Maria Montessori was a physician and an educator. She developed the Montessori Method over a century ago, and her teachings still prove true today. Why is it that such an old educational philosophy is still relevant in the modern classroom? There are a number of reasons why the teachings of Maria Montessori are still relevant today. Keep reading to explore three of those reasons.
The basics of human learning are unchanged
How can a philosophy of education that is over a century old still be relevant? The simplest answer to that question is that the basics of human learning are unchanged. The child of today may have a variety of experiences that children did not have a century ago. However, the way that children learn from their environment and experiences is the same today as it was when Maria Montessori first started exploring human learning. She observed that children are naturally smart and curious. In her interactions with ‘difficult to teach’ students, Montessori found that learning was easier and more natural when students were allowed to explore their natural curiosities. This fact holds true today. Think about a topic that your young child loves to learn about. Do you provide opportunities for your child to learn even more about that topic? Is it difficult to get your child to engage in learning about that topic? Learning turns into fun and play when your child is learning about a topic of interest. This works in the classroom as well, and it is something that Maria Montessori observed in her students.
The methods for developing the Montessori Philosophy were sound
Maria Montessori was an educator, but she was also a physician and a scientist. Her education and background made her uniquely qualified to study children in the classroom. She worked with children who did not do well in the traditional classroom. The traditional methods of education were already proven ineffective for those children - Montessori had the information to prove that. Her method for developing the Montessori Philosophy of education was to work with real students who did not thrive in the traditional classroom. She applied her philosophy of learning in the classroom with the difficult children and observed how they responded to the various methods. This process allowed her to hone the Montessori Method so it could be used successfully to educate a wide range of learning styles and abilities. The meticulous and scientific way that Maria Montessori approached developing the Montessori Method allows her teachings to remain relevant today.
Students continue to thrive in the Montessori classroom
The teachings of Maria Montessori continue to be relevant today because students continue to thrive in the Montessori classroom. There are countless success stories of students who received an early Montessori education. You can find Montessori programs throughout the world. The endurance of these programs is a testament to the value of Maria Montessori’s teachings.
You can learn more about Maria Montessori and her teachings by exploring the resources in the online parent library provided by Fountainhead Montessori School.
FAQs
This exploration of concrete materials allows them to reach a deeper level of understanding and approach the world with deliberate curiosity. The Montessori curriculum helps build human connections, philanthropy, and an understanding that we are all interconnected and interdependent.
Is Maria Montessori's theory still used today? ›
The Montessori Theory is now used in schools worldwide, and its popularity is growing as parents seek alternative educational options for their children. Traditional education models tend to group children based on age and treat them as though they are all at the same developmental stage.
What did Montessori contribute to modern education? ›
What was Maria Montessori's contribution to education? Maria Montessori revolutionized classical education that traditionally centered around teacher choices. She introduced a way of education that empowered the students to control their own learning.
What are the benefits of the Montessori method? ›
Choosing a Montessori environment for your child has many benefits. Known for individually paced learning and fostering independence, the Montessori Method also encourages empathy, a passion for social justice, and a joy in lifelong learning.
Why is Montessori teaching important? ›
A Montessori classroom is thoughtfully designed to offer children opportunities to develop their own capabilities, whether it is learning how to dress themselves independently, multiply a multi-digit equation, communicate their needs effectively, or problem solve with others.
How has Montessori influenced current practice? ›
Montessori education has influenced education today by bringing a new perspective. Montessori was a revolutionary thinker and was ahead of her time in many ways. She believed that children should be allowed to explore, learn through play, and be treated as individuals.
What impact did Maria Montessori theory have on the world? ›
Montessori methods encourage students to engage with education through their own devices; a recent study shows that this educational approach leads to significantly higher levels of motivation, interest, and importance in schoolwork and school-related tasks.
What is a real life example of Montessori theory? ›
Washing the Window
Some of the most valuable Montessori tasks are ones that children can apply to their home lives. When students learn to wash the window — or any other practical chore — they can use their hands to engage the environment and practice new skills.
How effective is the Montessori method? ›
Specifically, the research found a Montessori education had “strong and clear effects on math, literacy, general academic ability, and executive function.” The approach also shows a positive impact on students' experience of school and the degree to which they like school.
What did the Montessori method contribute to education? ›
The Montessori method recognizes and respects each child's unique pace of development. By allowing children to progress through activities at their own pace, the approach supports individualized cognitive growth, ensuring that children are neither rushed nor held back in their learning journey.
At Casa Dei Bambini Montessori School, we wholeheartedly believe in these five guiding principles that underpin the Montessori philosophy: respect for the child, the absorbent mind, sensitive periods, the prepared environment, and auto education.
What is the modern Montessori method? ›
Modern Montessori Methods encourage them to explore this world in a carefully-prepared learning environment that responds to their need to learn and grow by exposing them to materials and experiences that stimulate intelligence and promote physical and psychological development.
Does Montessori really make a difference? ›
Analysing their progress at age five, Lillard found that the children who went to the Montessori school tended to have better literacy, numeracy, executive function and social skills, compared to those who had attended the other schools.
What is Maria Montessori's theory? ›
Montessori is a scientifically based education approach that emphasises independence, freedom within limits, and respect for a child's natural psychological, physical, and social development. It was developed by Italian physician and educator Maria Montessori.
What is the relevance of Montessori Method in pre school stage? ›
The Montessori Method encourages self-directed learning that promotes self-confidence, independent thought and action, and critical thinking, while fostering social-emotional and intellectual growth. Education for peace is a foundational component of Montessori education at all levels.
Why is Montessori practical life important? ›
The practical life activities teach children how to take care of the space around them—from physically cleaning to, on a deeper level, appreciating one's environment. These activities may include how to set the table, how to clean dishes, or how to water and care for plants.
What is unique about the Montessori method? ›
In traditional classrooms, students follow the same lessons — leaving some children behind while others pull ahead. In Montessori classrooms, students challenge themselves when they're ready, developing greater self-sufficiency and personal independence, and building an internal sense of purpose and motivation.
Why the Montessori method is becoming a popular treatment for dementia? ›
The Montessori approach focuses on re-discovering and supporting the person behind the dementia. Activities with meaning and purpose are put back into people's lives, based on their needs, interests, skills and abilities. People with dementia often feel they are always being told what to.
