The Montessori approach aims to offer an excellent environment for the children so their learning process will be effective. This was established by Dr. Maria Montessori who thought that teachers must do whatever they can to help the children become effective learners through making sure that their learning needs will be addressed depending on their age while also establishing an environment that is conducive for learning (Isaacs, 2013). The Montessori approach acknowledges that the development of the children happens because of their need to adjust to their environment. It believes that the children are the ones who provide meaning to their environment, and they build themselves in connection to this environment.
The classroom under the Montessori approach is expected to be clean, beautiful, and has the components which will help the children to learn properly. It allows children of different ages to stay together for three years so that it becomes possible for them to learn how to interact and respect one another (Schmidt and Schmidt, 2009). Children below three years old are grouped together under the Montessori approach, and the same thing happens to children who are three to six years old, children who are six to nine years old, and children who are nine to thirteen years old. The children are given tasks and activities which enable them to learn how to focus so that they can get the best results possible. They also begin to understand that while they are being given the freedom to do what they want inside the classroom, there are also restrictions that they must respect for their own good. The children are given specific learning materials which will help them to improve their critical thinking skills. These learning materials will enable the children to identify the mistakes by themselves and take charge of their own learning process. The teachers are there to educate and guide the children as they try to learn. They help the children to make the adjustments when they make mistakes as part of their learning process.
Benefits of Montessori Approach
There are plenty of benefits that the Montessori approach can provide to the children. For example, the Montessori approach can teach the children to learn through their own efforts. They gradually improve their knowledge and skills through the learning materials and the impressive quality of education that they get without being rushed. The best part is that they are learning while also enjoying the beautiful classroom which only adds more motivation for them to study and improve.
Another benefit that the Montessori approach provides to the children is the socialization process. It becomes possible for the children to interact with one another within the classroom which has been specifically designed to ensure that the children will be able to establish close relationships with one another (Lillard, 2011). The children will feel that they are learning together while also enjoying the company of each other. They are free to help each other in doing tasks because this is part of their learning process where they will appreciate being guided by their teachers while also helping their fellow students.
Finally, the Montessori approach builds the confidence of the children among themselves that they can accomplish anything that they want in life if they have the desire and commitment to get it done. This is going to be the mentality that the children will develop once they get immersed in the Montessori approach. This is because of the reality that most of the tasks and activities that they will do in the classroom will help them to discover new ideas and learn important lessons that will slowly but surely build their confidence to believe in themselves since they have the knowledge and skills to be successful in what they are doing. Having this mentality is going to be crucial as these children become adults and pursue their goals in life which they are going to achieve because the Montessori approach taught them to have confidence in themselves.
References
Isaacs, B. (2013). Understanding the Montessori Approach. London: Routledge. Retrieved from https://books.google.com.ph/books?id=QzFbBAAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=Understanding+the+Montessori+Approach&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjB6c6khrbpAhUUL6YKHWXdDGoQ6AEIKDAA#v=onepage&q=Understanding%20the%20Montessori%20Approach&f=false
Lillard, P. (2011). Montessori: A Modern Approach. New York, NY: Knopf Doubleday Publishing. Retrieved from https://books.google.com.ph/books?id=lOpb6ykLIBYC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Montessori:+A+Modern+Approach&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwim7YO4hrbpAhWUy4sBHRvDD10Q6AEIKDAA#v=onepage&q=Montessori%3A%20A%20Modern%20Approach&f=false
Schmidt, M., and Schmidt, D. (2009). Understanding Montessori: A Guide for Parents. Indianapolis, IN: Dog Ear Publishing. Retrieved from https://books.google.com.ph/books?id=8t1TWcFOfVYC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Understanding+Montessori:+A+Guide+for+Parents&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwixp_HHhrbpAhWByosBHVLhBgoQ6AEIKDAA#v=onepage&q=Understanding%20Montessori%3A%20A%20Guide%20for%20Parents&f=false
