Montessori Method
Montessori Education
The Montessori method was developed by an Italian doctor, Maria Montessori, through observations and learnings from her own students. The Montessori Method is now widely used globally as an educational approach that respects the student and supports them in reaching their full potential.
The Montessori approach to education focuses on the interest and needs of each student instead of the use of traditional lessons. Montessori is based on self-directed activities, hands-on learning, practical skills and collaboration.
The Montessori classroom is designed to allow students, with guidance and support of a trained teacher, to make their own choices in learning. This environment allows students to naturally explore and develop life skills, leadership, self-discipline, responsibility, and independence. The Montessori curriculum is non-graded and noncompetitive, thus permitting the child to work and grow in an environment that allows their individual potential to reach its own level, at its own pace, without negative pressure.
The Montessori teaching method involves the use of scientifically-based materials in the classroom. Each material has been designed with a specific purpose to help the student learn a particular concept or skill. Materials are designed to allow for independent learning and skill development.
The Montessori classroom is a mixed age group setting, where children are taught together in age clusters (Toddler: 18 months - 3yrs, Casa: 3yrs – 6yrs, Elementary: Ages 6yrs – 9yrs). This environment enhances the learning and development for all students.
Young students are able to see what the older students are working on and have something to aspire to; older students develop leadership skills and empathy in helping the younger students. This environment helps to eliminate competition and enhance peer-peer interactions as students have opportunities to learn from each other.
The Association Montessori Internationale
The Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) was established by Maria Montessori in 1929. The AMI aims to support and retain the integrity of Maria’s work while continuing to collaborate with ongoing research in neuroscience and child development. The AMI also offers standards for Montessori education, teacher training and support for Montessori schools.
At Manor Montessori, our approach to education is guided by AMI standards and our classrooms are equipped with AMI approved Montessori materials.
To learn more about AMI Canada:
5 Key Areas of Montessori Curriculum
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Practical life activities are the first skills that students are introduced to in the Montessori classroom. They are everyday activities such as: cleaning hands, dressing, pouring, polishing, caring for a plant, or carrying a water jug. Students follow a sequence of movements to finish a piece of work. Learning to follow the process or steps to complete a task is very important as this approach is then applied to multi step problem solving in subjects such as math (ex. Long division).
Working with practical life materials gives students purpose, responsibility and practice in methodical thinking. As students improve on these activities, they build independence, confidence, fine motor skills and focus/concentration. In addition, the materials gradually become longer with more involved steps which help the student sustain focus for longer periods of time.
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Sensorial activities in the Montessori classroom engage and develop the 5 senses: sight, listening, touch, taste, and smell. The sensory materials focus on developing a student's ability to equate certain attributes to objects. i.e., colour, length, texture, smell. Students will sort things by size, shape, color, touch, sound, temperature and weight.
Tools such as knobbed cylinders allow students to exercise their visual discrimination as they use their sight to judge diameter and sort knobs in the correct sized hole. Auditory skills are practiced through the use of Montessori bells and musical tools in the classroom. Tactile skills are engaged through touching and using different materials and students can explore smells and tastes through their experiences with new foods.
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The Math curriculum in the Montessori classroom is hands-on, allowing students to first gain a physical understanding of what numbers represent, followed by their association with the written symbols. Using Montessori materials, Mathematics begins by learning the symbols from 1 to 10 and the physical quantity of 1 to 10 - and then they are associated. This process is continued all the way through, to 1000.
Once the child knows the teen numbers, they are presented with the addition, multiplication, subtraction, and division operations in a concrete form. When working on these operations the child literally carries, borrows and changes the quantities involved.
Students progress through mathematical activities,from the more physical to the more abstract, at their own pace, allowing as much repetition as needed. Tools like golden beads and the strip board, help young students add, subtract, multiply, and divide numbers into the thousands.
In the Elementary years students continue to learn and progress in the complexity of their mathematics studies through use of the Montessori materials. Additional materials are also used including worksheets and textbooks to teach Ontario Curriculum topics (data management, money) in order that all students have a strong foundation in mathematics.
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Language activities in the Montessori classroom are designed to support students to further their language development. Students learn letters through touch, using sandpaper letters, and they learn the phonetic alphabet. Puzzle words are introduced as they begin the leveled reading program. As students grow in their language abilities, they are continuously challenged with new reading material, grammar studies and opportunities to expand their vocabulary and improve their spelling.
In the Elementary Montessori classroom students are challenged further as they study the Functions of Words (prefix, suffix, compound, words, etymology, etc.), Parts of Speech and Sentence Analysis. Oral language skills and confidence are developed through opportunities to present and lead the classroom.
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Students of all ages learn about the world around them through cultural studies. Curriculum covers: geography, history, general science, botany, zoology and the traditions of countries around the world. Students will learn about the world through various Montessori materials (globes, geographical puzzles, flags etc.), cultural lessons, artwork, songs, foods and more.
In the Elementary years students are taught greater breadth and depth within their cultural studies. Including the opportunities to prepare and present individual study projects and participate in field trips related to their cultural studies.