Montessori Method of teaching - Importance and difference from traditional form of teaching

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Montessori Method of teaching accommodates children from infant/toddler stage till the adolescent stage. Montessori way of teaching is prevalent all around the world among successful teachers since the last 100 years. It aims at teaching children in a prepared environment that is conducive to learning as well as interests the learners with the methodologies used and engages them in various activities related to learning. The prepared environment must be conducive to learning, where they enjoy themselves and at the same time learning new things.

Montessori Method believes in providing a safe and fostering environment in the class that will enable the children to develop their skills and confidence in themselves and gain independence as they perform their daily tasks and routines. Also, Montessori Method of teaching involves including children of each level in a particular class; hence the age of the learners varies and is not constant in a particular classroom.

Instead of following a fixed pattern of learning and teaching, Montessori Method of teaching focuses of identifying the child’s potentialities and provides the necessary means to develop and nurture them for a bright future ahead. According to Maria Montessori, each child is unique and has his or her own way of developing and shaping themselves up. It is through various activities that Montessori students are expected to learn new things explore their areas of interests. Montessori education is dead against bookish knowledge. It encourages the students to learn according to his preference and suitability as the teacher constantly observes the child’s potentials, development and his areas of interests and then guides the child accordingly.
Since Montessori Method is not teacher centric hence the children get much scope to interact and learn from their peers. Montessori Method of learning has some kind of relations with multiple intelligence methodology as it involves engaging the learners through audio-visual aids, music, bodily as well as logical, interpersonal and intrapersonal interactions. Since infants and toddlers have “an absorbent mind”, hence establishing a positive environment and surrounding is of utmost necessity. That is why it is also imperative for teachers as well as parents at home to watch their behaviour, actions and the languages that they use in their daily lives.