For over the century, the Montessori system of teaching has been transforming the way children learn. Developed by a French physician and educator, Maria Montessori, in 1907, it is a unique system of teaching that focuses on self-directed learning instead of the traditional teacher teaching method, empowering the children to take ownership of their educational journey.
Maria Montessori, Italy’s first female doctor, pioneered this groundbreaking method by opening her school, Casa dei Bambini, a children learning house in Rome on January 6, 1907 to support underprivileged children with learning difficulties. Maria encouraged the children to take ownership of their learning, bringing about personalised learning, she helped the children learn based on their development strengths and abilities. Her work led to her publication “Il Metodo della Pedagogia Scientifica applicato all’educazione infantile nelle Case dei Bambini,” in 1909 gaining international recognition.
Why is Montessori unique?
The Montessori method of teaching differs significantly from the traditional teaching method where the teacher has to stand in front of the class and give instructions to the children. It is a unique system because it focuses on the child’s individual learning ability. The Montessori teacher is trained to observe the children and guide them while they learn on their own, like Maria quotes, “The greatest sign of success for a teacher is to be able to say ‘The children are now working as if I did not exist'”.
The child becomes independent of themselves in learning. The Montessori method will give the child the freedom of choice to learn either with their peers or on their own, providing practical materials for them to work with. This helps the child to develop social skills and be capable of him/her enhancing also critical thinking, cognitive and social skills needed in this 21st Century.
The Montessori teacher uses practical materials and teaching aids to help make learning better. She/he observes each child’s learning ability and helps to put them through. It emphasizes practical life skills teaching the child everyday activities like cooking, cleaning, caring for themselves and their environment.
Montessori also encourages mixed-age learning, the children are grouped into 0-3 years old for infant-toddlers, 3-6 years old for the nursery, 6-12 years old for the elementary, and 12-18 years old for secondary, fostering leadership skills and cooperation. Self correction and assessment is also achieved as they carry out their work independently, they learn to correct and help themselves through the guidance of the teacher.
The Montessori classroom is beautifully designed to meet the child’s needs and is equipped with practical materials like colouring, plants, movable letters and other teaching aids to help give the child a good learning environment. It is like an open field where the child learns and explores satisfying their curiosity. Research indicates that 75 percent of Montessori students report higher academic achievements according to the Montessori Research Project.
In view of this, some Montessori teachers expressed their opinions on the importance of Montessori learning. A teacher from Diamond Montessori Academy in Benin City, Miss Favour Okechukwu, notes, “Montessori helps the children capture what they are learning. For example, when a Montessori teacher wants to teach a topic on soil or colouring, she has to show the different soils to the child or use colourful things like balloons to show them the colours, and it will help the child remember easily what they taught.”
Another teacher, Mrs Favour Isah, who had taught in two different Montessori schools – UPSS and Diamond Montessori School, says, “The method helps to make learning fun for the child using tools and materials that engage the five senses.
“The teachers in Montessori give the children opportunities to take control of their learning through directions from the teacher, and it promotes self-confidence, independent thoughts and actions in the child”.
She also implies that children learn in different ways and the Montessori method caters for those differences.
A proprietor of Jenas Montessori adds that the method aids teachers to use practical methods to teach any subjects he/she wants to teach the children. The Montessori method of learning is very effective in children learning, developing both the mental, physical, social and cognitive skills.
