Montessori Glanmire
The Montessori Method
What Montessori Means To Us
- Freedom with responsibility – In the Montessori classroom, children are allowed the freedom to choose their own work within the boundaries of the curriculum and the expectation of appropriate behaviour towards others.
- Concrete to abstract – Dr. Montessori discovered that children develop academic skills best by starting with manipulative materials and, through their use, progressing to the abstract.
- Development of the Whole Child – Attention is given to academic, social, spiritual, and physical growth, with a focus on the development of inner discipline and self-confidence.
- Love of Learning – The Montessori environment serves to preserve and nurture the child’s innate joy and satisfaction in learning, in doing meaningful work and in exploring life
Philosophy
Dr. Montessori observed that children have an innate desire to explore and learn about their world. The curriculum and teaching method she developed was designed to appeal to and nurture the child’s basic desire to learn. Many parents are attracted to Montessori because of the amount children learn at an early age. After spending three years in the Primary environment, a child is typically reading, writing, adding and subtracting, and naming continents and countries on the globe. However, the more significant value of a Montessori education lies in the often-overlooked aspects of a child’s development that prepare them for full participation in our society.
The Montessori Method
Montessori discovered that children have sensitive periods or critical learning periods that are age-specific. During each of these periods, children exhibit a burning interest in specific kinds of activities and the acquisition of specific knowledge and skills. Montessori provides opportunities to engage in activities, which match specific sensitive periods. Children are presented with a number of different materials and activities appropriate to their sensitive periods and are given the opportunity to choose from among them.
They follow their inner directives and choose activities, which fulfil the needs of these periods. In the process, they learn to make choices and to make constructive use of their time. The students stay in touch with their innate desire to learn and pursue activities and topics of interest further than would be required in a regular school setting. Thus an ability to work independently and a love of learning are established. The students become independent thinkers, capable of making decisions and pursuing knowledge on their own. These are attributes, which enhance quality of life and are especially important in the development of future leaders.