In its simples form, Montessori refers to the philosophy of child and human development as presented by Dr. Maria Montessori, an Italian physician who lived from 1870 to 1952.
In the early 1900s, Dr. Montessori built her work with mentally challenged children on the research and studies of Jean Itard and Edward Seguin. Itard is known for his work with Victor, the "Wild Boy of Aveyron", an 11-year old found in the woods of France on 1799. VIctor lacked spoken language skills and is presumed to have survived without human interaction. Itard's work established the idea that language can only be learned early in life. Itard also designed hands-on language materials for teaching Victor., materials that Dr. Montessori further developed.
Seguin expanded Itard's work with deaf children and designed hands-on materials for understanding basic mathematics. In 1907, at the behest of the Roman Association of Good Buildings, Dr. Montessori began using her teaching materials, based on Itard's and Seguin's designs, with normal children in a Rome tenement. Working with those children, Dr. Montessori discovered what she called the 'Secret of Childhood'.
What is the secret? Children love to be involved in self-directed, purposeful activities. When given a prepared environment of meaningful hands-on projects, along with the time to do those projects at his or her own pace, a child will choose to engage in activities that will create learning in personal and powerful ways.
Source:
Understanding Montessori:
A Guide for Parents
Maren Schmidt M. Ed.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
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