MONTESSORI METHOD
Dr. Maria Montessori, Italy’s first female physician, developed her philosophy of child growth through careful observation of children. Through the years she experimented with different teaching material and educational methods. Using the child as her text book she, set about developing her own philosophies and educational equipment.
In 1906 she founded a children’s school in Rome and the educational system she developed there spread throughout the world. Dr .Montessori believed that from birth to the age of six years the child has an “absorbent mind” that endows him/her with a great capacity for disciplined work and a voracious appetite for learning.
Dr. Montessori proved that the years from three through six are a particularly “sensitive” period, and if the school promotes these “sensitive” periods the child’s mind will develop from within. Many of these sensitive desires completely disappear by the time the child reaches the traditional school age of six.
The Learning Environment
& The Child
In the Montessori classroom the child progresses individually in classes that span a three year range. The principal role of the Montessori teacher is that of "facilitator", exploring each child's interests and level of understanding and promoting his own inquisitiveness and natural desire to learn and grow. Independence, self-reliance and positive self-esteem are natural outgrowths of this kind of learning environment.
More Information
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