Teaching Method
"In the words of the child - I hear and I forget, I see and I remember, I do and I understand..." - Dr. Maria Montessori
The Montessori Method is fundamentally different from traditional teaching methods. It uses a child-centered approach to help children develop to their full potential, by providing them with an environment prepared for self-directed learning, and personal guidance from specially trained teachers.
Children have a natural tendency to work. From birth to age six, they are sensorial explorers, constructing their intellects by absorbing every aspect of their environment, their language and their culture with all five senses. Then from age six to twelve, they become conceptual explorers. They develop their powers of abstraction and imagination, and apply their knowledge to discover and expand their worlds further. The Montessori Method works by taking advantage of the unique sensitivities and capacities at each stage of development.
The Montessori classroom provides a prepared environment where children are given the opportunity to respond to their natural tendency to work. The learning materials are specifically designed to help them explore their world and develop essential cognitive skills. Children work freely at their own pace, and in the process develop self-confidence, inner discipline and a joy of learning, free from peer competition. The mixed-age setting also encourages children to develop their personalities socially and intellectually at their own pace.
The Montessori teacher plays a supportive but important role in the classroom. The teacher observes, guides and encourages children on a one-to-one basis. This is not done randomly as it might appear to the occasional visitor. Knowing how to observe constructively, and when and how to intervene is a special skill that the Montessori teacher has acquired through vigorous training. Where needed, the teacher would intervene enough to help the child along, but not so much as to stifle the child's innate passion to explore on his/her own. Naturally, a younger child would need more guidance, and as the child develops less guidance would be needed.
Here are some of the key differences between Montessori and traditional teaching methods:
| Montessori Method | Traditional Method |
|---|---|
| The child learns concepts through Montessori materials. | The child learns concepts from teachers. |
| The child learns through all 5 senses, not just through listening, watching or reading. | The child learns by watching and listening. |
| The child can move on to more advanced work if he/she is ready and capable. | The child cannot move on to more advanced work because instruction pace is set by the rest of the class and the teacher. |
| An uninterrupted 3-hour work cycle allows the child to focus and concentrate on his/her own intellectual exploration. | The child is unable to concentrate on a particular project because the school day is broken down into numerous class periods. |
| The child spends the day actively learning skills and academics that appeal to him/her. | The child spends most of the day engaging in group activities that may not appeal to him/her. |
