The Montessori Method
Montessori is a method of education for children from birth to adulthood. The method has been developed by the Italian physician and educator Dr. Maria Montessori. It is a result of more than fifty years of scientific observation of the human being from birth to maturity.
Montessori education is based on the fact that children have an innate ability to learn and that when supported by an appropriate environment and educator, they are guided through their developmental needs to reach their full potential.
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Montessori views education as an ‘aid to life’ that supports the full development of the human being. It is considered the most successful educational system in the world. Montessori fosters the love of learning, independence and connection with nature. Children learning in a Montessori program become confident, responsible, independent learners. The method also facilitates positive social development and allows the children to become healthy and positive individuals.
Key aspects of the Montessori Approach include the Prepared Environment and the role of the Montessori Educator.
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Montessori environments are offered from birth to adulthood:
Assistants to Infancy (0-3)
Casa dei Bambini (3-6)
Elementary (6-12)
Adolescence (12-18)
The Prepared Environment
There are three main characteristics that you can find in any true Montessori Environment in any part of the world:
Warmth, Beauty, Order, Accessibility
Montessori classrooms are designed to exhibit warmth, beauty, order and accessibility. Materials are organized on open shelves at the child's height. Both Montessori indoor and outdoor environments are enriched with natural materials and are prepared in every way for optimal development: physically, cognitively, socially and emotionally.
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Montessori Materials
The Montessori materials are carefully designed tools to stimulate the child into logical thought and discovery. Each piece of material presents one concept or idea at a time and has what is known as a "control of error". If the child has done something incorrectly, he or she will be able to see his or her own mistake which allows the child to work independently. Each classroom includes a full set of high quality, age appropriate Montessori Materials. The materials you will find in any True Montessori classroom in any part of the world are the same for the same age range.
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Community
The Montessori classroom is not just a place for individual learning. It is a happy community of children, where the child learns to interact socially in a variety of ways. The classrooms are mixed age, the three-year age range enables older children to teach the younger and learn much themselves from the experience while the younger children are inspired to more advanced work through observing the older ones. With such a variety of levels in the classroom, each child can work at his or her own pace, unhindered by competition and encouraged by co-operation.
The Montessori Educator
A Montessori classroom typically has a trained Montessori teacher, known as a Director or Directress, supported by a Montessori assistant. The teacher is a guide or facilitator whose task it is to support the young child in his or her process of self-development. They observe the children and carefully monitor each child's development, recognising and interpreting each child's needs.
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The teacher provides a link between the child and the prepared environment, introducing the child to each material when he or she is ready. The most important attribute of a Montessori teacher is the love and respect she holds for each child's total being.
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The Montessori assistant’s role is to support the teacher and promote peace and order in the classroom. They value and respect the uniqueness of each child while consistently nurturing and modeling a love of learning.
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The AMI diploma is highly respected worldwide as a representation of achievement in a teacher-training program of quality, integrity, and authenticity and is earned through successful completion of an intensive in-depth training program conducted by an AMI trainer.
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The Montessori Materials
AMI Approved Manufactured Materials
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The Montessori materials are carefully designed to stimulate the child into logical thought and discovery. In order for the materials to be of optimum benefit, they must be presented to the child at the appropriate stage in his or her development by a trained Montessori teacher. The materials then allow the child to engage in self-directed, purposeful activity. The materials are beautiful and enticing and are displayed in an orderly and accessible way.
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The following companies manufacture materials according to detailed blueprints provided by AMI. AMI is in constant contact with these manufacturers about the materials. In their catalogs/price lists, each piece of material, which is manufactured according to the AMI blueprints, is identified by an AMI logo.
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To order Nienhuis Materials and Furniture in Egypt,
please contact The Montessori Institute in Cairo
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To order Gonzagarredi Materials and Furniture in Egypt,
please contact The Montessori Institute in Cairo
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Digital Materials
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AMI Digital provides a large range of digital Montessori materials including charts, classified cards, and publications. The materials can be purchased and downloaded ready to print. AMI Members receive a 10% discount on all Montessori downloads and free access to an extensive range of digital publications.
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Where to buy in Egypt? Visit The Ultimate Montessori Store (Egypt)
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