Montessori Education Method

1. Montessori Education Method Presented by: Teresa England Monica Hernandez KayLeigh Hogan

2. Guest Speaker Julie Winnette Director of Hilltop Montessori School Denton, Tx.

3. History • Montessori Method was founded on January 6, 1907 by Maria Montessori • What became the Montessori Method of education developed in San Lorenzo district of Rome, based upon Montessori’s scientific observations of these children’s almost effortless ability to absorb knowledge from their surroundings, as well as their tireless interest in manipulating materials. • Every method Montessori development was based on what she observed children to do “naturally,” by themselves, unassisted by adults. • American Montessori Society (AMS) was founded and directed by Dr. Nancy McCormick Rambusch around the 1900’s and was declared a non profit, non sectarian association of teachers, teacher education programs, parent study groups, and schools with a mission to promote the principles and practices of Maria Montessori within the context of American culture. • AMS supports over 11,000 members to date.

4. Characteristics of approach • Montessori wants the child to become an independent learner and hopes the child has the desire to learn their whole life. • The students learn self paced and are teacher guided • They have a lot of hands on activities that lead them to discovery. • They focus on the whole person not just one aspect of the person. • There goal is to have the child become a self sufficient citizen of society.

5. Implementation Strategies • Montessori teachers are always making sure they are implementing a child centered environment • The teachers are there to help guide the children if needed • Montessori also group multi-aged children together because they believe they will learn from each other • Teachers give lessons to individual children at one time and often a child will give a lesson to another child • Each experience opens a new door to yet another experience • A high academic level of learning is usually the norm.

6. Changes In Approach Overtime • I could not find anything specifically different the way Montessori is taught today, however the name Montessori is not patented so when you are looking for a school you need to make sure it is teaching the Montessori way with certified Montessori teachers • some schools are pressured by parents to make changes but most do not follow the "no child left behind" mandates, they follow the Montessori curriculum

7. Current Practices based on… • Research- There are five main areas of focus within Montessori schools • Practical life skills • Some life skills focus on pouring, buttoning, shoe tying and other activities that develop coordination and developing motor skills • Sensory skills • senses, taste, smell, sight, touch, and hearing • Math skills • Some math skills consist of using concrete forms to learn things, including beads and boards • Language skills • Some language skills consist of the basic writing and reading like rhyming and letters. • Cultural skills • “exposing the child to basics in geography, history, and life sciences. Music, art, and movement education are part of the integrated cultural curriculum”

8. Role Of The Family • The family role is to prepare the child's home environment similar to Montessori education environment Example: lower shelves so the child could reach, child size table and chairs, give the child free range • The Montessori families can be either involved in their child's education or they may choose to ignore it just like what we see in our public schools and many others.

9. Role Of The Environment • “ The child, in Montessori’s view, is a constant inquirer who “absorbs his environment, takes everything from it, and incarnates it in himself” (p.371) • The child roams freely and interacts purposefully with a specific designed, learner-sensitive environment for optimal development to occur. • The environment is both physical and psychological, it is constantly changed up and prepared for the individual needs and interest of the children that interact in it.

11. Resources American Montessori Society (2005). AMS Mission Statement. Retrieved September 27, 2008, from American Montessori Society Web site: http://www.amshq.org/ A to Z Teacher Stuff. (September 7, 2007). Summarize Montessori For Me? Forum message posted to: http://forums.atozteacherstuff.com/showthread.php?t=41454 Berger, B. (2006). Montessori for the Disadvantaged. Urban Review. Retrieved on September 27, 2008 from the Urban Review website: www.springerlink.com/content/8r605402k88807m31/ Cichuki, Penny Hidebrandt (2008).One Woman’s Contribution. Montessori Life. Vol. 20 Issue 3, p.8. Retrieved September 27, 2008, from the TWU Library Journals: http://ezproxy.twu.edu:2060/ehost/pdf?vid=3&hid=12&sid=8f158906-3339-45ce-9105-861f7479950c%40sessionmgr2 Gold, L. (Producer). (2008). Montessori Children’s Room. Podcast retrieved from You Tube Website on September 29, 2008: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKFwH5QlYoY

12. Resources • Harris M. (2008).The Effects of Music Instruction on Learning in the Montessori Classroom. Montessori Life. vol. 20 issue 3. Retrieved September 27, 2008 from TWU Library Journals: • http://ezproxy.twu.edu:2060/ehost/pdf?vid=3&hid=8&sid=2b0a25f9-5e5f-40c2-b8d3-a7e8309f75d0%40sessionmgr7 • Hilltop Montessori School. (2007-2008). Retrieved September 27, 2008, Web site: http://www.hilltopmontessorischool.com/index.html • Montessori Life. (2008). Montessori Life Wins Distinguished Achievement Award. Montessori Life. vol. 20 issue 3. Retrieved September 27, 2008 from TWU Library Journals: • http://ezproxy.twu.edu:2060/ehost/pdf?vid=4&hid=2&sid=29bdfee2-5c3d-4461-a55b-79b576faa5e4%40sessionmgr3

13. Resources Schonleber, Nanette S. (2008).Ancient Ways and Lessons Learned: What Montessorians Can Understand from Native.. Montessori Life. vol. 20 issue 3, p. 32-38. Retrieved September 27, 2008 from TWU Library Journals: http://ezproxy.twu.edu:2060/ehost/pdf?vid=3&hid=12&sid=8f158906-3339-45ce-9105-861f7479950c%40sessionmgr2 Sunrise Montessori Preschools (n.d.). Twenty Best Practices of an Authentic Montessori School. Retrieved September 29, 2008 from http://www.sunrise-montessori.com/bestpractices.html Sunrise Montessori Preschools (n.d.). Montessori Curriculum. Retrieved September 29, 2008 from http://www.sunrise-montessori.com/curriculum.html The International Montessori Index. (September 25, 2008). FAQ's: frequently asked questions. Retrieved September 29, 2008 from http://www.montessori.edu/FAQ.html#QUESTIONS The Montessori Foundation.(2007). Sensitive Periods. Retrieved on September 30, 2008 from the website: http://www.montessori.org/story.php?id=263 The Montessori Foundation.(2003). The Montessori Way. Retrieved on September 30, 2008 from the website: http://www.montessori.org/story.php?id=261