Safekids Montessori House of Children
FAQ
Who was Maria Montessori?
She
was an Italian physician and educator, the first woman to receive a
medical degree in Italy. Born in 1870, she developed her method of
education early in this century. She devoted her life to the education
of children and was honored and respected throughout the world at the
time of her death in 1952.
What is the Montessori Method?
The
Montessori Method is an approach to education which emphasizes the
potential of the young child and which attempts to develop this
potential by means of a prepared environment utilizing specially trained
teachers and special teaching materials.
Why did she develop her special teaching method?
She
developed her method because she was so distressed with the usual rigid
teaching techniques. Feeling that the young child had more potential
than educators realized, she began to develop this potential by a
sensorial approach (teaching the young child through his natural
interest in exploring the world through his senses.
What is meant by the "Absorbent Mind"?
This
term was used by Montessori to differentiate the process of learning in
the very young child from that of the conscious process of the older
child or adult. The young child takes in impressions from everything in
his environment. He learns everything without knowing he is learning it.
It is the result of this process that the language first spoken and
mannerisms first manifested will be a reproduction of those absorbed
from the child's immediate environment.
What is the "Sensitive Period"?
The
term "Sensitive Period" is Montessori's name for age periods when the
child shows unusual capabilities in acquiring particular skills. A
modern name for this phenomenon might be "windows of opportunity."
What is the Montessori concept of "freedom"?
Freedom is a goal, not a starting point. A free child (or adult) is one
who has developed his potential and prefers to work out problems for
himself but is capable of asking for and receiving direction when
necessary. An undisciplined and unskilled child is not free but is a
slave to his whims and moods and is excessively dependent on others. The
free child, of course, grows into the free adult.
What is the Montessori concept of discipline?
Montessori discipline is an "inner discipline" - control which the child
develops over his own behavior through his interest in the Montessori
environment and materials. Dr. Montessori noted that many so-called
undisciplined children were really frustrated by lack of proper
stimulation and would become happier and self-controlled after a period
of time in a Montessori class.
How large are Montessori classes?
The
ideal size of a Montessori class is 25 children per 2 adults. It is
important to leave your child in the Montessori environment for a
minimum of two years if any of the advantages offered in the environment
are to be absorbed by the child. The teacher's job is not to 'teach' in
the usual sense, but to encourage the child to 'learn how to learn'.
