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Who was Maria Montessori?Born in 1870, she was an Italian physician and educator and was the first woman to receive a medical degree in Italy. She developed her method of education early in this century for children from 2 years of age through high school. At the time of her death in 1952 she was working on a college curriculum.
What is the Montessori method?It is an approach to education, which takes into consideration the entire potential of a child – socially, mentally, physically, and emotionally. It is a highly individualized system of education, developed by physican and educator Maria Montessori, with a goal of helping each child to grow a unique competent, passionate, and confident individual.
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What are the sensitive periods?
These are periods of unusual sensitivity to learning that every child passes through on his or her way to adulthood. Dr. Montessori noted these periods of intense interest in learning specific skills and referred to them as periods of specific maturation aptness. She observed that the sensitive period for reading and writing occurs between 3 and 5 years of age.
What is the Montessori concept of discipline?
The Montessori discipline is an "inner discipline." The child develops control over his own behavior through his work with the Montessori materials. Dr. Montessori noted that so many so-called “discipline problems” occur when children were really frustrated by lack of proper, constructive, and intellectual stimulation. When a child's intellectual and creative energies are utilized in a constructive manner there is no energy left over for deviate behavior.
What happens to children who transfer from a Montessori school to a public school?
For more than half a century, we have observed that the achievement of Montessori children in the public school system and have found them to be highly adaptable, enthusiastic about school, and independent in their study habits. They are often accelerated.