Maria  Montessori and the Montessori Methods

An Italian Physican turned educator, Maria Montessori spent many years observing and working with children. In this process, she built on some of the ideas to educate children in a refined manner with proper materials and methods. Starting in the early 1900's and over the next 50 years, she developed an encouraging stimulating program where children could learn the skills they needed to eventually become responsible productive, independent and loving citizens of the world. The success of her program inspired many other educators to adopt her methods and carrry on her work. Today, Montessori schools and programs are found all over the world.

Montessori 's idea about education for children age 3-6 years has five major focuses-

• Absorbent Mind:   Children acquire language develop motor and cognitive skills copy the social skills of the adult around them.
• Sensitive Period; The Age 3 - 6 years is a age , where children are mostly ready and willing to learn a specific skills, demonstrate the step involved in developing that skill.
• Prepared Environment : The classroom is carefully designed and prepared by the teacher to facilitate children 's learning.
• Control of Error : A method of self- correction that is built into both materials and teachings.
• Practical life activities: This activities are the basis for developing not only motor skills, but also independence, self-confidence and a sense of community.

          The guide (teacher) in the montessori classroom works on a transformation of normalization ;  the mental state children reach when they approach their studies with enthusiasm work with little direction treat others in a respectful way and can work quietly on their own or with others.

          " The children learn from one another and throw themselves into the work with enthusiasm and delight. This atmosphere of quiet activity develops aid and most wonderful  of all , an intelligent interest on the part of the older children in the progress of their little companions." - M. Montessori

 ( source : Dr. Montessori 's Own Handbook New York , NYi Schocken Books , 1965 ( first published 1914) page  58