The Montessori Method of education was developed in the early 1900’s by Dr. Maria Montessori, Italy’s first female medical doctor. Dr. Montessori spent countless hours observing children and learning which materials and concepts they were innately drawn to. Her observations led her to understand that children have a natural, progressive aptitude for acquiring knowledge about the world around them. She developed a means of educating children by following their natural tendencies and providing them with the means of educating themselves.
Dr. Montessori used the term Directress rather than teacher, for she wanted the adult to direct, or guide, the child in his/her work choices and encourage the child’s natural desire to learn. Paramount to the role of the Directress is the art of observation. The Directress must first observe a child to learn her/his interests and needs and only then decide which lessons to give her/him.
During the classroom’s work period, children can choose to work alone or with a friend, with any piece of material that they have had a lesson on. Most lessons are given individually or with two children. Very few lessons are given collectively to the whole class because rarely are all the children ready or interested in the same piece of work at the same time.
Core to the teachings in a Montessori classroom is peace and respect. Respect for materials, the rules of the school, and for all living beings. In our classroom, one of the favorite things for the children to do is to catch a bug with the bug catcher and release it outdoors. Some of the “grace and courtesy” lessons the children receive are: how to greet people, how to politely interrupt, how to resolve conflicts peacefully, and how to treat other people the way they themselves would like to be treated.
Establishing lasting peace is the work of education; all politics can do is keep us out of war.
Maria Montessori