The Montessori Method
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Maria Montessori
also famous for the contribution in the mentally retarded children, was the first woman to graduate from
the University of Rome La Sapienza Medical School. She was a member of the
University's Psychiatric Clinic and became intrigued with trying to educate the
"mentally retarded" and the "uneducable" in Rome. She was
appointed as the director of the Scuola Ortofrenica, an institution devoted to
the care and education of the mentally retarded. And her first notable success
was to have several of her 8 year old students apply to take the State
examinations for reading and writing. The "defective" children not
only passed, but had above-average scores, an achievement described as
"the first Montessori miracle."
One of her famous work is the creation of a scale of
sensitive periods of developments, according to the scale, a focus for class
work that is appropriate and uniquely stimulating and motivating to the child
were provided.
The sensitive periods of developments:
Birth to 3 years
The
absorbent mind and sensory learning and experiences. |
1 ½ to 3 years
Language
explosion |
1 ½ to 4 years
Development
and coordination of fine and large muscle skills, advanced developing grasp
and release skill spawns an interest in any small object. |
2 to 4 years
Increased
mobility with greater coordination and refinement of movement, increased
interest in language and communication, aware of spatial relationships,
matching, sequence and order of objects. |
2 ½ to 6 years
Works
well incorporating all five senses for learning and adapting to environment. |
3 to 6 years
Interest
in and admiration of the adult world. |
4 to 5 years
Using
one’s hands and fingers in cutting, writing and art. |
4 ½ to 6 years
Reading
and math readiness, and, eventually, reading and math skills. |
The Montessori method usually instruct children in
3-year age groups corresponding to sensitive periods of development with an
Erdkinder program for early teens. The classroom is a small, child-sized
environment (microcosm) in which each can be competent to produce overall a
self-running small children's world
The Montessori method is characterized by an
emphasis on self-directed activity on the part of the child. It stresses the
importance of adapting the child's learning environment to his or her
developmental level, and of the role of physical activity in absorbing academic
concepts and practical skills. It is also characterized by the use of
autodidactic (self-correcting) equipment to introduce various concepts.
There is not a specific curriculum set, observation
of the child in the environment is the basis for ongoing curriculum
development.
Among the critics of the Montessori method
are William Heard Kilpatrick and John Dewey, who argued that the method is too
restrictive and does not adequately emphasize social interaction and
development. Yet they agreed that children’s need should direct the education.
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