Maria Montessori (1870-1952) created the Montessori Method of Education. She becae the first female physician in Italy and as a physician she came into frequent contact with working class and poor children.It is from her experiences she observed that children build themselves from what they find in their environment. She believed that each child is born with a unique potential to be revealed rather than as a black slate waiting to be written upon.
Initially Montessori worked with intellectually challenged children. She recognised their need for stimulation, purposeful activity and self-esteem and she set up a programme teaching them how to look after themselves and their environment. She then went on to work with the children of working parents, co-coordinating a series of day-care centres in Rome. it was here that she founded her first Casa dei Bambini or "Children's Houses"
What ultimately became the Montessori method of education developed in her Children's Houses. She found that little children were capable of long periods of quiet concentration. They responded positively to an atmosphere of calm and order. She noticed that a young child's love for a consistent and often repeated routine is an environment in which everything has a place. Montessori discovered that the environment itself was all-important in obtaining the results that she had observed. Every piece of equipment, every exercise, every method Montessori developed was based on what she observed children to do 'naturally' by themselves, unassisted by adults. Maria Montessori is credited with the development of the open classroom, individualised education, manipulative learning materials, teaching toys and programmed instruction.
The Montessori Curriculum
The Montessori Curriculum caters for children from 2½ to 6 years. The children are in a prepared, ordered and safe environment where they are free to choose andd learn at their own pace. There is no front or back to the classroom, nor do the children have particular desks or chairs. The materials are kept on low open shelves where there is intentionally only one of each piece of equipment. This encourages self-discipline as each child must wait its turn and keep the materials inworking order so their friends cans use if after them. They are given the opportunity and responsibility of choosing their own work and over a period, the children develop into working with high concetration and with few interruptions. The children learn to co-operate an interact successfully with other classmates and their teachers.
In Montessori, the teaching goes from simple to complex, first introducing the topic gradually as a whole, and then going into specific detail, always refining the information increasing the child's knowledge. for example, in Culture, the children first learn about the world and what it is made of. They then explore each continent and then refine their learning to their own country. In Practical life, they start pouring pasta as it is easy to pour an easy to clean when it spills. When they have mastered this they move on to pouring rice which is smaller, heavier an harder to clean up. Followed by pouring water from one jug to another, pouring into equal containers, unequal containers an so on, always moving from the simple to the complex. Each child learns at their own pace, only moving to the next stage when they show the teacher they are ready for the next step. Most materials have a control of error allowing the child to self correct thus building their confidence and self-belief.
Development
Whilst children may get the opportunity to play and mix with other children through other childcare settings they may not necessarily be developing their full potential. The first 6 years of a child's life are vital for their development as they absorb a things around them. It is during these first six years that all patterns for their future thought and behaviour are being firmly established.
The Montessori method of education is based on the fact that children pass through phases that, at certain stages throughout their development, they have sensitivity to learning. if any phase during the child's development is hindered or missed, it will have an adverse effect on them. For example, a child's sensitivity to language begins around 3 months and lasts up to about 5½ years. By the age of six, the child will have acquired a large vocabulary from almost no direct teaching. If a child has not been exposed to language regularly during this period, it will greatly affect the child going forward.
Naíonra Montessori
At Naíonra Montessori your child will receive every opportunity to develop their potential through the medium of the Irish language. They will be introduced to skills and qualities necessary for them to live in a full, independent and safe way. They will learn skills they will require in everyday life - personal development, care of the environment, care of the person, social skills and the Irish language. They will work with materials to develop their senses and experience the joy of learning to read and write through language development. Culture will introduce them to the world they live in, as well as other societies and traditions. Through maths they will gain an excitement for problem solving that many of us never experienced. They will explore, play, learn, negotiate, enjoy are and develop a love of learning which will stay with them throughout their life.
PRACTICAL LIFE
The Practical Life activities are the first activities introduced and allow your child to try to do what adults around them are seen to do every day. The Practical Life area of a classroom is an extension of your child's own home environment. it's aims are to develop their independence, intelligence, concentration, co-ordination control, motor skills, social skills and self-discipline. The Practical Life exercises are broken down into four key areas:
- MOVEMENT: Develops the child's manipulative skills and body co-ordination e.g. pouring, cutting, folding, threading
- CARE OF THE PERSON: Teaches the child how to look after himself and his property e.g. putting on their coat, tying their shoelaces, folding their clothes.
- CARE OF THE ENVIRONMENT: Teaches the child tasks they will need and use within their own environment e.g. dusting, tidying up, setting a table, cooking skills.
- SOCIAL SKILLS: Grace and Courtesy teaches the child to understand their role in society and what kid of conduct is acceptable e/g/ how to speak in a group or greetings.
SENSORIAL
Sensorial exercises are for the development and refreshment of the child's five senses thereby sharpening their intellect and control and preparing them for more advanced exercises in maths, language and geometry. The exercises give each child the vocabulary they need to start out with, words such as height, width, etc. The child then takes these words and uses them in his environment. One step is completed at a time, progressively moving from simple to complex. Where possible each sense is isolated to provide an intense experience.
LANGUAGE
Language is involved in every aspect of the Montessori environment from Practical Life to sensorial but it is also introduced through a step-by-step programme starting with the Sandpaper Sounds. Each child will be introduced to sounds and words developing their reading and writing skills
CULTURE
Culture is made up of History, Geography, Science, Nature and Fine Arts. The subjects develop each child's individual skills, increase their vocabulary and reading skills, increase their knowledge, develop their physical skills, satisfy their senses, teach them changes and life cycles in life and nature and teach them ecology and aspects of different cultures. Culture helps the child understand where they are in the world and the important contribution they have to offer.
MATHS
Maths is introduce from the first day. it teaches them the study of form, quantity, numbers and relations. it allows them to understand analysis and clear reasoning. Above all, it teaches logic.
CIRCLE TIME
Circle Time is where the child learns the skill of listening, concentration, turn taking and sitting for a set period of time (remember there is no set seating in Montessori and a child can freely wander around the classroom unlike school). Circle Time introduces the children to exciting topics on a weekly basis such as Our Feelings, Our Manners, The Solar System, Life Cycles to name a few. In addition to our weekly themes the children learn the calendar, songs and rhymes and have lots of fun learning their sounds and numbers. Each sound will be taught using the phonic method.