Maria Montessori - The Beginning

I am on a Montessori kick right now :) I have started doing many montessori activities with my 19-month old daughter and she has responded so well that I really have a desire to plunge into this method of teaching as much as I can.

For those of you who may be new to the Montessori method I would like to give a brief introduction to Maria Montessori's philosophy for my first post on Montessori.

I briefly quoted the main ideas behind the philosophy below, as read in Teaching Montessori in the Home by Elizabeth G. Hainstock.

"Maria Montessori believed that education begins at birth and that the first few years of life, being the most formative, are the most important, physically and mentally.

Proper learning methods in the years from birth to six years will largely determine the kind of adult the child will become.

Montessori felt that in these early years a child has a what she referred to as "sensitive periods", during which time he is particularly receptive to certain stimuli. If parents are aware of these periods, much can be done to help the child at the right time.

Sensitive Periods

birth- 3 yrs Absorbent mind, Sensory experiences

1 1/2 - 3 yrs Language Development

1 1/2 - 4 yrs Coordination & muscle development

2-4 yrs Refinement of movement, concern with truth & reality,

Aware of order sequence in time & Space

2 1/2- 6 yrs Sensory refinement

3-6 yrs Susceptibility to adult influence

3 1/2-4 1/2 yrs Writing

4- 4 1/2 yrs Tactile sense

4 1/2-5 1/2 yrs Reading

Education need not be imposed on the child; given a learning environment he will be free to act and to develop himself along the lines of his own inner direction.

Children have a natural desire to learn and work, along with a strong willingness to please. Children would rather learn than simply be entertained or amused."

In my following posts I plan on describing what the desired montessori environment would look like, what materials would be used and activities to guide your children through the sensitive periods.

I am excited about sharing this with you so please let me know what you think! :)