The following discusses key Montessori concepts, Montessori teacher
education, and the characteristics of a Montessori classroom.
The American Montessori Society is committed to promoting quality
Montessori education for all children from birth to 18 years based on
these key concepts:
- The aim of Montessori education is to foster competent, responsible,
adaptive citizens who are lifelong learners and problem solvers.
- Learning occurs in an inquiring, cooperative, nurturing atmosphere.
Students increase their own knowledge through self- and
teacher-initiated experiences.
- Learning takes place through the senses. Students learn by
manipulating materials and interacting with others. These meaningful
experiences are precursors to the abstract understanding of ideas.
- The individual is considered as a whole. The physical, emotional,
social, aesthetic, spiritual, and cognitive needs and interests are
inseparable and equally important.
- Respect and caring attitudes for oneself, others, the environment,
and all life are necessary.
The Montessori teacher is educated in these areas:
- Human growth and development.
- Observational skills to match students’ developmental needs with
materials and activities, allowing the teacher to guide students in
creating their individual learning plan.
- An open-ended array of suggested learning materials and activities
that empower teachers to design their own developmentally responsive,
culturally relevant learning environment.
- Teaching strategies that support and facilitate the unique and total
growth of each individual.
- Classroom leadership skills that foster a nurturing environment that
is physically and psychologically supportive of learning.
A Montessori classroom must have these basic characteristics at all
levels:
- Teachers educated in the Montessori philosophy and methodology
appropriate to the age level they are teaching, who have the ability and
dedication to put the key concepts into practice.
- A partnership with the family – the family is considered an integral
part of the individual’s total physical, intellectual, creative and
social independence.
- A schedule that allows large blocks of uninterrupted time to problem
solve, to see the interdisciplinary connection of knowledge, and to
create new ideas.
- A classroom atmosphere that encourages social interaction for
cooperative learning, peer teaching, and emotional development.
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