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| What
makes Montessori education unique? |
- The "Whole Child" Approach. The primary
goal is to help each child reach full potential in all
areas of life.
- The "Prepared Environment." In order
for self-directed learning to take place, the whole
learning environment - room, materials and the social
climate - must be supportive to the learner.
- The Montessori Materials. Dr.
Montessori's observations of the kinds of things that
children enjoy and go back to repeatedly led her to design
a number of multi-sensory, sequential and self-correcting
materials that facilitate the learning of skills and lead
to learning.
- The Teacher. Originally called a directress, the
Montessori teacher functions as a designer of the
environment, resource person, role model, demonstrator,
record-keeper, and meticulous observer of each child's
behavior and growth.
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| How
does it work? |
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We operate on the principal of freedom within
limits. This equipment is 30 years old because of these ground
rules. For the younger learner, the equipment is visible so
they can see it and use it. For the older learner, the
equipment is not visible so they can think what they need to
learn to collect the materials necessary to do it. The room is
uncluttered and child friendly.
The multi-year span provides a family-like grouping where
learning can take place naturally. Because of Montessori's peer group
learning, there is often more conversation - language
experience. |
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