Montessori

"What is Montessori anyway?" is a question I am frequently asked. I just wish that there was a simple answer.

Montessori refers to schools developed by Italian doctor Maria Montessori in the early 20th century. Her beliefs are based on years of observing children. She discovered that children follow a pattern of development. The first six years of a child's life is a period of time in which the child learns with a greater capacity and ease than at any other time in their life. Montessori also realized that children learn by doing and not by being taught by adults. In order to maximize the learning potential, Montessori put together activities to assist the child in that development.

Most Montessori schools in the US cater to the 3 - 6 year old range. However, Montessori designed curriculum to cover children from birth through the high school years. One can even attend a Montessori College!

Montessori never licensed her ideas or work which is why you will find no two schools that are alike. Anyone can put Montessori in the name of their organization, so parents need to research and observe any classroom before choosing a school.

So what is Montessori anyway? I think it is a philosophy: a belief of what children are like and how they develop. I think Montessori is a method: there are techniques in giving lessons to children that an adult must learn. It is curriculum and materials: there are subject areas and content Montessori felt important to share with children, and developed materials to support the content. I think it is a style: Montessori classrooms look nothing at all like traditional classrooms. To me, Montessori is all these things.

But I can't easily explain this to the casual inquirer. Generally I say, "Montessori is individualized learning in a group setting." And generally, people are satisfied with this response!

Image used under Creative Commons from Clearly Ambiguous

Today I did my math and science.
I toasted bread, I halved and quartered, counted, measured, and used my eyes, ears and hands.
I added and subtracted on the way.
I used magnets, blocks and memory tray.
I learned about a rainbow and how to weigh.
So please don't say -

'ANYTHING IN YOUR BAG TODAY?'

You see. I'm sharing as I play, to learn to listen and speak clearly when I talk
to wait my turn and when inside to walk.
To put my words into a phrase, to find my name and write it down.
To do it with a smile and not a frown,
to put my pasting brush away. So please, don't say -

WHAT NOTHING IN YOUR BAG TODAY?'

I learned about a snail and a worm.
Remembered how to take my turn.
Helped a friend when he was stuck.
Learned that water runs off a duck.
Looked at words from left to right.
Agreed to differ, not to fight.
So please don't say -

'DID YOU ONLY PLAY TODAY?'

Yes, I played the whole day through.
I played to learn the things I do.
I speak a problem, find a clue
and work out for myself just what to do.
My teacher's set the scene, and stay near-by to help me when I really try.
They are there to pose the problems, and to help me think.
I hope they will keep me floating and never let me sink.
All of this is in my head and not in my bag. It makes me sad to hear you say -

'HAVEN'T YOU DONE ANYTHING TODAY?'

When you attend your meeting today and do your work I will remember not to say to you -

'WHAT NOTHING IN YOUR BAG? WHAT DID YOU DO?'

~Author Unknown