Overview of Montessori method

The Montessori Method is an educational approach named after Dr. Maria Montessori, an Italian physician (1870 – 1952). It is a scientifically oriented, modern, and comprehensive method that has made breakthroughs in early childhood education. Montessori focuses on nurturing the potential of children within a friendly and open educational environment. Teachers are trained extensively in their field and use specialized teaching aids.

One prominent feature of the Montessori method is the respect for each child’s individuality, independence, and disciplined freedom. Additionally, the method highly values the natural psychological development of children and provides them with practical knowledge.

International Montessori preschools lay the foundation for each child, particularly during the crucial period from 2 to 6 years old. During this time, children develop their cognitive abilities, acquire knowledge, and build essential social skills. This early development fosters independent learning, effective communication, and a strong spirit of cooperation and unity.

Montessori education encompasses five key areas:

1. Practical Life:
   • Teaches children to interact with their environment, focusing on self-help tasks (dressing, tying shoelaces, preparing food) and environmental care (dusting leaves, watering plants, cleaning shelves).
   • Promotes independence, concentration, self-discipline, coordination, confidence, and self-awareness.
2. Sensorial:
   • Develops children’s ability to use their senses from weaker to more proficient.
   • Adaptive exercises ensure that children actively explore the world using all five senses: hearing, sight, taste, smell, touch, and spatial awareness.

These components of Montessori education contribute to the holistic development of children, fostering cognitive abilities, knowledge acquisition, and social skills from an early age. The emphasis on independent learning, effective communication, and a high level of cooperation and unity sets the stage for a well-rounded education.

3. Language

Children are encouraged to express themselves verbally, guided on recognizing and writing letters. The goal is to achieve comprehensive language development, fostering flexibility in thinking.

Language is not treated as a separate domain but is integrated into all activities. Montessori turns language into a solid foundation for future reading and writing.

4. Mathematics

In Montessori, children familiarize themselves with numerical symbols through concrete quantity recognition. They learn to identify numbers and perform basic arithmetic operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division).

Mathematics serves as an initial focus in the learning journey, emphasizing the concept of order. It helps children develop independence and flexible eye-hand coordination.

5. Cultural Studies (History, Geography, Science, Art)

The cultural content of the Montessori education method includes diverse topics such as countries, animals, time, history, and music. This enables children to quickly adapt to their living environment and become valuable members of society. Montessori culture helps children understand their position and explore the colorful world around them.

Teaching Principles of Montessori Method

1. Respect, No Imposition on ChildrenMontessori upholds a crucial principle of “Respecting the child’s freedom to choose their learning path.” In Montessori classrooms, children have the freedom to choose activities at their own pace, prioritizing the development of concentration and individuality.

   Imposing adult thoughts on children, forcing them to entirely conform to adult ideas, contradicts the Montessori principle, potentially hindering a child’s innate ability to think. Therefore, it’s essential to let children explore freely within a safe environment.

2. Learning Always Accompanies Practical ApplicationThe most effective way for a child to apply what they’ve learned is by participating in practical activities. Children tend to imitate observed activities, so the purpose of Montessori education is to demonstrate how tasks are done, allowing children to develop independently.

   In practical life activities, children experience real-life skills such as pouring water, dressing and undressing, placing shoes in the right place, eating healthily, or caring for the environment by keeping the classroom clean, watering plants, dusting shelves, etc.

   These skills foster confidence, concentration, autonomy, coordination, and self-awareness, providing an excellent learning opportunity at minimal cost.

3. Friendly Environment, No Rewards or PunishmentsMontessori education does not involve or allow the existence of rewards and punishments. If a child makes a mistake, demonstrate the correct way instead of rewarding or praising. Encourage, motivate, and acknowledge the child’s effort rather than resorting to rewards or praise. Don’t exaggerate the issue but focus on helping the child understand where they went wrong.
4. Doesn’t Affect the Child’s ConcentrationIf a child is engrossed in playing with a particular toy, parents should not interfere unless there’s a compelling reason. Children need concentration to discover various ways to play on their own and solve problems they encounter while playing.
5. Nature Inspires ChildrenAccording to Dr. Maria Montessori, nature helps children perceive reality. Many learning activities and adventurous journeys take place outdoors in fresh air rather than in the classroom or indoors.
6. Teachers and Parents are Guides and CompanionsIn Montessori, the child is the center of learning activities. Schools and families must focus on exploiting the potentials inherent in children. Teachers and parents play the role of guides, encouraging children to actively engage with the surrounding environment and learn independently according to their abilities and interests.

   Instead of imposing their way, parents and teachers should be friends, companions, accompanying children. Before passing judgment on whether a child did right or wrong, we should teach by demonstrating first so that children can recognize what is correct. Adults need to balance the principle of not directly intervening in a child’s learning, but also not abandoning the child. Observe and provide suggestions, offering maximum support for each child’s self-development during each learning hour.

Lã Thị Phương Thảo

• Giáo viên Montessori Quốc tế được chứng nhận bởi Hiệp hội Phát triển Montessori Quốc tế (IAPM). 
• Tốt nghiệp Đại học Sư phạm Hà Nội
• 13 năm kinh nghiệm làm việc với trẻ nhỏ

Vừa tốt nghiệp đại học, cô Lã Thị Phương Thảo đã bén duyên với Sakura Montessori và gắn bó đến nay đã được 13 năm. Trong một thập kỷ làm việc với các bạn nhỏ tại Sakura Montessori, cô Phương Thảo luôn theo đuổi phương châm giáo dục cá nhân hóa dựa vào thiên hướng phát triển, cá tính riêng của mỗi cá nhân trẻ cũng như phù hợp với từng giai đoạn phát triển của trẻ để đạt được hiệu quả cao nhất.