You may have heard “Montessori” mentioned a few times talking to other parents, teachers, daycares, or even here within some of our articles. What is this method all about and how can it benefit children? I decided to write this article to discuss this very topic with just facts and no bias towards the method at all. At the end of the day, the learning methods used for children should be the right ones for them. There is no right or wrong answer as long as we are giving our children the environments that they need.
Please understand that this article comes from a place of curiosity as a parent myself. I wanted to help other parents get an idea of what this method is all about. I am neither for nor against this method and this information provided is strictly for your benefit.
What Is the Montessori Method?
Before 1907, most in-class teachings were designed around a very rigid set of objectives. This was considered lesson-centric. Dr. Maria Montessori, Italy’s first female doctor sought to change that. In 1897, she began testing her child-centric learning methods in a low-income school in Rome. While other instructors viewed the classroom as a place to mold students, she viewed it as an opportunity to allow the natural abilities of the children to come to light. Her classroom setting encouraged working as a team. This allowed children to identify their strengths and weaknesses more naturally, instead of being forced into a narrow curriculum-based outcome. Individualism curriculums were created for each student that supported their strengths and weaknesses. A focus was put on developing children at their pace instead of focusing on the “time crunch” of most curriculums.
While the majority of learning occurred in the classroom, the Montessori Method quickly became a lifestyle for many children. The masses quickly noticed in home life or out-of-school play with others. Parents were encouraged to with children outside of the classroom to give children the best chances of early success. Of course, this was met with intense backlash. For two reasons; the first of which she altered age-old curriculum, as a woman. The second, she put a lot of responsibility on parents while at home. Ultimately, her method began to be implemented in schools across Italy. It would later spread to other countries, reaching 100 schools in the United States by the end of 1914.
Montessori Method Schools and Environments
With over 4,000 schools across the United States as of 2022, you find that they do differ in the smaller details of the Montessori Method, they all seem to follow these same guidelines and focus points.
Classroom & Grade Groups
While standard classroom settings across the world utilize a classroom setting with hardly any age gap, the Montessori system uses classroom groups with a 2-3 year difference for learning environments. This method is used for ages 0 to 12 and then is split accordingly based on learning needs. Below are the most common groups that we found in our research. Please note that some differ by 1 to 2 years if you choose to look schools up for yourself.
- Infant (0 to 3 years old)
- Preschool (3 to 6 years old)
- Elementary Level I (6 to 9 years old)
- Elementary Level II (9 to 12 years old)
- Middle School (12 to 14 years old)
When reviewing this, it was initially confusing how the age gap benefited children, but we found that most schools use this to better support self-paced learning. Also, having slightly accelerated children in the group allows for children to learn from their peer groups when in group projects or even individual assignments.
Open Learning Environment
Having a classroom dedicated to allowing children a free range of learning aids (grammar cards, counting beads, or even dinosaur fossil toys), teaches self-discipline and the need to learn how to focus on tasks. This free range also allows children the chance to discover interests and natural skills early on through imagination and curiosity.
Since the world’s most preferred method of learning is kinesthetic, or hands-on, the Montessori Method also focuses on building assignments and classrooms around this need. Instead of reading about history or science in books, trips or activities that allow complete or partial hands-on learning is more likely.
Another crucial aspect of this learning environment is the teaching method. In common classrooms, the teacher engages students for about 80% of the time and the other 20% is for student-led time (self-study, group projects, or time to complete assignments). In the Montessori Method, it is completely the opposite. 80% of class time is spent allowing students to conduct projects, experiments, etc. Of course, the type of task being accomplished depends entirely on the age/class group.
Toys and Room Ideas
While a lot of learning is accomplished in classroom settings, the Montessori Method is a lifestyle. Having a playroom or area in your house that matches the learning style at school for your child is always a great idea. Here are some main focuses if this is something you are considering or are just curious about.
Simplicity Is the Key
Having a room with fewer, more engaging toys is so much better than ten or twenty useless toys. If the toys are task-oriented, such as puzzle boxes or stackers, and there are fewer of them your child is more likely to remain engaged in completing the tasks. You will also notice that most toys associated with Montessori are very plain and usually wooden. This is with a purpose. Battery-operated, flashy, and noisy toys are great for distracting your children, but they do very little for brain development according to Montessori researchers. The important factor for toys is if they allow your child to learn anything. We think of toys as a distraction most of the time, when we should be using toys as a great tie for development. Whether through skills or imagination this can be accomplished without all the battery-operated stuff.
A Room Designed for Them
When we are designing a typical baby room or nursery, it is normal to design with our accessibility in mind. We place the changing tables and shelves in manners that help us as parents. Montessori rooms are not for our comfort at all. Making sure the room is a place that meets our child’s learning needs is the focus. It is good to place the shelves at their eye level, toys on shelving that is inviting for them, and a floor space that they can explore and play within safely.
Giving every item in the room a specific place allows children to also learn how to clean the room and put items back in their place as they get older.
