What is Montessori?

What is Montessori?

Is there anything more tiresome, and yet poignantly important, than school hunting. There are so many philosophies and methodologies out there that I am beginning to thank Heaven for catchment – it limits my options to a manageable few.

That said; it’s important to choose a school that best suits our children and to do this we need to know what’s potting.

Not so long ago, I did a web content job for a Montessori school, and I am not sure if it’s because I am now more attuned to the word ‘Montessori’ but it seems to be cropping up more and more. So I thought I’d share some info on what exactly Montessori is – other than the more expensive option.

Montessori is named after Maria Montessori the first Italian woman to qualify as a physician and the founder of her own very innovative ‘educational science’. Montessori observed children and acknowledged their ability to absorb knowledge from their surroundings, as well as their tireless interest in manipulating materials. She concluded that children teach themselves – and this is the core philosophy of the Montessori Method.

Maria Montessori sounds smart but I want to know how the Montessori Method translates into a learning environment. In other words, how will it affect my child? What is Montessori?

In a nutshell: Montessori seeks to guide rather than control – teachers are thus referred to as ‘directresses’ rather than ‘teachers’. Learning is invited rather than imposed. The emphasis is on giving children the opportunity to progress at their own speed, rather than driving towards early achievement. Free from tests, benchmarks and competitive pressures children tend to excel, driven by their own thirst for knowledge.

It sounds a little unstructured but this isn’t the case at all – there is structure, just not in the traditional form. If you’re interested in Montessori schooling for your child it’s best to go and visit a Montessori school to see how it operates. No matter your stance, it’ll be an interesting experience nonetheless.

For more info, visit Montessori.org.uk.