100 Words

There is a Montessori group that is having a discussion recently. How would you describe Montessori in 100 words or less. I wrote two different versions from two perspectives in my own head. One is that of a director of a school and meant at least at some level either as recruitment or advertising. The other is more personal from my experiences as a teacher in some poor schools and my experiences as a parent with my children in high quality Montessori schools. Neither one is truly adequate. It turns out that 100 words does not offer much scope for the depth of what Montessori is and what I truly believe about it. It is about the individual in so many ways and allowing a child to explore their own interests. I have a child right now that is my own 12 year old's terms is "the most off-task." He's brilliant. I've evaluated him. He has conservation of number at age 4. Rare, and I've done the research! He turned a wooden cylinder which was meant as a sewing job into a yo-yo. He came up to me one day and said that he wanted to write a book. There weren't enough books… and he started dictating the entire story of the three little pigs- a story that we have not read in class. He also recently went up to the school office and started to touch everything to the point the director wanted to know who this child was! A teacher should know better, but I love this child. I fear for him. He will either find the teachers that will nurture him, or he will find the teachers that will destroy him. Is it really my place to say that he "must" study this now, when his brain is concrete and he's fascinated by how things move? No- that's for some "other" form of education. Montessori finds a way to accept where he is and still teach him everything that he needs to know to move forward.

#1

An individual has their own unique interests, talents, skills and obsessions. When learning comes from an individual's own interest it is joyful and will be deeper and better retained. Ideas and questions will be generated and facts related to current knowledge. Projects may be designed and undertaken with because of sheer captivation in learning with great enthusiasm. Montessori education is designed to spark a child's individual imagination and allow them to direct their own learning process within guidelines while developing specific skills. Children are nurtured for the wonderful individuals they are with unlimited potential.

#2

Montessori education aims to first teach the child independence. A child develops a sense of organization as a prerequisite to successful work. This forms the basis of further work with language, mathematics and the development of the senses. Each child is able to work at their own individual pace exploring in depth what skills they are currently motivated to learn. For the young child this may be learning to use a spoon or scissors or writing about sharks! It is not a mandatory curriculum where everyone completes the same task at the same time.