What's All The Fuss About Montessori?
Here at EMM, we are passionate and dedicated educators and mothers. We’re starting a blog to share more of our thoughts with the broader community. As a first topic, we wanted to share a brief overview of the Montessori Education as well as an article that we think perfectly encapsulates the experience at our school.
What Is Montessori - Full article here
It is a child-focused approach that Dr. Maria Montessori, an Italian physician, developed for educating children.
Montessori education is student-led and self-paced but guided, assessed, and enriched by knowledgeable and caring teachers, the leadership of their peers, and a nurturing environment.
Within the community of a multi-age classroom—designed to create natural opportunities for independence, citizenship, and accountability—children embrace multi-sensory learning and passionate inquiry. Individual students follow their own curiosity at their own pace, taking the time they need to fully understand each concept and meet individualized learning goals.
Why Montessori Education is Priceless: Highlights
Montessori education is paced to meet the needs of the child. The teacher encourages the child to master a concept, though it might take a week or a month; the child indicates to the teacher when he is ready to move on to the next skill or concept.
Montessori is a form of education that respects the child and her desire to learn. The child is not an empty vessel whose head needs to be filled by the allknowing teacher. The Montessori teacher respects the child and engages him as a partner in learning.
The teacher presents lessons using concrete materials, but the child discovers the rules.
Montessori is a holistic form of education. The physical, social, emotional, and spiritual growth of the child are valued as much as academic progress.
Starting at the Early Childhood level, a Montessori child learns to ask the right questions to learn more about any topic he is studying or in which he is interested. Once the Montessori child knows the right questions to ask, she needs only the guidance of the teacher and the support of the environment to affirm that she is on track.