Blog: The Magic of Montessori – 5 Things That Make Montessori Special
Posted: 20 April, 2023
How is Montessori education different? It is a unique approach to supporting the natural development of human beings. It helps children to become independent, collaborative and creative thinkers who make a positive contribution to society.
Read on to discover 5 things that make Montessori special in our latest blog by Louise Livingston, our Head of Training.
2. Montessori schools can be happier places for staff too
At a time when many teachers in mainstream schools are on strike or leaving the profession, Montessori teaching offers a rewarding and positive career. Montessori schools are happy workplaces: teachers have the satisfaction of seeing the effectiveness of the Montessori approach as well as enjoying following children’s natural interests. We often hear it’s a way to be “the kind of teacher I always wanted to be”.
3. Montessori offers unparalleled support for literacy and numeracy
Montessori was ahead of the game in the use of phonics for the teaching of reading but in Montessori this is also combined with “whole reading” approaches such as comprehending individual words and their meaning in context and supporting enjoyment of reading; this combined approach is now being validated by research and policy leaders.
Numeracy is introduced in Montessori in a way that appeals to children’s way of learning, as the abstract is first represented in concrete form. We respond to their developing mathematical reasoning and natural desire to calculate, classify and make predictions.
4. Montessori offers “future-proof” education
65% of children starting primary school now will work in jobs that don’t exist yet. Tomorrow’s workforce will need to be more adaptable than ever before and work-life balance will only become more important. By encouraging critical thinking and confidence Montessori prepares children not only for the modern workplace but for life. We believe that education is about optimizing human capacity not simply acquiring knowledge and taking exams.
5. Montessori is not just about the classroom
Yes – Montessori starts from birth, indeed even before a baby is born! Parents prepare for their role and create a home environment that helps their child to become independent as they participate in household activities. Montessori remains relevant at every chapter of life – ground-breaking work with older people and those with dementia has shown it can improve quality of life at this stage too.
Those who train in Montessori may go on to work in classrooms, but they also pursue careers as parent consultants and educational researchers, in charities and social care and much more.
Is this the sort of education you would like for your child? Discover our London school for children aged from 2 ½ years. Or perhaps you are interested in Montessori courses or teacher training for yourself? We are the UK’s only Association Montessori Internationale training centre – we offer Montessori teacher training as well as online courses and professional development.
How is Montessori education different? It is a unique approach to supporting the natural development of human beings. It helps children to become independent, collaborative and creative thinkers who make a positive contribution to society.