Pros & Cons of Using Montessori
We looked into a ton of articles and used different opinions from researchers, parents, and teachers. As stated at the beginning of this article, only you know what learning environment your child needs and where they will excel. These are opinions based on research or first-hand experiences, but your experiences may vary, so please keep that in mind.
Some Pros of Montessori
Individual Learning Evaluation: Since the classrooms are smaller and self-paced, teachers can evaluate children by their individual development. This is a great alternative to the normal grade-based testing done throughout the United States.
Multi-age Classrooms: With the wider age ranges for each classroom group, comes an opportunity for children to learn from slightly older children and for those older children to potentially develop leadership skills.
Social-emotional Development: Since many classroom projects are done in groups, the students are taught communication, conflict resolution, mutual respect, and the need for cooperation from an early age.
Community Involved Classroom: To have more hands-on learning opportunities, classrooms typically are very active in local communities and take part in community outreach projects.
Advanced Mathematics: Montessori places a great focus on learning mathematics (applied) and most children by age 5 or 6 have learned all four major math operations to the thousandth position.
Some Cons of Montessori
Scarcity of Montessori Schools: With around 130,000 schools in the United States, only about 4,000 offer Montessori currently. This is about 3%, and while it is growing, it will be hard changing or finding like-minded schools if moving or changing school districts ever occurs.
Montessori to Standard Classrooms: A lot of the articles we have read put an emphasis on changing from a Montessori school to a non-Montessori school. Due to the massive learning environment changes and small sizes of typical Montessori classes, some children may have difficulty transferring to standard-style classrooms.
School Validity & Quality: With the popular trend of the word, Montessori schools are appearing much more consistently. The problem with this is that the quality of the schools and teachers may not meet the needs of your child. This is something that as a parent, you need to be diligent in ensuring that the environment your child is placed in is the right fit for their learning style and personality.
Not for Every Child: While this learning style is great for some, that means that it is not the best for some. This is okay. All children learn differently. Since this method requires your child to learn self-motivation and work as a member of teams regularly, it may not be suitable for all children. As a parent, understanding your child, their personality, and their learning needs will help you in finding the right place for them. We have some alternative methods like Montessori below.
Alternate Learning Methods
Montessori is a very specific and focused learning method based on children-centric learning. This works well for some, but for some, it can also be detrimental if they are not the right fit for this. Dr. Maria Montessori’s ideas about classroom curriculum sparked others to formulate their ideas and classroom settings. These have similarities to Montessori and even to the standard classroom but have their own slightly altered details. We believe they are all worth reading about just to get an idea of the many options out there if you choose to pursue an education system like this.
Reggio Emilia
Loris Malaguzzi’s method for early childhood education focuses on the belief that children are not just vessels to be filled. This method covers ages 0-5, replacing traditional preschools. Despite criticisms, the benefits of multi-sensory, relationship-based, and child-led learning make it a widely recognized and valuable form of education for young children globally. Concerns about accreditation and certification in some schools stem from its flexible approach.
If you would like to learn more about this method we suggest checking out these links:
- ReggioChildren.it (Main website for Reggio learning in Italy)
- ReggioAlliance.org (Main website for Reggio learning in the United States)
Froebel
Another method, not without criticism, is the Froebel Method. Developed by Friedrich Froebel in 1817, this method was a very rigid, STEM-based curriculum that focused on motor skills and developing “human potential”.
Did you know that the Universal German Education Institute eventually became known as Kindergarten? This innovative teaching method has come a long way since Froebel first introduced it. Although it has undergone many changes over the years, Kindergarten is now a beloved and widely-used form of early childhood development all around the globe!
This method emphasizes a curriculum-led classroom setting in which all subjects are balanced as a priority. Froebel’s original curriculum was primarily concerned with motor skills and occupational skills, leaving little room for imagination, free play, and learning. The changes made to this method prioritize balancing a child’s learning day and relax the strictness that was established in 1817.
I could say a lot about this method because it is the one that most of us are more familiar with. If you want to learn more about the history and evolution of the Froebel Method, follow the links provided below.
Our Thoughts
Strictly from a parent’s perspective, I do believe that the Montessori Method displays some amazing qualities. Some topics are not my favorite, but they are few and far between. I am also a firm believer in putting your child’s needs first. This is even more important with education and development. Ensuring they have the right support at home can benefit them for years to come. These early years are crucial. If you believe that the Montessori Method is something to consider for your child, go for it! Do your research and find the right fit. If you don’t think it is right for you, guess what? That is perfectly okay too! You are the ultimate factor in whether your child will succeed and develop with your support and guidance. Be an involved parent! It can make all the difference.
Thank you!
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If you would like to learn more awesome parenting tips: 11 Tips for New Dads
Disclaimer
It’s important to recognize that, despite being a parent myself, I am not a medical expert. Please speak with a pediatrician for the most precise information on your child’s developmental progress. We hope you have learned something useful to aid in the growth and development of your child.
If you do have any questions regarding the information in this article please reach out to us!
