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What is Montessori?

Montessori is a philosophy and teaching concept developed by Dr. Maria Montessori (1870-1952) in Europe during the early 1900’s. Montessori philosophy advocates independence and self-reliance; that a child’s early education should be reality oriented and should aid the development of the child’s physical, mental, social and emotional being.

Montessori identified the fact that all children pass through a “sensitive period” for sensory-motor activities; a time in which they experience a keen interest in touching, tasting, smelling, seeing, hearing, and exploring everything they come in contact with.

Montessori philosophy allows the child to acquire a love for, and joy in work; and the satisfaction of a task that is completed and well done. But, mostly, the child acquires the realization of who he/she is and develops into a secure individual.

Dr. Montessori discovered children posses amazing mental concentration and a love for repetition and order. If allowed to choose their own activities, they preferred work to play and needed no reward or punishment.

She developed teaching materials termed “didactic,” which allow the child to develop at his or her own rate through a particular skill or conceptual level. If the materials are presented at the appropriate time, accordingly, the child will absorb the information and use it as a foundation for his/her future accomplishments.

Most of all, Montessori’s philosophy stresses the innate potential of the child to develop in environmental conditions of freedom and love.

Montessori philosophy and method differ greatly from that of a traditional school environment. For more information on how these two teaching methods compare please view our comparison chart and information on the Montessori classroom.

Montessori versus Traditional Education –“The most important period of life is not the age of university studies but more the period from birth to age six…for that is the time when intelligence itself, her greatest implement, is being formed.” Dr. Maria Montessori

Montessori   Traditional
Three year age span   All one age
Motivated by self-development   Teacher motivated
Self-correcting materials   Teacher corrects errors
Hands on learning: manipulating objects   Teacher lectures
Individual learning   Group learning
Teacher is observer & directress   Teacher is the focal point & dominant influence
Cycles of activity completed within child’s time   Activity cycles determined by set time
Few interruptions   Frequent interruptions
Freedom to move and work   Assigned sets and specific class periods
Materials used in sequence with presentations   Materials used with no prior instruction
Work of joy and sense of discovery   Work because they are expected to
Environment provides discipline   Teacher provides discipline
Encouraged to help each other   Seek help from teacher
Child chooses materials   Teacher sets curriculum
Child sets own pace   Teacher sets pace for entire group
Emphasis on concrete   Emphasis on abstract
Reality oriented   Much role playing and fantasy
Recognition of individual sensitive periods  
All children treated a like
Child free to discover alone   Teacher continuously guides child
Carefully organized environment   Materials placed at random
Multisensory materials to develop specific skills   Play materials for non-specific skills
Self Education through self correcting materials   Use of reward and punishment in motivation
Respect of child foremost   Community needs take precedence
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