Montessori Education
The Montessori Method is an educational philosophy developed by Dr. Maria Montessori in the early 1900′s through extensive trial and error experiments with her own students. Maria Montessori cultivated a home like environment for her students because she discovered they learned best when they felt safe and comfortable. Not only did Maria Montessori expect her students to learn academics but also to develop appropriate life skills for them to function in society. By forming these skills, students were building their self-esteem as they learned to teach themselves. These advancements in education have a significant impact on Montessori classrooms today.
Specific Montessori goals include the development of positive attitude, self-confidence, concentration, curiosity, initiative, persistence, security and sense of order. Students acquire a high sense of intrinsic motivation, the most effective form of motivation, and push themselves to learn because they want to. Each child’s unique growth rate and learning differences are praised, encouraged, and celebrated in an environment that provides stability and consistency as each student works to their fullest extent.
The Montessori Method is unique in its ability to embrace the whole child and their needs, the prepared environment, purposeful materials, and the role of the teacher. The classroom teacher has a significant role as the facilitator of learning experiences and role model as they demonstrate the respect and responsibility necessary to function in the real world. They are also expected to be keen observers of each student and their work in the classroom.
A basic idea of the Montessori philosophy is that carried unseen within each child is the person that child can become. To develop their physical, intellectual and spiritual powers to the fullest, the child must have freedom achieved through order and self-discipline.
Dr. Maria Montessori developed what she called "the prepared environment." Among its features is an ordered arrangement of learning materials in a non- competitive atmosphere, which helps each child develop at his/her own rate. Dr. Montessori also recognised that self-motivation is the only valid impulse to learning.
The education at The Learning Curve is founded on the principles of the Montessori Method. Sustained throughout all programs, the method provides continuity and cohesiveness at all age levels in the school. The principles are expressed differently according to each particular need and developmental stage of the child.
The Best of Both Worlds - Montessori and Aistear Combined!
Aistear is an early years curriculum framework which is used as a guide for practitioners to plan and implement learning wholly for every child.
This framework proves very appropriate to be used in conjunction with the Montessori method of teaching as the approach is child centred where each stage of development is focused on as an individual where independent learning is supported and is not teacher driven.
Simply put, real world experiences/situations are provided in an inviting environment of open-ended materials where the following four themes are addressed:
In curriculum planning all of the above areas are addressed while undertaking the importance of Dr Maria Montessori's primary belief.
Specific Montessori goals include the development of positive attitude, self-confidence, concentration, curiosity, initiative, persistence, security and sense of order. Students acquire a high sense of intrinsic motivation, the most effective form of motivation, and push themselves to learn because they want to. Each child’s unique growth rate and learning differences are praised, encouraged, and celebrated in an environment that provides stability and consistency as each student works to their fullest extent.
The Montessori Method is unique in its ability to embrace the whole child and their needs, the prepared environment, purposeful materials, and the role of the teacher. The classroom teacher has a significant role as the facilitator of learning experiences and role model as they demonstrate the respect and responsibility necessary to function in the real world. They are also expected to be keen observers of each student and their work in the classroom.
A basic idea of the Montessori philosophy is that carried unseen within each child is the person that child can become. To develop their physical, intellectual and spiritual powers to the fullest, the child must have freedom achieved through order and self-discipline.
Dr. Maria Montessori developed what she called "the prepared environment." Among its features is an ordered arrangement of learning materials in a non- competitive atmosphere, which helps each child develop at his/her own rate. Dr. Montessori also recognised that self-motivation is the only valid impulse to learning.
The education at The Learning Curve is founded on the principles of the Montessori Method. Sustained throughout all programs, the method provides continuity and cohesiveness at all age levels in the school. The principles are expressed differently according to each particular need and developmental stage of the child.
The Best of Both Worlds - Montessori and Aistear Combined!
Aistear is an early years curriculum framework which is used as a guide for practitioners to plan and implement learning wholly for every child.
This framework proves very appropriate to be used in conjunction with the Montessori method of teaching as the approach is child centred where each stage of development is focused on as an individual where independent learning is supported and is not teacher driven.
Simply put, real world experiences/situations are provided in an inviting environment of open-ended materials where the following four themes are addressed:
- Well-being - (leader of the line ensuring confidence at work time)
- Identity & Belonging - (all about me theme week, jobs in the classroom etc.)
- Communication - (circle time which encourages self-expression, writing exercises, art, drama etc.)
- Exploring & Thinking (free play with open-ended materials, imaginative play)
In curriculum planning all of the above areas are addressed while undertaking the importance of Dr Maria Montessori's primary belief.
"help me do it myself"