Educating using Montessori home school methods...

Following a Montessori home school education program is becoming increasingly popular across the US. But what is the Montessori method, and how does it work when used as a homeschooling technique?

Background and Philosophy

The Montessori method of teaching is based on the research and experienced-based studies of Dr Maria Montessori, an Italian physician (1870-1952). Through her experiments and observations, she came to the conclusion that when young children were given the right environmental freedoms and learning materials they would self-direct their own learning.

How it works in practice...

In a Montessori school, playing is more commonly known as,"work". What we might consider to be just normal play with a tea-set or dressing-up clothes, becomes a child's "work". Children are allowed to self-monitor, they decide what they want to do and when, and they are left to select their own materials that they need for their chosen task or exercise--this could be something like painting a picture or learning to play a musical instrument.

Through the use of specially designed, and scientifically developed, self-teaching materials, children learn as they undertake their chosen task. All of the self-teaching materials are organized by subject and degree of difficulty and are arranged on open shelving so the children can choose and physically select the particular materials they want.

A Montessori trained teacher monitors all of this activity, and notes what each child is doing. If they feel a child is spending too much time on just one thing, they will demonstrate something new that the child can do with their materials to make the activity different, or perhaps more demanding. New challenges are introduced by a "lesson" or presentation from the teacher in the form of a three-step process:

1) Practical introduction, e.g. tracing out a letter shape with their finger, and saying the sound out loud.

2) Reinforcement through questioning and observation, e.g. asking the child to point out the letter that goes with a particular sound.

3) Checking the child understands by asking them to explain or summarize, e.g. by asking questions such as What is this?

If the teacher feels the child has fully understood and learned a new skill, they will then take a step back and let the child guide themselves towards the next developmental level.

The Montessori method has several distinct areas of study...

• Practical Life - where children learn how to take care of themselves through activities such as cooking, doing chores, or dressing-up.

• Sensorial Activities - this area of study uses all of the senses for learning. e.g. through visual and audio stimulation.

• Cultural Studies - children learn about cultures from all over the world, by using materials such as maps and flags, and also by studying images of people from across the globe. They may focus on a particular festival in detail, e.g. Diwali.

• Science - children are encouraged to question how the natural world around them works.

• Language - the Montessori method will always use the correct terminology, no matter how difficult the word may be to learn, it does not believe in "dumbing down", so a duck will always be called a duck, and not a quack quack!

• Math - makes full use of sensorial learning. For example by counting with different colored beads.

How to adapt the Montessori method to a home schooling environment...

It is very important to create the right study environment. Learning materials, for example, have to be placed at child height, so they can easily reach and select them. Access to the outdoors is also important to encourage the study of the natural and physical world. The learning area must be orderly and clear from clutter - a chaotic environment is believed to be distracting and not conducive to learning.

In a Montessori school, the environment is arranged by subject area, so being able to do this in your own house is an advantage. A lot of emphasis is placed on the concept of learning through example. A child will see a parent reading and will want to read for himself, or he will see a parent diligently preparing a family meal and will want to learn how to do it himself.

A child is learning all the time from their environment and from the people they come into contact with. Just by being involved in the daily routine of the house children develop important life-skills and also learn how to become independent.

Pros and cons of the Montessori method...

Like all learning approaches, Montessori home school methods will work for some parents and children, but not for all. So, it is important for you to weigh up the pros and cons of this way of teaching.

Pros

• there is no rigid curriculum to follow, or any set text books, learning comes directly from the environment
• phonics based reading methods mean children may learn to read faster than traditionally taught kids
• rather then breaking down areas of study into individual subjects, a more holistic approach is taken
• the prepared teaching environment is always a calm and orderly space
• children can work at their own pace and developmental stage
• cultural diversity is taught, and respect and tolerance of others is encouraged
• children are taught to respect and protect the natural environment.

Cons

• the Montessori method relies heavily on mixed-age learning, with older kids teaching the younger ones through general classroom interaction. This element of learning can be lost when home schooling just one or two children
• parents may feel that the lack of intervention in their child's studies robs them of the opportunity to direct their child's learning
• Montessori teachers are highly trained and very specialized. It can be difficult for a parent who is not fully trained in the Montessori method of educating to get the full benefit of its program.

Following a Montessori home school method is definitely an option for many parents. A lot of the techniques you already employ in your regular home schooling teaching can be adapted to the Montessori method. It is an established and proven way of teaching in the US, and you'd be in good company. Bill and Hilary Clinton chose a Montessori school for their daughter, Chelsea. And, in the UK, royals Prince William and Prince Harry are two of the most famous Montessorians around!

The homeschooling benefits for both you and your child by far outweigh any negative aspects people may throw at you. There is nothing that can not be overcome within a family, and any worries or self-doubt you may have can easily be put right through the support and encouragement of other homeschoolers, either online or in a network group. You'd be missing out on so much of your child's life if you didn't give homeschooling a go!