Montessori education

Montessori Education is recognized world-wide. It incorporates not only the philosophy of child development, but mainly specific practices with a lot of learning aids. The Montessori method was created by observing the physiological development of the human brain at an early age. The starting point is to offer children intellectual stimuli at the right time (in particular the sensitive stage of development) and the correct form. According to a Montessori school it is appropriate to start working with children as young as 2 to 2.5 years, which is the optimum time for the intellectual, creative and elementary development of the child's potential using the Montessori equipment.

Children lead by the Montessori school begins to write, read and count at pre-school age spontaneously. The aim of this education is to encourage your child's natural desire to learn, to promote friendly relationship between teacher and child, and support the ability of the teacher to positively motivate the child.

Maria Montessori (1870-1952):

Maria was an Italian doctor and educator who was the first woman in Italy graduated from college in the field of medicine in 1896. She was gradually deepening her education in the field of anthropology, biology and psychology.  After her studies, she worked as an assistant at the university psychiatric clinic in Rome, where she focused on the education of mentally handicapped children. Later she worked as Head of School for therapy educators, working as a paediatrician and lead the Department of Anthropology at the University of Rome. In 1907, Maria Montessori opened the Children’s House, intended for preschoolers from the poor families.

Her journey to the development of materials and devices for sensory education of preschool children began here. In 1908, Maria Montessori gradually abandons all prestigious positions - left the clinic, university and finished an active medical practice, followed by more than 40 years of teaching and research activities associated with the later writers' activities and lecturing.

From early days work she has realized that children naturally and effortlessly absorb a large amount of knowledge from their immediate surroundings, and this inspired her lifelong efforts to reform education. Long-term observations and experiments were the base for creating a pedagogical teaching system, which is now widespread throughout the world and well established in countries such as Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, Austria and China.

Basic principles of the Montessori Kindergarten

  • Help me to do it by myself

    This request of one of the children to Maria Montessori became the credo of her pedagogy. The role of adults is to let the child acquire new knowledge on their own at their own pace, creating the best possible conditions.

  • The hand is the instrument of the spirit 

    The work of the hands according to Montessori is the foundation for understanding objects and phenomena. It is the basis for the development of thinking and speech. Methodology places great emphasis on the connection of mental activity and creative physical activity. It is based on specific knowledge when handling the objects.

  • Respect sensitive period

    Sensitive period is the time when the child is particularly sensitive to certain intellectual stimuli. During this period, the child is able to absorb new knowledge and acquire skills naturally - unconscious learning.

  • Attention polarization

    The child is able to focus intensely and for a long period of time only on a job that interests him.

  • Working with error 

  • Child is not punished or negatively evaluated for the errors. Error should be an indicator of what is still needed to practice and is viewed as a normal and natural in the learning process. The teacher should not use negative evaluation, but should offer another form of control for the child. Learning equipment is prepared in the way that the child is able to check the accuracy of the solution by her or himself.

  • Work with the praise 

Every child needs a sense of security, safety and success, but consistent positive or negative evaluation by adults is restricting. The praise in Montessori pedagogy is treated appropriately so that the child does not depend on it.

Montessori school is undoubtedly of paramount importance in pre-school and elementary education. It offers a child, at pre-school age, naturally absorbs intellectual stimuli, playful way to improve language and master the basics of reading and writing. Maria Montessori created a methodology which builds a love for knowledge in children; this is what sometimes lacks in traditional schools. Unlike traditional school Montessori attempts to link individual objects for the child to understand the context. Each child gets a space to work and play in the areas in which they feel to be exceptional.