montessori environment
through positive and dynamic means. A Montessorian does
not interfere when the child is working nor does she substitute
her will for that of the child. The child is always accorded
due respect … "put downs", sarcasm, humiliation
and embarrassment are eliminated.
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7.
Montessori Directress
"We
must be taught and we must be willing to accept guidance
if we wish to become effective teachers"
- Dr Maria Montessori -
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Montessori teachers must attain the love of a saint, being
patient and self sacrificing; the heart of a servant, possessing
humility and a willing to give to serve; and the mind of
a scientist that is intellectual and learned in order to
guide the child formation. |
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