Montessori Method
When Maria Montessori (1870-1952) graduated as Italy’s first female doctor she embarked on a career that led her to work with children excluded from the education system. Through her observations and studies, she went on to develop a method of education which is now used throughout the world with children of all abilities.
The method is based on self-directed activities, enabling the children to be independent learners and collaborative members of society. Children within a Montessori classroom are supported by trained teachers and offered a wide range of carefully designed activities.
The children work on their own and in small groups to discover and explore the stimuli from the environment prompting them to reach their own unique potential. Through the use of these specially designed materials and activities the children work at their own pace. They explore, observe and, often times, repeat the same activity. The children’s natural instincts will drive them on to repeat their chosen work and gain impressive levels of coordination, concentration, physical development, self-esteem, and intellectual development.
Dr. Montessori believed passionately that world peace could only be achieved through the work we do within our classrooms - to help children become tolerant, self-confident citizens guided by moral values which will help them to grow into strong, curious, socially and intellectually capable adults. The Montessori method transcends cultures, faiths, linguistic traditions and political systems.
“Children are human beings to whom respect is due, superior to us by reason of their innocence and the greater possibilities of their future”
-Maria Montessori
Who Was Maria Montessori?
Dr. Maria Montessori (1870-1952) was an Italian physician and anthropologist who devoted her life to understanding how children develop socially, intellectually, physically, and spiritually. By carefully observing children all over the world, she discovered universal patterns of development which are found in all children regardless of their culture or the era in which they live.
Dr. Montessori was one of the first women to be granted a diploma as a physician in Italy. Following her interest in human development, she assisted at a clinic for children with mental illnesses. She later directed the Orthophrenic School in Rome for children with physical, mental and emotional challenges. During this time, Dr. Montessori lectured throughout Europe concerning the needs of children and their value to the future of our societies. She stressed the need to change our attitudes about children and their treatment.
In 1907, Dr. Montessori was given the responsibility of caring for a group of children in Rome’s San Lorenzo slum district. She began to see the importance of a positive, nurturing environment that changed with the developmental needs of the child. As she observed the children and their response to the environment, she saw them demonstrate capabilities and interests that exceeded her expectations. The set of materials used in the "Montessori" environment were designed over a period of many years by
Dr. Maria Montessori and her associates, creating a concrete, physical representation of the concepts and skills that children are naturally motivated to learn in their normal course of development.
Dr. Montessori conducted her first international training course in Italy in 1913, and her first American training course in California in 1915. As she carried her vision around the world, she felt that the time had come to ensure the quality and integrity of what was being handed down in her training courses. For that reason, she founded the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) in 1929. Today AMI continues to support quality teacher training worldwide.
Maria Montessori was a visionary, not easily daunted by the many challenges she faced during her career. She traveled extensively, lecturing and teaching throughout Europe, India and in the United States. She was recognized for her efforts by educators, psychologists and political leaders of the day. Her associates included such people as Anna Freud, Erik Erikson,
Mahatma Gandhi, Alexander Graham Bell and Jean Piaget.
Dr. Montessori was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1949, 1950 and 1951 and continued working, teaching and writing up to the time of her death. Over the past one hundred years, children throughout the world have benefited from this educational approach that supports, nurtures, and protects natural development. Maria Montessori’s legacy lives on in the children whose lives are touched by her discoveries about life.
Why Choose Montessori Education?
Research shows clearly that the most important period in a human being’s educational and emotional development is not the years of high school and University or College but rather the first six years of life.
Dr. Maria Montessori developed the Montessori philosophy of education because she wanted to create a better world for future generations. With a little research into the benefits of a Montessori education, and a tour of a Montessori preschool, you will see why Montessori works and why parents choose Montessori.
The importance of early childhood education to children’s lives is beyond question. A good beginning to life is well recognised as the foundation for future development, health and well-being, not only in the early years, but also throughout life. Recent scientific studies have proven that children’s learning and mental development begins immediately after birth, and continues for the rest of their lives, but not at the same intensity that is demonstrated in the preschool years. With this in mind, infants, toddlers and preschoolers need positive early learning experiences that will lay the foundations for their intellectual, social and emotional development, and later school success. So how does Montessori based early childhood education prepare children for school and later life?
