Today, parents devote much more time to the development of children than they did a hundred years ago. For this, there are various pedagogical methods that help kids at a very early age not only grow, but also learn. The Montessori method - what kind of teaching is it, what it is especially like and how to apply it correctly - this will be discussed later.
Terminology
Initially, you need to understand the terminology that will be actively used in the provided article. So Montessori is not just the name of an early development technique. This is the name of the woman who was her founder. It was the Italian Maria Montessori who prescribed all the principles of her pedagogical teaching, telling how it helps children to better understand the world around them. In the distant 1907, she opened her first school, where she helped to develop the quality of mentally retarded children, sometimes even overtaking peers in her development. At the same time, Maria Montessori did not cease to be surprised: what should be done with normal children so that they not only do not develop, but even to some extent degrade? It should be noted that to date, this technique has been successfully applied by various educational institutions for children in 80 countries of the world.
The main thing in the Montessori technique
To better understand why this pedagogical teaching is so unique, you need to understand the motto of the Montessori methodology. This is a pretty simple phrase: "Help me do it on my own!". At this stage, it is already becoming extremely clear in which way this teaching will develop. That is, the main task of the teacher in this case is to help the child, and not to do his work for himself. Here you need to carefully understand for yourself that in this technique there is an inextricable link between its three main “whales”: the child, the educator and the existing environment. The principle is this: in the very center is the child. With all his desires, emotions and dreams. The teacher here is not a teacher as such. He is not a mentor, but only helps the kid learn the world around him in which he is currently located. The adult's goal is not to show how it should be (the child may have his own views), but to help if the baby needs help. At the same time, it is completely invaluable in relation to one or another moment. The main thing in this technique is not to interfere with the creative energy that crumbs possess at an early age. It is she who is a huge motive force of his development and knowledge of the world. As a small conclusion, I want to note that the main goal of this pedagogical teaching is not to make a little wise guy out of a child. A crumb should be educated in such a way that he would be interested in learning something new, learn more about the world around him.
About the directions of development of the baby
Having understood that Montessori is a special system of the early development of crumbs, it is also important to indicate in which directions this knowledge will work:
- Sensory development. That is, the baby learns the world around him with the help of his feelings: hearing, vision, smell, tactile component. Depending on this, he forms the concept of the shape, color and other features of the objects surrounding him.
- Enormous attention is paid precisely to the development of speech, the activation of speech centers in the brain. For this, special emphasis is placed on improving fine motor skills.
- In the Montessori method, the acquisition of practical skills is very important.
- The development of mathematical abilities is very important in this teaching.
- And, of course, the child is developed in the field of the most necessary knowledge - about the world and the environment. The kid is given concepts about what height, length, weight, etc. are.
About periods of development
The Montessori system is such that it has its own specific recommendations for each age period. In short, the conditional development of the child can be divided into three large phases:
- From birth to 6 years is the first phase. It is here that the formation of the child’s personality takes place, at this age his basic abilities are manifested. This period is unique in that at this time the child absorbs everything like a sponge. At this time, it is important to give the right material for assimilation by the baby.
- The second phase - from 6 to 12 years. In this period, the main is sensory development. The kid becomes very sensitive and receptive. The phase is also characterized by an increased concentration of attention. For a long time, a child can concentrate on what is really interesting to him, without spraying on other actions.
- Adolescence, or time from 12 to 18 years. At this time, the first and foremost is getting personal experience. This is the time of experiments and, of course, mistakes.
What are sensitive periods
But in addition to the three large phases, the Montessori system also has an idea of sensitive periods. This is a time of special perception of children to this or that activity. These time periods in this technique are very important, as they help more easily and better acquire certain knowledge.
- Speech skills training. This is the time from the birth of the crumbs. The active phase is up to 6 years of age. Generally speaking, it lasts throughout life.
- The period of sensory development begins at birth and ends at about 6 years of age. But only its active phase.
- From birth to three years, the baby has a perception of order. Not only cleanliness in the house, even more - certain rules of life. For example, in the morning you need to get up and wash.
- From 1 year to 4 years, the baby develops motor activity. It is also a period of gaining independent experience.
- And from 2.5 to 6 years, a variety of social skills develop. It should be noted that in this period, the baby lays down the norms of rude and polite behavior, which he will use throughout his life.
In fact, the Montessori development methodology has much more of these periods. They are more accurate and specific. So, for example, the ideal time for learning to write is from 3.5 to 4.5 years, and reading from 4.5 to 5.5.
Montessori Principles
The fact that Montessori is a method of early development has already become pretty clear. I definitely want to talk about exactly what principles this pedagogical teaching is based on. It must be said that all the most basic is said already in the motto of the methodology. Based on this, the principles of teaching are as follows:
- Self-education, self-development and self-education - this is the main thing in the technique.
- The teacher must respect the personality of the child, his features and unique abilities. In no way can they be transformed or, moreover, destroyed.
- The child makes himself. And only thanks to its activity is formed as a person.
- The most important period for the development of crumbs is from birth to six years of age.
- Children have a unique sensual and mental ability to absorb everything from their environment.
