The Montessori Method educates the whole child, mind, body and spirit through the training and refining of the senses, preparing them for the real world with real life skills. Concepts are taught in real context, followed by self directed education using concrete materials before moving onto abstract articulation and representation.
The Cycle 1 classroom provides five fundamental areas:
Practical life: The Practical life component of the Montessori method is the link between the child’s home environment and that of the classroom. These activities teach concentration, coordination, independence and manual dexterity, through practical activities required for daily living and social relations.
This encompasses four key areas: Care of the Self, Care of the Environment, Control of Movement and Grace and Courtesy.
Children learn through doing and this leads to development of fundamental thought processes, understandings and independence.
“the essence of independence is to be able to do something for one’s self.”
– Maria Montessori
Sensorial: The equipment is designed specifically to develop and refine each of the five senses. The children are required to discriminate, order and classify-size, shape and colour based on SIGHT. The ability to distinguish tone and pitch is based on HEARING. Differentiating between textures, weights and temperatures is based on TOUCH. The ability to identify familiar odours and categorise their commonalities is based on SMELL.
“Movement, manipulation and the isolated training of each sense develops the capacity for thought.”
– Maria Montessori
Mathematics: Through a progressive sequence of concrete equipment based on the decimal system, the children firstly learn to understand the role of numbers 1-10. Materials teach the composition of numbers 1-1000 and basic number facts. The child is given the opportunity to record their work.
Language: Language forms the foundation of literacy, which encompasses speaking, listening, reading and writing. Activities and equipment explore and extend the child’s oral language, including clarity of speech and expression, listening, interpreting and understanding. Equipment is specifically designed to introduce the building of works and reading of text as well as developing skills necessary for writing.
Culture: This is the term used to describe all aspects of human activity and interaction with the environment. It covers learning areas such as Science, History, Geography, Music, Art, LOTE, Health and Physical Education. These areas of learning provide an opportunity for the child to broaden their general knowledge and to understand the world around them and their place in it. Knowledge of other societies and cultures fosters open-mindedness and helps build better relationships.
Montessori teachers are trained facilitators in the classroom, always ready to assist and direct. A Montessori teacher’s purpose is to stimulate the child’s enthusiasm for learning and to guide it, without interfering with the child’s natural desire to teach himself and become independent. Each child works through his individual cycle of activities.
The Montessori is a scientific method of education, developed from empirical research by Dr Maria Montessori, more than 100 years ago. The first Italian female doctor, Dr Maria Montessori developed through observations, a learning environment for young children in which they choose their own activities and directed learning in a prepared environment. The Montessori Method is based upon the universal stages of human development. During her lifelong observations of children, Dr Montessori observed that all children progress through the four planes of development. The first plane of development, from birth to age six is known as the ‘Absorbent Mind’. This represents the manner in which all of their senses to absorb information from their environment. The second plane of development, from six to twelve, is known as the ‘Reasoning Mind’. This develops as the child explores the world using thought and imagination. The third plane, from twelve to eighteen, is known as the ‘Specialist Mind’. This allows the young adult to take his or her place in the world.