The Montessori Method: What It Consists of and What Are Its Benefits?

MONTESSORI METHOD

The child must be left free to explore his worldThis is the idea behind Maria Montessori's revolutionary method. Born in 1870-1952, this extraordinary woman who was at the same time an educator, pedagogue, philosopher, doctor, child neuropsychiatrist and scientist, published a text in 1909 that has remained basis of modern pedagogy"The scientific pedagogy method applied to child education in Children's Houses “. This is the Montessori method which has as its the focus is on respect for the child's spontaneityIn Mary there is the certainty that in every child there is a inscrutable impulse that drives him towards learning. For this reason the real engine is considered to be the CuriosityA postulate that more and more schools around Italy are trying to make their own, revolutionizing their way of teaching. Today in Italy, according to the latest census ofNational Montessori Opera, have adopted the method in 37 nurseries, 256 kindergarten classes, and 350 primary school classes. These numbers increase from year to year. with a surge in demand from parents tooJust think that the Birth Center Montessori, for nursery school teachers, has quadrupled the hours of training bringing them to 3.600 this year compared to 900 in 2012.

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WHAT IT CONSIST OF

The Montessori method is an educational system, currently applied in 65 schools in 145 countries worldwide, including the United States and Germany, founded primarily on two principles: responsibility and awareness. Its fundamental principles include:

• Mixed classes, including age groups. Ages 3 to 6, 6 to 12, and 12 to 18.
• Freedom, on the part of the student, to choose independently the educational activities, within a series of options that are proposed.
• The child is never forced to do anything
• Each teaching activity includes blocks of three-hour lessons, to encourage learning and
• The learning environment is child-friendly, including the choice of furniture and furnishings.
• The teaching material is aimed more at the child's learning than at the teacher's evaluation.
• Much space is given to education about nature and the respect for the environment.
• Teaching is also linked to everyday life: children learn to lay the table or to make the bed.
• Parents are called upon, in agreement with teachers, to accompany their children on their educational journey.

THE VALUE OF THE GAME

Maria Montessori wrote, in presenting her method: . Play, therefore, has a central role in the Montessori method. And also some characteristics: simple, pedagogical games, made with natural materials (the preferred one is Wood), and aimed at stimulating children's curiosity, with pleasure. They range from rattles to three-dimensional figures, from puzzles to geometric stackers, from logic games to gymnastics equipment.

ADVANTAGES OF THE MONTESSORI METHOD

Among the advantages of the Montessori method is undoubtedly personalized teaching, in which no child is left behind or excluded. Everything is personalized, and this often leads to better educational outcomes. Furthermore, another advantage is the complexity of the subjects, which allows children to gain a broad, 360-degree understanding and facilitates the development of their critical thinking. The learning method is for everyone and focuses on inclusion, not competition. The Montessori method allows for the valorization of child's attitudes, in parallel with their needs, and to develop them autonomously, without fear of judgement, and of the teacher's grade. The Montessori method educates everyone, males and females, in the everyday life, including Houseworks which are no longer considered exclusive to women.

IMPORTANCE OF SILENCE

Among the things that are taught in school with the Montessori method there is the silenceA dimension completely lost in contemporary time, marked by the chaos of noise. Montessori silence It helps us feel good about ourselves and others, and above all, it helps us listen. Not just to teachers, but also to our classmates.

DISADVANTAGES OF THE MONTESSORI METHOD

The first disadvantage of the Montessori method is that it is a minority method and therefore creates some educational problems for children in view of their post-school education. It is not considered a suitable method for all subjects; for example, there is a risk of them not learning mathematics well. Once children have grown up with the Montessori method from kindergarten, they may have difficulty attending a traditional schoolDifficulties also include discipline and rules, which are certainly stronger in traditional schools than those implemented with the Montessori method. The Montessori method can be interpreted more as a philosophy than as an educational system. And in any case, it requires strong and consistent collaboration from the teachers. Parents so as not to disorientate the children once they return home.

MONTESSORI METHOD IN ITALY

In Italy, Montessori schools are recognized by theMontessori National Opera, an organization established in 1904, which also trains teachers, number 140, and the city with the largest number is Milan, with 12 Montessori schools in the city and another 7 in the province. If we consider the use of the Montessori method within other institutions, then the number rises to approximately 500 schools, both public and private, with a clear predominance of preschools.

MONTESSORI METHOD IN KINDERGARTEN

All 'asylum Montessori features crayons and paper for drawing, walls covered with fabrics of all kinds to train the senses of sight and touch, or copper plates and sticks to strike to get closer to sounds and music. All tools that the method defines as "development materials" to support all the potential and talents that every child possesses within himself. In order for these intrinsic abilities to emerge, Montessori maintained that it was not necessary never judge children's ability based on their age and don't let them do something because they're too young. The attempt, even if controlled, is the first engine of learning. For this reason, theMontessori educator is like a guardian angel who observes and almost never intervenes. And at the same time, she never forces a child to do something against his will, but rather stimulates his curiosity. Finally, the famous pedagogue strongly supported the need for an education based on contact with the nature, because a child left free on a meadow is able to release all his energy.

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