Die Montessori-Pädagogik

Montessori pedagogy is based on the principles of Maria Montessori, who opened her first school for children from low-income families in an apartment building in Rome in 1907. The school was called "Casa dei Bambini," or "Children's Home." This first "Casa" was equipped with a teacher's desk, a stove, a blackboard, several chairs, group tables for the children, and a cupboard filled with materials Montessori had developed earlier in her career while researching how to teach children with specific intellectual disabilities. Maria Montessori developed the materials after realizing that students seem to understand complex concepts better when they use all of their senses. At this first school, the children learned personal hygiene (such as dressing and undressing), household chores such as sweeping, dusting, and gardening. Otherwise, they were free to move around and play with the materials. Montessori did not teach herself, but instead supervised her teachers' work. Montessori observed that children exhibited periods of deep concentration and repeated the same activity multiple times. Given the opportunity for free choice, children showed more interest in hands-on activities and materials than in ordinary toys, sweets, or other rewards. Over time, spontaneous self-discipline developed. Montessori concluded that through independent work, children achieve a new level of autonomy and become self-motivated learners. She began to view the role of the teacher as a facilitator of young people who can move and act freely within the confines of a special environment. The goal: to help children grow into independent and responsible adults who share a love of learning. Soon afterward, Montessori traveled the world with her ideas, inspiring free thinkers and educators from around the world. Inventors Alexander Graham Bell and Thomas Edison quickly became strong advocates. Later graduates included Jimmy Wales of Wikipedia, author Gabriel Garcia Marquez, and Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin. Today, the term "Montessori" refers more to a method than to a school. The fact that it can be used freely by anyone has led to a wide variety of schools. Educators around the world borrow Montessori's name, insights, and materials to organize kindergartens, elementary schools, special needs programs, or even entire 12-year curricula. Some parents use the method for homeschooling. The following features are used by most programs: Students are free to choose what they want to learn Open-plan classrooms that allow free movement Use of specialized Montessori materials Mixed age groups (0-3, 3-6, or 6-12) so children can learn from each other Uninterrupted time blocks, usually three hours No grading or homework And a trained teacher Scene 9 Maria Montessori once said, "Never help a child with a task in which he feels he can succeed."