Montessori Children's Centre 

The child is both a hope & promise for mankind
...our most precious treasure   

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maria Montessori  

   

The Montessori method of education.

Maria Montessori was born Chiaravalle, Italy August 31st 1870. She was the first woman in Italy to attend medical school & later completed education, philosophy and anthropology degrees.

In 1900 she was appointed Director of League Orthophrenic School which was a practice demonstration school for care & education of deficient children. In 1907 she established the first Casa dei Bambini. (House of Children.) In 1913 -1914 international training courses opened with Montessori as director.  Montessori spent the years from 1913 until her death touring & lecturing extensively in the Montessori method of education. Her work now primarily involved teacher training all over the world. In 1936 she established her home in Holland. In 1939 Montessori visited India to present speech to the World fellowship of Faith. She remained in India until the end of the war & in 1949, 1950 & 1951 was nominated for the Nobel peace prize. Dr. Montessori died in Holland in 1952.

Montessori philosophy 0-6 years.  The absorbent mind.

·       Montessori believed that an infant possesses the capacity to absorb his environment simply by being in it. She used the way he learns to speak as an example of this.

·       She believes that the first three years are those of unconscious absorption. We don’t know that the child has been absorbing things from the environment until he brings them to a conscious level, or says his first word.

·       All of a baby’s impressions are registered by his senses. The child touches everything, examines it minutely and puts it in his mouth.

Conscious level.

From about the age of three the child brings what he has already absorbed and continues to absorb to a conscious level. He now begins to classify his impressions.  e.g. colour red into shades of red.

This sub stage, which lasts until about the age of six, is characterized by the acquisition of language and the mastery of physical movements.

The toddler becomes a sprinter capable of challenging any Olympic athlete. The babbler conducts meaningful conversations and indulges in reality based pretend play!

Sensitive periods for learning.

Montessori believed that there are sensitive periods for learning things in which the child will learn effortlessly.  Once they have passed the learning can still be done but it is with effort only. These are now known as windows of opportunity and her observations are backed up by recent brain research findings.

From zero to six years the child is sensitive to order, acquiring language, walking, social aspects of life, small objects and learning through the senses.

Montessori concluded from her observations that:

·       The child wants to learn.

·       The child has an innate tendency to explore.

·       He wants to choose it and do it for himself.

·       He learns through his senses.

·       The hand is the instrument of the brain.

·       He wants to do what we do and use the same things we use.

·       He is fascinated by small objects.

·       He likes things to be orderly and beautiful.

·       He wants a chance to practice things

·       He wants to do it right.

·       Practice makes permanent.

·       He is interested in his social group.

The Montessori pre-school & toddler classrooms are prepared to allow the child to follow these special sensitivities.