The Montessori method of educating happy children , have you ever thought of experimenting it? The principles underlying the Montessori method are applicable by everyone, even at home and in the family, even if they do not have the typical materials of this learning style available.
According to Maria Montessori, at the center of learning we find the child himself with his need to learn and learn within a rich, varied and stimulating environment. The children themselves can be left free to choose the materials, toys and tools they prefer to use at a given moment, because each experience represents an opportunity for learning .
Here are some reflections on the Montessori method that will inspire you as parents, educators and teachers.
Index
- Montessori method; environment and order
- Movement and learning
- Free choice in the Montessori method
- Stimulate interest
- Montessori method: the rewards
- Practical activities
- Groups with children of different ages, the recipe for the Montessori Method
- Importance of the context
- The role of the teacher according to the Montessori method
- Independence and self-discipline
- – TO CONCLUDE, THE FACTS IN THE MONTESSORI METHOD
Montessori method; environment and order
Maria Montessori believed that children learned better in an orderly environment . The advice is to create different sections on a shelf to store books, puzzles and toys. It is useful to choose baskets and baskets as containers to be positioned at heights that can be easily reached by children. The habit of order helps children understand how important it is to put toys and objects in their place at the end of the day. Make available to children games, furniture and objects made of suitable materials and the right size for their age and height.
Movement and learning
According to Maria Montessori , children need to focus on some activities that require the use and movement of the hands . Think of the classic scene in which a child learns to stack wooden cubes on top of each other. In this activity, which seems like a game, the child is not simply having fun but is learning the importance of concentration and coordination.
Free choice in the Montessori method
Maria Montessori believed that free choice was the most important of the mental processes of the human being. Children learn much more and absorb more information when they are left free to make their own choices. Freedom of choice does not mean, however, freedom to do what you want without rules . It is in fact a freedom that leads to the ability to choose the right thing to do. And for the child, the right thing is to decide to satisfy their needs to take a new step in their growth path.
Stimulate interest
The child learns and learns best if he lives in a stimulating environment full of interesting objects that attract his attention. Children should have many different books available, materials with which to make new small handmade objects, tools for drawing and coloring and anything that can stimulate their creativity. Even a background of classical or relaxing music can be useful when playing and learning.
Montessori method: the rewards
Maria Montessori did not like teaching systems based on prizes and punishments because she believed that the real reward for the child should be represented by the learning itself and its ability to have learned something new thanks to its curiosity and strength. According to the Montessori method, the real reward is to be able to achieve the goal : complete a puzzle, pour the water into the glass or transfer a seedling.
Practical activities
The learning of children according to the Montessori method occurs mainly through practical activities during the preschool age. The practical activities the child help to stimulate the sense of touch, sight and hearing, learning the order, concentration and independence. The activities useful to refine the senses will contribute to a better learning during the following years of school.
Groups with children of different ages, the recipe for the Montessori Method
At school children are distributed in different classes based on age, but Maria Montessori believed a lot in the formation of mixed groups with children of different agesbecause he believed this was a stimulus to learning. For example, younger children will be intrigued by what older people do and ask them for explanations. In turn, adults will be happy to teach children what they can do and have already learned. This advice is very important for parents who have children of different ages. The activities to be carried out together during group work can include: drawing, gardening, knitting and sports. One of the principles behind the Montessori method is precisely to let children of different ages interact so that they learn from each other.
Importance of the context
It is important, according to the Montessori method, that the topics and concepts to be learned are placed in the right context . In this way, children will understand them and remember them better. Concrete examples are easier to understand than abstract concepts. This principle also includes how fundamental it is to understand that children learn better by doing something rather than just listening.
The role of the teacher according to the Montessori method
In the Montessori method the teacher has the role of directing and facilitating the activities of the children. It is not just a person who gives a lesson by talking about the topics he would like to teach. The parents who act as teachers for their children in the parenting experiences are well aware how important a specific and direct involvement in the children’s activities, and in this way become more fun and less arid.
Independence and self-discipline
The Montessori method encourages children to develop independence and self-discipline . Over time, children will learn to recognize what their passions and inclinations are and will make you understand the learning style they prefer. Some children love reading, while others are more inclined for practical activities. Maria Montessori has tried to combine all aspects of learning in a balanced way so that the basic principles of her method can still be applied today by both teachers and parents.
– TO CONCLUDE, THE FACTS IN THE MONTESSORI METHOD
Recall that children are naturally attracted to activities that have clearly defined end goals. They love to feel useful in the eyes of parents and that is why their contribution to housework can be important. For this reason, according to the Montessori method, it is important that children learn home chores from an early age.
From 2 to 3 years, for example, they are perfectly able to put their games in order and to stack books and magazines, but they also manage to fill the cat and dog bowl.
From 4 to 5, on the other hand, they could already try their hand at small household chores, such as making the bed and removing the weeds from the garden.
At 10, however, it is possible to ask for their help with younger siblings, to unload the dishwasher and wash the car. They can also try their hand in the kitchen, clearly under close adult supervision. And they are perfectly capable of changing the sheets on their bed.
