The Montessori Way

Adult / Child / Environment

One of the very key aspects of Montessori is laid out perfectly in this chart. In a traditional home or school you have the adult / child dynamic. • • The key to Montessori is the environment. The child is in charge of their own learning supported by the adult and the environment. • • Dr.Montessori reiterates that the objective of Montessori education is not to fill a child with facts, but to cultivate their own natural desire to learn. • • In Montessori the children work at their own pace. The parent is often times just the observers which then allows them to set up the environment according to the child. The environment attract the child and the child learns from the material in the environment. • • Which is why it’s important for the adult to observe, to see the child’s interests and set out material that supports that. The adult prepares the environment according to the child’s desires. When a child is working with material, the adult will observe the child and step in to give only as much assistance as necessary before stepping out of the way for the child to continue their self-mastery. • • Maria Montessori realized that children want to be a part of their home, their environment, their family. In our home particular we have zero baby gates (accept for the top of stairs for safety) our home is made to be child friendly. To allow our children to be equally a part of this as we are. Light switch extenders, pitchers of water and cups, real cleaning supplies on hand, a bed that is independent, an environment that is accessible so the child can live and participate too. • • In traditional schooling often the teacher is leading. In a traditional home the parent often assists the child in most everything. Putting them in their bed / crib, preparing their meal, turning on the lights for them, cleaning up their spills. Montessori believes these are all things a child can do when presented with the right material to do so. • • The environment is to be set for practice life independence and child led learning based on what the adult has prepared after observing the child.