How Children Learn: Learning the Montessori Way

By Michele Blandino

When evaluating pre-schools, many parents are surprised to learn that there are many different instructional methods used. One such method is Montessori. Before we discuss the philosophy of the Montessori method, it may be helpful to learn a little bit about the educator who founded it.

A Brief History Lesson

Dr. Maria Montessori has the distinction of being the first woman in Italy to receive a medical degree. Born in 1870, Dr. Montessori studied engineering for seven years before ultimately enrolling in medical school.

After receiving her degree, she began to develop an interest in working with children. In 1907, she was given the opportunity to study 50 children living in one of the poorest sections of Rome. Here, she discovered that children were able to learn simply through the process of going through the routines and activities of their daily lives. This eventually gave rise to the Montessori teaching method which allows children to choose from a number of developmentally appropriate activities. The Montessori method was introduced in the United Sates in 1915.

Montessori Today

Today, the Montessori method is employed in both public and private classrooms. Under this method, classes are comprised of students in age-specific groups, typically: ages newborn - three, three to six, six to twelve, twelve to fifteen and fifteen to eighteen. Each classroom is organized into a network of workstations each representing a different subject area. The students are free to move about the room and study the topics that are of interest to them. The teacher, though always present, serves as a mentor and helps guide the student through their day but does not present lessons in the traditional manner.

As a result, at any given moment, students within a particular classroom can be collectively studying math, language, science, history, geography, art and music at the same time.

Many people are surprised to learn that the optimal size of a Montessori class in the three-six and six-twelve age groups is 30-35 students. While this may seem large, it is important to remember that the teacher's role is largely to observe, and provide individual instruction as needed.

As students progress through the system, they are given even more accountability for what they learn. Beginning at around age 7, students are required to develop contracts with their teacher to ensure their studies are well balanced. As the students strive to meet these contracts, they are developing organization and time management skills.

The Teachers

A fully credentialed Montessori teacher is one who has a bachelor's degree and who has completed a certified Montessori training program. Offered by various officially recognized groups and organizations, the training program includes course work in areas such as developmental psychology, Montessori theory, hands-on classroom training and practice teaching within certified classrooms.

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