Maria Montessori

“ The Theorist” • First woman doctor in Italy • Began in 1907 in San Lorenzo, Rome at • “Casa Dei Bambini” • She wanted to develop an environment to observe children’s behavior • It was the first educational program for children in poverty and children with disabilities

Maria Montessori • Methods became popular in private and parochial schools after 1950 • Now there are 4, 000 Montessori schools in the U.S • There are 7,000 Montessori schools world wide • In the U.S. , Canada and Netherlands Montessori schools are incorporated into public schools

The Curriculum It is developed from Maria Montessori’s philosophy of human development. • It promotes the child’s natural self- initiative. • The curriculum is divided into several logical areas:

The Learning Process There are three stages of learning: (Stage 1) introduction to a concept by means of a lecture, lesson, something read in a book, etc. (Stage 2) processing the information, developing an understanding of the concept through work, experimentation, creation. (Stage 3) "knowing", to possessing an understanding of, demonstrated by the ability to pass a test with confidence, to teach another, or to express with ease

Montessori on Class Size The most successful 3-6 or 6-12 classes are of 30-35 children to one teacher, with one non teaching assistant, this number reached gradually over 1-3 years. This provides the most variety of personalities, learning styles, and work being done at one time. This class size is possible because the children learn from each other and stay with the same teacher for three to six years. This size help to create much independent work, and peer teaching, and eliminates the possibility of too much teacher-centered, teacher-directed work.

Divisions of Her Curriculum Practical life- where the child learns to act and work on real life activities • Sensorial- educates the child’s senses • Math – help child’s development for gradual transition to abstract thinking • Language – child develops vocabulary and communication skills • Science and Cultural Science -helps child with clear thinking and approach problem solving

The Montessori Method Sensitive Periods Spontaneous Activity Role of the Teacher

Montessori 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."”      “Never help a child with a task at which he feels he can succeed.”      “Free the child's potential, and you will transform him into the world.”      “If help and salvation are to come, they can only come from the children, for the children are the makers of men.”

References http://www.iwise.com/9Mu0x http://www.michaelolaf.net/1CW312MI.html http://www.webster.edu/~woolflm/montessori.html http://europeanhistory.about.com/od/montessorimaria/Montessori_Maria.htm http://www.k12academics.com/educational-philosophy/maria-montessori