- Dr. Maria Montessori
- Montessori Philosophy
- The Prepared Environment
- The Prepared Adult
- A Montessori Dictionary
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Montessori Philosophy
Dr. Maria Montessori believed that children are born with incredible learning potential and an intrinsic desire to explore, discover, and learn about their world.
Through observations of children she developed an ingenious and holistic educational method based on the human tendencies and designed to help each child reach his or her full potential in all areas of life.
According to Dr. Montessori the development is not linear and is anthropologically based. She talked about four planes of development: Infancy (0-6 years), Childhood (6-12), Adolescence (12- 18), and Maturity (18- 24). The Four Planes of Development Theory is based on direct observation of the child which proved that successful completion of one plane leads to fulfillment of the next one. Each plane is divided into two three-year periods.
During the first plane of development the child main task is to become and belong. S/he is guided by his/her powers - the Sensitive periods and the Absorbent Mind.
Between 3 – 6 years of age the child needs to orient self, to classify facts and work with hands to develop intelligence, concentration, and consciousness. Through activity the child develops knowledge, will and memory making conscious what was unconscious until his/her 3rd year. The learning is joyful and effortless.
The child together with the prepared adult and environment laid the foundation of the Montessori classroom.
Freedom is very important in the Montessori environment. Children have the freedom to:
a. chose where, for how long and what material to work with
b. repeat
c. move
d. communicate
There are certain limitations corresponding to the freedoms:
a. the child can chose to work only with materials s/he has been shown and if uses them appropriately; the length of the activity is limited with the 3 hour work cycle; certain activities are done in special areas of the classroom, i.e. practical life activities are completed in the area with the tile floor and not on the carpet.
b. when the child hides behind the material by working in a frivolous way they will not accept presentations and extend to the next level.
c. children walk but not run in the classroom and are not allowed to walk on materials
d. should not use disruptive loud voices
All these freedoms promote what Maria Montessori called cycle of activities which must begin with interest. A cycle of activity means that each activity has a beginning (taking it from the shelf and preparation), middle (the activity takes place), and end (returning the material to the shelf and making it ready for the next child).
Did you know?
Famous Montessori graduates include Anne Frank, Jaqueline Kennedy Onasis, Julia Child, Jeff Bezos (founder of Amazon.com), Gabriel Garcia Marquez (Nobel Prize-winning novelist), and Sergey Brin and Larry Page (co-founders of Google who credit their Montessori education for much of their success), The princes of Wales - William and Harry, Bill and Hilary Clinton, Helen Hunt. George Clooney, Michael Douglas, Jimmy Wales (founder of Wikipedia), and many more.
Supporters of the Montessori approach are Dalai Lama, Mahatma Gandhi, Alexander Graham Bell, Henry Ford, Jean Piaget, Thomas Edison, and more.
Through observations of children she developed an ingenious and holistic educational method based on the human tendencies and designed to help each child reach his or her full potential in all areas of life.
According to Dr. Montessori the development is not linear and is anthropologically based. She talked about four planes of development: Infancy (0-6 years), Childhood (6-12), Adolescence (12- 18), and Maturity (18- 24). The Four Planes of Development Theory is based on direct observation of the child which proved that successful completion of one plane leads to fulfillment of the next one. Each plane is divided into two three-year periods.
During the first plane of development the child main task is to become and belong. S/he is guided by his/her powers - the Sensitive periods and the Absorbent Mind.
Between 3 – 6 years of age the child needs to orient self, to classify facts and work with hands to develop intelligence, concentration, and consciousness. Through activity the child develops knowledge, will and memory making conscious what was unconscious until his/her 3rd year. The learning is joyful and effortless.
The child together with the prepared adult and environment laid the foundation of the Montessori classroom.
Freedom is very important in the Montessori environment. Children have the freedom to:
a. chose where, for how long and what material to work with
b. repeat
c. move
d. communicate
There are certain limitations corresponding to the freedoms:
a. the child can chose to work only with materials s/he has been shown and if uses them appropriately; the length of the activity is limited with the 3 hour work cycle; certain activities are done in special areas of the classroom, i.e. practical life activities are completed in the area with the tile floor and not on the carpet.
b. when the child hides behind the material by working in a frivolous way they will not accept presentations and extend to the next level.
c. children walk but not run in the classroom and are not allowed to walk on materials
d. should not use disruptive loud voices
All these freedoms promote what Maria Montessori called cycle of activities which must begin with interest. A cycle of activity means that each activity has a beginning (taking it from the shelf and preparation), middle (the activity takes place), and end (returning the material to the shelf and making it ready for the next child).
Did you know?
Famous Montessori graduates include Anne Frank, Jaqueline Kennedy Onasis, Julia Child, Jeff Bezos (founder of Amazon.com), Gabriel Garcia Marquez (Nobel Prize-winning novelist), and Sergey Brin and Larry Page (co-founders of Google who credit their Montessori education for much of their success), The princes of Wales - William and Harry, Bill and Hilary Clinton, Helen Hunt. George Clooney, Michael Douglas, Jimmy Wales (founder of Wikipedia), and many more.
Supporters of the Montessori approach are Dalai Lama, Mahatma Gandhi, Alexander Graham Bell, Henry Ford, Jean Piaget, Thomas Edison, and more.
News and Upcoming Events
*We welcome Lyndie - our new AMI Montessori guide!
*Montessori Weekend Schedule March- June!
*Parent Workshops 11.02, 10.03, 24.03
Contact us
6, Yana Yazova St.,
Vitosha Residential District, 1700 Sofia
mob.: +359 884 032 852
phone: +359 2 962 27 48
e-mail: office@montessori-bulgaria.com
Vitosha Residential District, 1700 Sofia
mob.: +359 884 032 852
phone: +359 2 962 27 48
e-mail: office@montessori-bulgaria.com
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