Key Elements of the Montessori Method

The Absorbant Mind

Montessori believed that children will develop naturally in an organized environment. The child, according to the Montessori method, has an absorbent mind. This means that children actively learn through sensory experiences. Children, ages 4 to 7, are internally motivated to explore the environment and do not require external motivation to do so.

Play

Montessori significantly deviated from her contemporaries on the issue of play. Maria Montessori dismissed play as a waste of children's time. This included a lessening in the social interactions used in the classroom.

The Classroom Environment

The Montessori Method requires that children are provided an orderly environment that supports their abilities and allows them to complete tasks independently (1). These classrooms should include child-sized tables and materials arranged for easy access by children. However, the classroom is not to be ridgid in it's design. It should allow for flexibility within the everyday schedule. (9)

How Children Learn

Montessori believed children learn best from sensory experiences. She created alphabet letters with sandpaper so the children could feel the shape of the letters. From birth, children are encouraged to use their senses to engage in the environment (9).

What Should Children Learn

Montessori believed children should be learning to read as a strategy to teach writing. This idea was innovative for her time. Promoting reading was not accepted for children of a young age (1). Artistic and musical expression are important aspects of education in the Montessori schools. These pieces of education enhance the child's ability to integrate their senses into their learning (9).

The Teacher's Role

Within the Montessori Method, the teacher's job is to prepare the environment, observe children, and demonstrate materials. The teacher is not to interfere with the natural exploration of children, however. The teacher should present short lessons, but most of the day children should be exploring and choosing their own activities. (1)