Montessori Schools

Montessori SchoolsMontessori education is characterized by an emphasis on independence, freedom within limits

and respect for a child’s natural psychological development. The teacher, child, and environment create a learning triangle. The classroom is prepared by the teacher to encourage independence,

freedom within limits, and a sense of order. The child, through individual choice, makes use of what the environment offers to develop himself, interacting with the teacher when support and/or guidance is needed. Classroom materials {for preschool} usually include activities for engaging in practical skills

such as pouring and spooning, materials for the development of the senses, math materials, language materials, music and art materials, and more. - American Montessori Society

Katherine, Kate, Maddie, Seamus

What kind of freedoms did you have in

Elementary School?

Founder● Maria Montessori, Italian

physician and educator● Advocated child development

through free play● 1897: voluntary assistant at

University of Rome’s psychiatric clinic

● 1907: opened Casa dei Bambini in Rome

Early Education• Children usually enter at age 3• “planes of development”

o Early education for ages 3-6 cater to the “absorbent mind” and “sensitive periods”

• Self-motivation, self-discipline, curiosity

• no homework• Usually schools are up to grade 8

A typical classroom• Mixed grades

o One classroom: pre-K, kindergarteno Another classroom: 1st, 2nd, 3rd grade

• Activity options (“stations”)o Hands-on toys (building blocks)o Intellectual tasks (mixing primary color dyes)

• Specific rules/instructionso particular way to build and take down blockso Specific dye amounts to mix

Reporting Progress• No letter grades, no ranking• Students complete yearly self-

evaluations • Student portfolios• Parent/teacher conferences• Teachers write report discussing

student’s progress (1-2 times per year)

Admission● $1000-$14,000 annual tuition (big range

because all are privately operated)● Some public schools offer montessori

programs● Most are admitted through a lottery

system (especially older kids) ● For younger children, sometimes require

previous montessori experience

Montessori ActivitiesSorting

Lacing (fine motor skills)

Matching

Mixing (colors)

How would the activities and structure of a

montessori school benefit a young child’s

development? Older child?

C0nnections to the BookOther than the obvious connection to Montessori…

● Froebel and Piaget for the methods of instruction○ self-activity, active learning○ Froebel especially for his kindergarten

■ both created learning environments based on kid’s development

● Pestalozzi (inquiry based learning)

Bibliographyhttp://www.montessori-namta.org/FAQ/Montessori-Education/How-much-does-Montessori-costhttps://www.amshq.org/http://danaspinkribbon.blogspot.com/2013/02/50-montessori-activities-for-2-year-olds.htmlhttp://www.amshq.org/School-Resources/Public.aspxhttp://terrellfamilyfun.com/2013/07/why-pick-a-montessori-school/