Introduction to the Montessori Teaching Method
Montessori education aims at helping natural development, not simply imparting information. It is an attitude as well as a teaching system. An understanding of each individual child is crucially important. In a Montessori school the child is given a room where everything is the right size for him or her and everything is useful and interesting. They see other children playing and find that they can have companionship while participating in both child-initiated and adult-led experiences.
Children of pre school age have an absorbent mind for knowledge: they desire stimulation and this is found in a full and exciting environment through which they can explore and learn. For Dr Maria Montessori, learning was the key to children’s development and education and the main contributing factor to the child’s preparation for life. However, she also recognised that young children do not learn subjects, but that their learning is integrated and holistic in its nature. The child’s ability to observe, explore, investigate, ask questions, share ideas and so learn about the world is not necessarily organised into lessons or subjects. The child observes and explores when they become interested and when they are able to engage in an activity which involves their whole being. It is also generally agreed today that play is the most effective tool for the child’s learning and therefore we need to recognise that in the early years, ‘learning occurs constantly whether intentionally or incidentally’ (Macleod-Brunell 2004: 45).
At Ducklings Montessori Nursery it is our aim to develop the whole child and make their day fun. Each child’s progress is followed in a Unique Profile, which lists the progression of the activities and experiences they have participated in, building on skills they have learned. Each child’s individual profile is supplemented by detailed observations, samples of their work and photographs documenting their progress. These profiles are sent on to the child’s next setting and an individual photograph album is given to each family at the end of their child’s time at Ducklings. Each child is allocated a Key Worker and Parent consultations are held once a term, in order to give the key worker and parent/carer the opportunity to discuss their child’s progress and be closely involved in their development.
Montessori practice and the Early Years Foundation Stage
Children develop and learn in different ways and at different rates; and all areas of learning and development are equally important and integrated. Therefore at Ducklings our planning is based on developmentally appropriate activities, which reflect the child’s interest and promote engagement, concentration and exploration. The six areas of learning are as follows: