Whoever touches the life of the child touches the most sensitive point of a whole which has roots in the most distant past and climbs toward the infinite future.
The Montessori Classroom
The Montessori classroom has three essential components: the child, the Montessori teacher, and the prepared environment.
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The ChildThe child is shown great love and respect in the Montessori environment. Maria Montessori often said, "The best for the smallest." That is the motto of Montessori education. Because the young child is not simply influenced by his environment but is creating himself with what he finds in his environment, this period of growth is extremely important. If we want the child to reach his full potential then we must give him the best materials. This self-construction is aided by an "absorbent mind." The child gathers information like a sponge. For example, no one sits down with a textbook and instructs an infant on the rules of grammar. The child's native tongue is learned naturally in the environment. It is possible to learn foreign languages later in life, of course, but no language is ever learned as easily or grasped so well as the language (or languages) that a child learns in the first few years of life. All of education should be this natural. Learning is not a task for the Montessori child, it is a natural activity undertaken with curiosity and joy. |
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The TeacherWithin the Montessori community, the teacher is usually referred to as a guide. This term is a more accurate description of her duties. She is not there to teach the child, but to guide the child to self-discovery. The focus of activity in the Montessori setting is on the children’s learning, not the teacher’s teaching. You will not see a teacher’s desk in a Montessori environment, for example, because the class does not belong to the teacher. Everything in the environment is there for the benefit of the child. The teacher is there to inspire, model, redirect, and supervise, but she is modest figure in the classroom. When the child is presented with a new lesson, the teacher usually demonstrates one-on-one. Then she steps aside to carefully observe and to let the child manipulate the material and teach himself. The Montessori-trained teacher is a careful observer of children. She anticipates the needs of the child and provides the proper challenges at the ideal time. Her observations are meticulously recorded and used to assess where the child is in his development. Another essential function of the teacher is to prepare the environment for the child. |
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The Prepared EnvironmentThe prepared environment is specifically designed to meet the needs of the developing child. Great care and attention are given to create a learning environment that will reinforce the children’s independence, active learning, and intellectual development. The Montessori environment does not have assigned seats or rows of desks. The rooms are instead set up to facilitate student discussion and stimulate collaborative learning. Students will typically be found scattered around the classroom, working alone or in small groups. The materials in the Montessori classroom are scientifically designed to meet the needs of the developing child. The materials have an inherent control of error so the child can self-correct his actions. Without interruption or interference from the teacher, the child works with the material, discovers, and enjoys a true sense of accomplishment. |