Montessori pedagogy: help me to do it myself.
What is Montessori?
In the Montessori system, the child is seen as an independent personality that has to find its own way. Children learn through self-discovery and experience. In a Montessori environment, children are not patronized or tutored, but are free to make their own choices and set their own pace. This alternative pedagogy was developed by Maria Montessori, the first Italian doctor to receive a doctorate in 1896. She observed the children in her clinic and found that they learned most when they were free in an environment where they could satisfy their curiosity and develop their skills freely.
Today, Montessori pedagogy is the most widely practiced alternative pedagogy worldwide - in this blog post you will find out why.
How does Montessori pedagogy work?
Montessori pedagogy is an educational philosophy. Her approach aims to teach children to reach their full potential. The core of Montessori pedagogy is to help children discover and pursue “their own learning”. This is achieved through a range of specially designed learning materials and activities designed to guide and support the children in their work. Another essential aspect of Montessori pedagogy is the strengthening of the children's social skills. This is accomplished by creating a positive learning community where all children are respected and recognized as individuals.
The teachers have the function of learning companions who support the children in developing their potential and in dealing with them responsibly.
What are the advantages of Montessori pedagogy?
Montessori pedagogy has many advantages. First of all, she encourages children to develop and explore their own skills. This promotes children's creativity and self-esteem. In addition, the children learn to work independently and to solve problems in a Montessori environment. These skills will be very useful to them later in life.
The principle of self-determination is lived practice in Montessori pedagogy. In a Montessori environment, children not only learn their ABCs and multiplication tables, they also learn social skills, independent thinking, creativity and, most importantly, self-confidence.
Each child is seen as unique and unlike other educational philosophies there is no pressure to perform: children learn in a stimulating and loving environment where they are free to choose what they want to learn. There are no strict rules or rigid rituals in Montessori kindergartens - everything should serve the (individual) learning process of the children.
Conclusion: Is Montessori education right for my child?
In summary, Montessori pedagogy is a proven educational method that makes many children and parents happy. If you are now wondering whether Montessori pedagogy is right for your child, the answer naturally depends entirely on your child's individual needs and inclinations.
In principle, however, we can say that Montessori pedagogy is a very valuable addition to conventional pedagogy. With her focus on self-determination and independence, she promotes your child's personality development in a very special way. This is exactly what sets Montessori institutions apart from regular schools and kindergartens.
If you choose this parenting style, you can be sure that your child will grow up in an environment in which they can develop freely and learn independently. So if you are looking for a pedagogy that focuses on more than just your child's academic success, Montessori pedagogy is certainly a good choice.