Montessori Materials

"Order is one of the needs of life which, when satisfied, produces real happiness." 

- Maria Montessori

This picture was taken in the early 1900's. Some of you may recognize the bead chains still found on our Montessori math shelves. In fact, the materials we use today are the very same ones Dr. Montessori created over one hundred years ago. This never ceases to amaze me! In today's world of ever-changing curriculum and always-evolving manipulatives (hands-on learning tools) to teach our core subjects, the materials Maria Montessori developed back then, still remain. And still work. How can this be so? Each material is beautiful and captures the interest of the child. Each material is designed to isolate and teach one, specific skill or idea. The presentation that follows, subsequently builds upon the previous one. And in each lesson, one material is introduced, or re-introduced later down the road to be used in a different, more complex capacity. Maria Montessori was a scientist, remember, and she observed and took notes of the child's behaviors and interactions with the materials. With her observational data, she created her materials to support various developmental needs. The shape, size, feel, and purpose of each material served the need of the individual. 

Within the Montessori Method, it is not a race to teach lesson after lesson, within a given time period set by the state. Instead, it is all about presenting one lesson, observing how the child is faring with the new material, and then following this child to determine what comes next. The child sets the pace, nothing else does- or should. 

The Three-Year Cycle

“There is a great sense of community within the Montessori classroom, where there are children of different ages working together in an atmosphere of cooperation, rather than competitiveness. There is respect for the environment and for the individuals within it, which comes through experience of freedom within the community.” -Maria Montessori

One unique and beautiful aspect of the Montessori Method is that of the three-year cycle. The break down of this multi-aged classroom is as follows: Primary, consisting of 4, 5 and 6 year old's; Lower Elementary, consisting of 6-9 year old's; and Upper Elementary, consisting of 9-12 year old's. Wait! How can you have different grade levels in the same classroom? How does it really work? Its two-fold, really. First, the third level children, or our oldest friends, become the leaders and role models in the classroom, helping their younger peers to navigate the environment or a new material. At the same time the younger friends look to see what lessons and work the older children are selecting from the shelf. This motivates and excites the younger children and leads to a great anticipation of what will come. Second, the teachers, or Guides, are constantly observing, presenting lessons or refreshers, and observing some more. Guides are specifically trained at one of the above stated groupings. Each Guide understands particular plane of development and is therefore able to expertly follow the individual child. So the Montessori classroom will never be one, big group where all children are working on the same developmental skills. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. Each child is working at their own pace and at their own level, across all subject areas. And because of this, the grades and ages found in the traditional classroom needn’t matter to us. This community of multi-aged learners is what ignites the magic of the Montessori Method.

The Environment

"The first aim of the prepared environment is, as far as it is possible, to render the growing child independent of the adult." -Maria Montessori

Parents and other teachers always ask me what Montessori is all about? What sets the educational method apart from that which is found in a traditional classroom? To that, I often answer like this. It all starts with the environment. The Montessori classroom offers a prepared environment that is beautiful, inviting, and accessible. It is structured, ordered, and offers both intellectual and social opportunities to learn and grow. The materials are wooden and the baskets are typically made of natural fibers. The areas are clear: math, geometry, language, history, geography, botany and zoology. Often there are practical life shelves and peace areas offered, as well as plants and living creatures for observation. The children can sit at a table or work with a mat, on the rug. Students are free to choose their materials during the work cycle, after they have had a lesson from the teacher. So often Montessori children are assumed to have no rules or boundaries. But, it is quite the opposite. Freedom, within limits. The child finds structure within the Montessori environment.