Montessori was later assigned as a director of a nursery in 1907 for children ages three to six in Rome. She set it up originally to keep children off the streets and educate them.
Children are able to come into the 'house' and pick and choose what to play with and what to do when they please.
There are children size furniture and appliances for children to play with and work with. This makes things easier for the children, as they can use things their 'size' and can work efficiently to learn and educate themselves.
This is a perfect example of a montessori classroom environment.
Children are able to work with their size tools and toys to make it easier for them to work with.
The montessori method is available and open to anyone or any school who wants to teach in this particular way or having a passion for giving children the best possible way to learn and retrieve an education, whilst participating in their learning.
Children can gain a sense of being in control of their learning. Tina Bruce (1998).
They also get the opportunity to learn through first hand experience in their education. Bruce (1996).
In the Montessori environment, it differences very much from the normal classroom environment. For instance, the teacher in a montessori classroom will not lead the children. She/He will be there to assist the children and suggest ideas to the children regarding what to do and what to learn. For example, a teacher will say to a child "David, I think this table needs a clean, it looks very dirty." Almost hinting for the child to respond and think for themselves to clean the table and collect the things they will need to clean the table. This enables children to think for themselves and be independent in their learning.
This short video clip gives an idea of what the teacher's role involves in the montessori classroom and what happens in this environment.
This video clip shows that not only the children are learning, but the teachers are learning too. This benefits both pupils and teachers in the classroom, and enables them to learn freely.
Children are not pressurised by teachers and are not being told what to do. By giving them this freedom to learn they do it effectively and learn more by being responsible for what they challenge themselves with in the classroom.
References
1. Absorbent Minds Montessori
Retrieved on 18th April from :
(http://www.absorbentminds.co.uk/acatalog/What_is_Montessori_.html)
2. Susan Feez (2010) 'A Visit to a Montessori Children's House'. Montessori and Early Childhood. Sage. London.
3. Montessori Centre International
Retrieved in April from :
(http://distancelearning.montessori.org.uk)
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