Applications of Theories Educators Employ

To be certified as a Montessori Teacher, educators must pass difficult written and oral exams. The teacher must practice the many basic lessons by using “manipulative materials” in all subject areas. Classes are not grouped by grade level but rather by “readiness levels.” Teachers are seen more as guides than instructors. Their job is to prepare individual daily lessons for each child. Teachers must set up the environment so that as the child is ready to grasp new concepts the tools to observe and achieve them are already set up for them. The classroom is set up by subject areas. For example, if a student is going to work in math, he goes to the “math area.” The student does not have to remain physically in that area but that is where all the materials are housed. All subjects are connected by topics and the lessons are all related to the topic. However, each lesson is written for different levels according to skill of the student. Everything the teachers employ in the classroom is based on the Montessori lessons. The method employs many “hands on” tactile activities which engage the child directly in the learning process. The teacher seeks to motivate the student to complete the work in his/her own timetable as opposed to demanding the work be done at a specific time. Teachers are not allowed to reward the child for doing his work because the accomplishment is his reward.

Aplications of Theories Parents Might Find Helpful

Montessori schools encourage parent’s involvement and parent education. They also believe in a strong relationship between home and schools. Montessori focuses on an essential foundation for the child’s growth. Teachers and administrators work together in the education of children. Children benefited the most from Montessori’s environment are those whose parents understand the developmental needs of their children and how this environment can aid in their growth. We have obviously seen the difference between a child whose parent, mom and dad are aware of these issues and the children whose parents are not aware. Montessori provides a multicultural environment in which all children celebrate their uniqueness in a warm and loving environment. It is plain to see how teachers care and teach children to love and care for each other. Thousands of parents have benefited from the Montessori Method of education and have expressed their joy and satisfaction from the grogram and the education. Parents have expressed that there is no greater feeling of pride than from being involved in the Montessori program. Montessori offers a variety of help to meet the family needs, provide full and half day plan as well as after school sessions and transportation. Montessori offers an academic curriculum, French, Spanish and computer courses for different ages. Many parents have put their faith in this program. Montessori believes that the world of tomorrow will be run by men and women who have obtained the greatest education from a young age.

Maria Montessori's Background

Dr. Maria Montessori was born in Chiavalle, Italy August 31st, 1870. Her father was an accountant of the civil service and her mom was well educated and loved reading. When Maria was five, they moved to Rome where she enrolled in school. When she was sixteen she went to school to be an engineer breaking several women constraining career barriers. After graduating, Montessori insisted in being a doctor, even if it was an only male career at the time. This turned her into the first woman to enter medical school in Italy. Maria Montessori graduated from medical school at the age of twenty-six and became known throughout the country. In 1897 Montessori started working at a psychiatric clinic where she developed an interest in children with special needs, then turned into the co-director of an institution that took in children with all kinds of disorders, and worked with them on her theories. There was where she met Guisseppe Montesano whom she had a love affair with and gave birth to a boy she named Mario. An opportunity presented itself giving Montessori the chance of working with "normal" children and then opened her first Children’s House in January of 1907. In 1909 Montessori gave her first training of her methods to 100 students, turned the method into a book and became a bestseller in the United States by 1912 and was translated to twenty different languages. Soon after schools practicing the Montessori Method were open all over the world. This caused Montessori to give lectures, public speakings and trainings all over the world as well. In 1933 a lot of her schools were banned due to fascism. Six years later Mario and Maria went to India to train teachers for three months. They found themselves unable to leave for seven years due to wars. They were finally released when Maria turned seventy; they trained thousands of Indian teachers before they left for the Netherlands where Montessori died in May of 1952.

Maria Montessori's Theories

Maria Montessori recommended a method in which children were not required to use text books in classrooms and that two or more children should never be studying the same subject at a time. She also believed that children were perfectly capable to learn from their environment as well as from other classmates instead of learning from an instructor or teacher. Teachers can only work with very small groups or with a child at a time but never teach a lesson to the whole class. According to Maria Montessori, children should be guided to explore basic lessons of math, science, language and arts. At the beginning of the year children are guided to gain independence and then move on to work and explore by themselves with instructor's help. These children are monitored and studied by instructors. Montessori classrooms with children between ages of 3-6 or 6-12 are of 30-35 students to one teacher and one non teaching assistant.