Montessori education was invented by Maria Montessori is a method of education that is child-focused and based on self-directed activity as this method views the child as one who is naturally eager for learning and knowledge based on scientific observation of children by a trained Montessori teacher. It is characterized by providing that its environment of study are handsomely crafted and designed to meet the demands of the children in their specific age limit such as being tidy, pleasing in appearance, real and simple to aid in the development of a child.
Montessori and her collaborators invented specialized school appliances usually made of aesthetic and natural materials like wood rather than use of plastic. This method has been in use in most parts of the world for over 100 years as its goal is to develop children cognitively,emotionally,socially and physically.
From birth to 3 years old
The future of a child depends on the foundation set at the first 3 years of their lives. Montessori refers to this age as the spiritual embryo, meaning the growth of a child’s psychological sphere is the same as what an embryo does physical sphere. The process is facilitated by the child’s absorbing mind meaning they incorporate experiences emotions, relations, culture, and language through their senses by observing. This period of brain growth gives a child a shape of what they may become because what they observe stays with them even in their adult life.
Montessori takes advantage of this age to teach a child how to develop speaking coordinate movement and independence, which boost a child’s confidence, which in turn fosters them to discover their potential and their place within a community.
From 3 to 6 years old
Classroom curriculum for children at this age is divided into 4 working areas:
- Practical life: These are activities which teach a child to care for themselves and others in the communities. These activities include washing, polishing, setting the table. They also learn etiquette by speaking courteously and acting with grace which is part of a civilized society. Here children learn coordination and control of movement also exploration of their surroundings. The age is natured for children who achieve completion of task, discipline, high concentration and self-confidence.
- Sensorial: Here children learn more through senses rather than intellect. Here sensorial tools are introduced to a child. Each tool isolates specific qualities like size, smell, texture, color, and flavor. These materials are designed to allow them to find order like meaning of words, increase capacity of perceptions, observation and admiration for everything that surrounds a child.
- Languages: Here a child enriches the language they had learnt. In this working area they use language with preciseness and beauty slowly realizing its qualities. They learn to write which eventually leads to them reading. The reading and writing skills paves way for learning about history, geography, art and music. Children learn to appreciate the environment and enjoy learning which gives them a sense of placing in society and learn respect along with a sense of solidarity within all humanities.
- Mathematics: The material used helps a child to learn and understand mathematical concepts which activates their sensorial impression of numbers, in turn a foundation of geometry and algebra is consolidated.
From 6 to 12 years old
The curriculum presents evolutionary, historical and integrated vision of knowledge and human development.
It is built around 5 lessons which are:
- Coming of universe and earth:physics,geology,geography,meteorology,astronomy.
- Communication in signs:structures,reading,writing,language,linguistics and literature.
- Coming of life:biology,environment,botanics,evolution of life,zoology.
- Coming of human beings:social studies, history,culture,invention and scientific discovery.
- The story of numbers:Origin of numbers,mathematics,geometry and systems of numbers.
