About Montessori
What is The Montessori Education ?
Montessori Education was created around the turn of the last century by Italian physician Maria Montessori. It quickly became popular in Europe and came to North America around 1912. The model is most often used in early childhood education, but the principles are used in elementary, middle, and high schools throughout the country.
Montessori education highlights various concepts of childhood development and education that emphasize independence and non-conventional measures of achievement. Within the method, children are encouraged to:
- Work through discovery rather than specific instruction
- Use materials made out of natural elements like wood rather than plastic.
- Choose their own activities from a set of options.
- Work at their own pace.
- Have uninterrupted blocks of time to play and learn.
- Expand their absorbent minds.
- Work in an environment prepared to meet their needs.
One of the most important principles of Montessori Education is that children should be treated with respect, to freely initiate their own learning processes. Feeling respected encourages them to develop their sense of self.
Montessori Education is based on specific development stages or planes. These planes are essential for understanding how children are learning and how they see the world and helping them have the materials they need to thrive.