The Principals and Tools That Characterize a Montessori Home School Curriculum

The Principals and Tools That Characterize a Montessori Home School Curriculum

Article by Cin Rupp

The Montessori teaching method is an approach to childhood education that is based on the work of Maria Montessori – an Italian physician and educator. In this teaching approach, the teacher watches over the environment to remove any obstacles that would interfere with the natural development of the child’s natural inner, natural guidance. In a Montessori curriculum, the teacher interacts with the child through the use of lessons which shows the child how to use the various self-teaching materials available. Maria Montessori devised what came to be known as as the ‘prepared environment’. This environment capitalizes on the sensitive periods a child experiences to allow him or her to pursue whatever concept holds the greatest interest for them. It was found that children can absorb a vast amount of information during these periods of peaked interest if they are properly presented with appropriate materials. The core aspect of the Montessori method of teaching is the philosophy of balance between freedom, discipline and respect. Nowadays parents who are home schooling their young children take the Montessori approach. Theyare making use of such things as phonics software programs that trains their children to becomegood readers by knowing the letter sounds and how to separate and blend the sounds in a particularword. Even parents who do not allow their children to watch television or to play video games do nothave qualms about using their home computers as a part of an interactive way to teach children torecognize letters and words so that they can grasp the process involved in learning to read easily andin an enjoyable manner. Phonics software is designed to be a natural and dynamic extension to theMontessori method and it is generally elegant, quiet and includes no distractions such as flashinglights or loud noises.

A Montessori home school curriculum emphasizes error-less learning. Children learn at their ownpace and in this way they develop their full potential. This type of home school curriculum puts thefocus on beauty and avoids things that are confusing or cluttered. Often wooden tools are usedinstead of plastic and learning materials are well-organized and readily available to the child. TheMontessori method is most often used for younger children aged two to six due to the fact thatchildren of this age have unique instincts which makes them sensitive to conditions in theirenvironment. However, it is also sometimes used with children aged six to twelve as well as to juniorand high school level students.

A Montessori Home school curriculum for young children contrasts sharply with the ordinary public school curriculum in that the teacher resolves misbehavior by having the child re-focus on some positive activity rather than employing a system of rewards and punishments. As the child grows older and reaches the age of six, the curriculum begins to use books and writing exercises because children of this age function more through abstract reasoning and are not as sensitive to their physical environment. Lessons are designed so that the child is free to learn on his own, with little as little interference as possible coming from the teacher. Everyday household activities and chores such as table setting, food preparation and helping with laundry are considered to be life materials and exercises which teach children how to be independent.

The typical Montessori curriculum also makes use of music as musical training improves problem solving skills, coordination, concentration, memory and language skills. Music also fosters self-confidence and improves the child’s ability to learn. It is widely believed that a home school curriculum that takes the Montessori approach fosters both academic and social skills that are equal to or superior to those fostered by other types of schools.

About the Author

This article is written by Cin Rupp.