With it’s philosophy of using child-directed learning, Montessori preschools are growing in popularity among parents. So what exactly is the Montessori approach to education?
The History Behind Montessori
In 1897, Italian physician and educator Maria Montessori began to develop the philosophy behind what we call Montessori today; attending courses in pedagogy and observing children scientifically with the materials and lessons in their environment. In 1907, the first Montessori classroom opened in Rome. Canada would see it’s first Montessori classroom in 1912, with more than 500 operating today. After an influential American educator released a damaging critique of Montessori education in 1914, popularity waned but resurfaced in the 1960s. There are now thousands of Montessori schools across the United States.
The Montessori Philosophy
There are two basic principles within the Montessori model of education:
- Self-discovery for children occurs through interaction with their environment and, as such, that environment should inspire a natural desire to learn.
- Children, particularly those under 6, follow an intrinsic path of psychological development.
Montessori views children as naturally eager to learn, and capable of self-driven learning within an environment that supports them to do so.
Montessori classrooms differ from conventional classrooms in that a natural aesthetic and materials such as wood and metal are used wherever possible. These materials should be within easy access to the children, arranged on open, low shelving. A minimalist approach to decor is common; everything in the class has it’s specific spot. Montessori classrooms often instil a sense of calm. A traditional Montessori classroom is separated into five learning areas – the idea behind this arrangement is that children will then be able to easily find materials they would like to work with. The five areas of a Montessori classroom are: Language, Culture, Math, Sensorial (activities that use the senses), and Practical Life (life skills).
Typically, a Montessori preschool class is a mixed age range of children, usually 2.5 to 6 years (most Montessori classrooms are filled with children of mixed age groups, in three year spans to encourage peer learning). Activity choices for the day are first presented by the teacher and these activities are mostly hands-on. Children choose where to sit, what to work on with large, uninterrupted blocks of time and a teacher guiding them along the way. Apart from creating an environment conducive to Montessori learning, a teacher’s job is to step back and make room for exploration.
Proponents of the Montessori approach claim that it enhances social interactions, independence, and that children in Montessori programs tend to become highly self-regulated. However, there is little in-depth research to prove that children learn more in Montessori programs than they would have in conventional programs. The Montessori curriculum may be too loose for some children as there is less structure. Some children prefer a routine based program that would be found in a traditional preschool class.
Local Montessori Programs
There are three Montessori Centres for early learning advertised within the Comox Valley; Inner Smile Montessori located at 571 – 16th St. in Courtenay, and their second location at 2710 Comox Rd. and Little People’s Place Montessori located at 2155 Lake Trail Rd.
Queneesh Elementary offers a publicly funded Montessori program for grades K-7. 2345 Mission Rd.
Beginning in fall 2020, Courtenay Community School will be offering a Montessori K/1 program. 1540 McPhee Ave.
Five Dimensions of Quality
- Experiences of and outcomes for children
- Independence – children are able to choose their own work within the classroom and when they please
- Intrinsic motivation – working for the pleasure of doing so, without rewards and/or fear of reprimand
- Confidence and Competence – children are given opportunities to reflect and discuss their work and for self correction
- Experiential learning – children learn by working with materials rather than through memorisation.
2. Experience of families and professionals
- Montessori encourages parents to join them in a collaborative preschool family, taking part in school events, meetings and celebrations
- Builds connections between home and school in an effort to reinforce the learning experience; parents are encouraged to support their child’s creativity and inspire continuing to learn at home
- Montessori teachers are trained in observation; teachers create an environment where children have subjects to choose from and engage in. The teacher then steps back and observes, but offers guidance if needed.
3. Interactions
- Mixed age classrooms to encourage peer learning and development of leadership skills; typically, children aged within a three year span are grouped together, for preschool 2.5 to 6 years is common
- Non-competitive learning encourages positive social interactions and cooperative learning
4. Structural Conditions
- Furniture is child sized and shelving is low so that children have easy access to materials
- Materials are natural materials wherever possible and kept to a minimum – clutter free to promote concentration and focus on one material at a time
- Classrooms are of a natural aesthetic, no bright or colourful decorations
- Uninterrupted work periods – 2-3 hour blocks of time to deeply engage with materials and reach high levels of concentration
5. Systems of Evaluation, Monitoring, and Quality Improvement
- Montessori focuses on the work that a child does to reach a goal, rather than a final grade
- Children are encouraged to think outside the box to solve problems instead of prescribing to a formulaic format
- Teachers keep a clear record on children’s progress in continuous assessment