A new and ingenious 5-minute video that clearly illustrates what Montessori is all about and how it's different from conventional education systems. Enjoy! :)
Children are naturally interested in learning.
Montessori schools nurture their inner drive to learn by allowing them to freely follow their interests.
Montessori schools nurture their inner drive to learn by allowing them to freely follow their interests.
Montessori schools promote:
- Hands-on,
- Self-paced,
- Collaborative,
- Challenging
- and Joyful learning.
Montessori schools encourage:
- Divergent Thinking - instead of convergent thinking.
- Innovation – instead of standardization.
Montessori does all this with no tests, no grades and no homework!
How?
- Mixed-age classrooms
Children learn from each other; older children act as mentors and leaders while younger children learn from collaborative experience.
The teacher does not stand at the front to talk to the whole group at the same time. She moves around the classroom and works with individual children or in small groups.
The age mix allows children to see what kind of work they will be doing in the future and how their current work fits into a bigger picture.
Seeing the big picture allows children to take ownership of their own learning.
- Grabbing the student's interest while it's HOT
The teacher presents something new ONLY when the child is most interested in the subject.
Children in Montessori follow their interests, wherever that passion leads, however quickly it leads them and regardless of what other children in the class are working on.
“Montessori is the best method of schooling I have found for children to joyfully and effectively learn independence, responsibility, self-discipline, leadership, initiative, strong academics and a lifetime love of learning.”
- Trevor Eissler
I can most certainly attest to it. When I was a little girl I went to a Montessori school, and the thought of it brings me some of the happiest memories of my childhood. This is what inspired me to become a Montessori advocate. I absolutely LOVE what I do and I am absolutely convinced that IT WORKS!
