Montessori in 10 key points

Montessori. You have heard about it in the media, from your friends or thanks to Déclic. However, this pedagogy remains a great mystery and you would like to know more!

Just for you, we have decided to prepare a little summary of the Montessori method in 10 key points!

1- The Founder

One of the first female doctors in Italy, with degrees in philosophy, psychology and biology, Maria Montessori was a teacher, much more focused on theory than on practice. She did her first research on mentally ill children in Rome.

2- The Birth

After years of observing children in disadvantaged environments or with learning difficulties, Maria Montessori realized that they were capable of learning if they progressed with suitable materials. Maria then founded the “Casa dei bambini” in Rome in 1907: a true research laboratory through which she would develop a pedagogy to which she would give her name.

3- Pedagogy

By observing children in the Casa dei bambini, Maria Montessori wanted to lay the foundations for a new education. She studied “sensitive periods” in children during which the child was much more receptive to education.

Its pedagogy aims to promote self-confidence and autonomy, while allowing the child to evolve at their own pace. Thanks to the Montessori method, the child must be at the center of learning.

4- Philosophy

The Montessori Association in France advocates “education as an aid to life” . The Montessori method emphasizes the development of the child from a physical, social and spiritual point of view. Maria Montessori was convinced that education could become a factor of peace if the child's psychological development becomes a concern.

5- Schools

If the child has to learn alone, then there is no longer a teacher? Rest assured, there is! There may be an educator responsible for “guiding” the child and “preparing his environment” for this purpose.

Maria Montessori opened the first children's home, “Casa dei bambini,” in a poor neighborhood of Rome in 1907. Today, the 22,000 Montessori schools spread around the world are aimed primarily at wealthy families, costing between 5,000 and 8,500 euros per year.

In these schools, the child is free but “freedom is thought”.

6- The Material

The “Montessori material” offers a variety of activities for learning purposes. Each material meets very strict criteria, which respect age groups, and which was developed by tests carried out by Maria Montessori . This “material” particularly highlights “sensory manipulation”: learning with the hands, as advocated by the Déclic philosophy. (link)

The Montessori method is also an organization: in the layout of a child's room for example, where each area corresponds to an activity: playing, sleeping, working. The whole point is to teach the child to do things alone and to organize themselves.

7- The Known Ones 

This year, Prince George started school at a Montessori school and since then, it seems that British families are rushing to these institutes to enroll their offspring. An isolated case? Certainly not! George Clooney, Jackie Kennedy and Mark Zuckerberg have all attended Montessori. (Re)discover our article on the subject.

8- The Critics

Criticism sometimes comes from the Montessori Method, which is considered too permissive in the education of children.

In some Montessori schools, children may not feel supported enough. In an article from L'Express on the subject; Delphine, a former student explains “ until the end of the second quarter of the CP year I did not know how to read and the teacher did not see or understand anything.

9- Alternative Methods

Other methods close to Montessori exist: Steiner, Freinet, etc.
These methods, just like Montessori, place the child at the heart of the educational project. The child is encouraged to gain self-confidence and develop at his own pace.

You can find our article on the Waldorf-Steiner method.