| The
name Montessori is given to an educational approach
which is based on the universal developmental needs
of the child. With a background in medicine and science,
Maria Montessori (1870-1952) approached the task of
education with no preconceptions. She discovered the
true nature of children, by observing their remarkable
behaviour, when educated in an environment based on
mutual respect and freedom. Her early work with disabled
children brought her immediate success, and an invitation
to coordinate a challenging project involving children
from the poorest quarters of Rome. It was there in 1907,
working in the slums with the children of criminals,
that she revealed the exceptional qualities inherent
in all children. In doing so, she attracted world-wide
interest and significantly influenced educational practice.
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'The
disorderly became orderly, the passive became active,
and the troublesome disturbing child became a help
in the classroom. This result made us understand
that their former defects had been acquired and
were not innate.'
Maria Montessori, The Absorbent Mind |
Using
her understanding of human development and human nature,
Montessori developed educational materials and a curriculum
which would support the natural holistic growth of children
from all backgrounds until adulthood. Her approach protected
children from many of the obstacles to development found
in traditional schools, and encouraged individual nurturing
and group harmony. She was twice nominated for a Nobel
Prize for the contribution her work made to World Peace.
Montessori education is a gentle, respectful preparation
for life, and is now applied in almost every country
of the world.
Four
Planes of Development
Montessori
observed that human development from birth to early
adulthood takes place across four planes, separated
by points of transition. Each plane is a different but
natural phase of development, with its own characteristics.
Montessori teachers are trained to observe the many
ways in which a child's needs differ between planes.
They use this understanding to design classrooms and
programs for each developmental stage. At Cockatoo Montessori
School, three different learning environments may be
experienced before reaching secondary school age:
Cycle
1 Classroom - second half of the First Plane
(3-6 yrs.)
Cycle 2 Classroom - first half of the Second
Plane (6-9 yrs.)
Cycle 3 Classroom - second half of the Second
Plane (9-12 yrs.) |
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