Maria Montessori says that you should not accelerate the development of the baby. But here it is very important not to miss the moment when the crumb needs to be helped to form certain knowledge. A lot of information does not happen. But from it the baby will take exactly what he currently needs.
Materials for the development of the child
What else is important to tell when studying the Montessori technique? Materials that will be necessary for the development of the baby. What will be necessary for parents who want to develop a child according to this pedagogical knowledge? It should be noted that in this case there will be no random toys. All didactic materials are well thought out, prepared, made of quality wood or fabric. They are pleasant to the touch and outwardly attractive to the baby. So, there are a lot of toys. For instance:
- Lacing frames. They can be very different. Designed to educate the baby to use household items, for example, clothing. Frames can be on laces, on locks, on rivets and buttons.
- Stairs, turrets. They teach the baby to understand what is bigger and smaller, thicker and thinner.
- Sticks. Learn concepts such as long and short, longer and shorter.
- Colored plates. Designed to teach your baby colors and shades. There are different sets, for the smallest and for older children.
- Sets of geometric shapes. Learn the basics of geometry.
- Cylinders that are very popular with the smallest children. They have different variations. In one case, the cylinders can be arranged in colors and sizes, in another - inserted into the molds in size.
- What else is rich in Montessori technique? Materials that are important for the development of children are tablets with rough letters. So, the child takes the first step towards learning to read and write.
There are also wooden sticks, beads, puzzles. And there are a lot of interesting and useful things that will definitely interest and captivate the baby.
What a Montessori Garden Looks Like
Naturally, if there is a doctrine, that is, educational centers working according to this technique. What does Montessori (garden) look like? First of all, this educational institution will adhere to the principles of the Montessori International Association:
- The room is in order. Cleanliness reigns everywhere. There are no scattered things.
- All furniture is suitable for the growth of children who are in the group. All necessary items in their reach.
- In such gardens, children of different ages. The groups are mixed.
- An important point: all didactic materials are provided in one version. This is often violated. But the technique involves priority in teaching children.
- In the room where there are children, quietly, calmly, no one swears or cries.
- Older children help their smaller companions.
- The item that the child takes from the shelf after the game immediately returns to the place.
- What else is Montessori (garden) unique? The teacher (in this methodology he is called the “mentor”) does not tell the children what to do and how. He watches the babies from afar. Or conduct group presentations. For example, how to properly carry a stool or unzip the jacket.
If the classes are held according to the schedule, the children are told what to do, the kids are noisy or bored - this is not a garden or even a group that is trained according to the Montessori method.
What are the principles of Montessori schools?
Having understood how the Montessori Garden should be organized, I also want to talk a little about how the same schools work. How do they differ from other educational institutions? First of all, it should be noted that the Montessori school is unique in that there are no school desks, nor a lesson schedule. Instead, there are tables and chairs, floor mats. All this is easily transported and transported to organize the space of the kids. In these classes, the teacher is not the main one. He only helps the kids. The task of the teacher in this case is to help the student organize the activities that he himself has chosen for himself. Montessori School involves the allocation of several zones in one class:
- Sensory, where hearing, vision, smell and tactile characteristic are included in the work.
- The zone of practical life where the child learns what is useful to him in life.
- Math zone.
- Zone of the native language.
- Space zone. This is the term of the founder of this teaching, Maria Montessori. Means the area of science education.
So, the student himself chooses the training zone and that specific material with which he wants to work. It is also important to note that Montessori (pedagogy) involves classes lasting no more than 15 minutes. And in the classes are children of different ages. But the grouping goes approximately as follows: babies from 0 to 3 years old, from 3 to 6, etc.
We use the Montessori method at home
Montessori Technique - Early Development Technique. It can be successfully used at home. And for this, nothing special or supernatural is needed. Just buy those toys that will help the baby develop and learn about the world. What should be remembered in this case when applying the Montessori method:
- A child is an independent person from an early age. Therefore, you need to buy the baby the clothes that he can wear on his own and without problems.
- The kid needs furniture according to his height: small chairs, tables, cabinets for toys and clothes. He must put everything in its place.
- Montessori (center) is always clean, bright and comfortable. The same should be the room of the baby.
- The environment in which the child lives should be safe. No items that could break or otherwise scare a small child. Everything should make him want to touch.
- All items that the baby uses in the kitchen, in the bathroom should be in his reach.
- The child should have their own tools. Own a broom, a rag to wipe off dust. Any help crumbs should be encouraged.
Montessori pedagogy involves the presence of certain toys. They are also worth buying. Which ones are described somewhat above.
The disadvantages of this method
It should also be noted that any method of education has its supporters and critics. This case is no exception. A certain circle of experts believes that Montessori classes do not at all develop creative potential. And all because there are no role-playing games, there is no room for imagination and improvisation. There may be some truth here. However, one must also take into account the fact that this methodology is more than 100 years old.
The second discrepancy, on which critics focus. Montessori (center) is always distinguished by strict discipline. But at the same time, the mentor should not interfere in the learning process. However, it should be noted that you can influence a child in a variety of ways. It all depends on the person taken and his pedagogical abilities.