"The
secret of good teaching is to regard the children's
intelligence as a fertile field in which seeds may
be sown, to grow under the heat of flaming imagination.
Our aim therefore is not merely to make the children
understand, and still less to force them to memorize,
but so to touch their imagination as to enthuse
them to their innermost core..."
-Dr. Maria Montessori |
Dr. Maria Montessori (1870-1952) was moved
to create her educational method from a profound appreciation
for the power and mystery of the child. The child, given primary
respect, makes spontaneous choices within a prepared environment,
and is “free to create himself.” Students in all
parts of the world have benefited greatly from this understanding
of discipline, which teaches freedom and responsibility.
Montessori Education capitalizes
on natural learning preferences of children:
- Freedom of movement
- "Sensitive periods"
- Use of hands through manipulatives
- Encourages decision-making and choices
- Discovery approach as opposed to rote
or lecture
- Success of mixed ages
- Self-paced through individualized approach
- Optimal use of time
Montessori Education focuses on
the "total child":
- Intellectual development
- Care for self and the environment
- Social development and Moral development
(mutual respect)
- Physical development
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