1. Key Developmental Stages
Montessori is a scientific method of education that is focused on the key developmental stages that all children move through on their way to adulthood. In each of these stages, children are in a sensitive period for learning different skills and activities that will help them reach their next developmental milestone. Dr. Maria Montessori believed that if children were provided with the opportunities to explore and practice these skills, they would make extraordinary progress. This is why the Montessori method of education has been designed around the unique developmental needs of the child. The Montessori curriculum, classroom structure, and learning materials have been tested, refined, evaluated, and proven across age groups, countries, and cultures to support and nurture the full developmental potential of the child.
2. Social Development and Collaboration
In a Montessori classroom, children are grouped with different ages and are encouraged to collaborate and help each other. This structure to the learning environment encourages children to share and work cooperatively to explore different areas of the Montessori curriculum. Based on the nature of the classroom environment, children learn to respect each other, develop the skills of collaborative problem solving, and build a sense of community.
3. Child Centred, Teacher Guided
The Montessori classroom is a prepared learning environment where children are free to choose from a range of developmentally appropriate activities. Teachers in the Montessori classroom are there to guide and facilitate the learning experience. They take the lead from the children in the classroom, ensure the ground rules are followed, and encourage children to work independently and at their own pace. Allowing children to direct their own learning enables them to learn in an enjoyable way and develop an enthusiasm for learning, along with self-discipline, independence and positive self-esteem.
4. Self-Assessment and Intrinsic Motivation
Self-correction and self-assessment are an integral part of the Montessori learning experience. As children progress through the education program, they learn to look critically at their work, recognize and correct their mistakes, and learn from their errors. By providing children with the freedom to question, probe deeply, and make connections, Montessori students learn to become confident, self-motivated learners that have an intrinsic love of learning. In this way, Montessori education cultivates engaged learners with a positive and confident approach to lifelong learning.
5. Learning for Life
Research conducted by a group of Psychologists in the US, published in the 2006 journal of Science, examined the abilities of children taught at a Montessori school compared to a systemic school. The research determined that children who attended Montessori schools were more creative, socially adjusted, and had the ability to adapt to changing and complex problems, which have been seen as predictors of future school and life success. In addition, the research determined that 5-year-old Montessori students were better prepared for reading and math, and that by the time they were 12, they could write ‘significantly more creative essays’ using more ‘sophisticated sentence structures’. Montessori children also displayed a greater sense of ‘justice and fairness,’ interacted in an ‘emotionally positive way’, and were less likely to engage in ‘rough play’ during break times.
In summary, Montessori education cultivates children’s natural desire to learn and achieve their full potential by providing them with the foundations for future growth. Montessori graduates range from the founders of Google and Amazon.com, to
Rhodes scholars and artists, through to well-adjusted, goal-orientated professionals. Dr. Maria Montessori’s understanding of how and why children learn allows the Montessori classroom to create an excellent foundation for children’s learning that opens the doors to education for life.
Why Choose AMI?
The Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) was founded by Maria Montessori in 1929 to protect the integrity of her work. Today, AMI continues to uphold these standards by offering high-quality, authentic and rigorous teacher training through its affiliated training centers.
It is important to note that Montessori is not a trademarked term. This means that there are many varieties of Montessori teacher training available, from 10-week courses and online certificates, to full graduate-level, AMI-recognized courses like those offered by the Foundation for Montessori Education in downtown Toronto.
AMI courses are conducted by AMI trainers, master teachers who have completed the Training of Trainers program and have a profound understanding of Montessori theory and practice. Graduates of AMI training courses must demonstrate understanding of educational theory, child development, observation techniques, use and presentation of the Montessori materials, and ability to create appropriate activities for children. The practice teaching component solidifies this learning through hands-on work in Montessori classrooms. We are proud that all Markham Montessori School guides are AMI trained.
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AMI Montessori teachers are in high demand. AMI Montessori diploma-holders are sought after by many types of Montessori schools, public or private. School administrators value the consistently high quality of AMI-trained teachers. While there are other good training programs, AMI training guarantees that teacher candidates have a deep understanding of the Montessori philosophy and principles of child development, as well as a thorough grasp of lesson delivery, not just in theory, but also in applied practice.
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An AMI diploma is your passport to the world. The Association Montessori Internationale diploma is used in over 100 countries.
