MONTESSORI CONCEPTS
In this article is a list of words, which are regularly used in a Montessori environment.
The better you understand them, to more you will get to understand of the philosophy and idea’s of Maria Montessori, its application in the environment and the development of the child.
Absorbent Mind
During the first 3 years of the life of a human, we call it the first plane of development, the child has the capability to absorb huge amounts of information about their environment through their senses. During this plane of development the children learn language, develop motor and cognitive skills, imitate the social skills of adults, and learn expectations of how the world will treat them.
Conscious Absorption
During the second plane of development when children are still able to absorb much of the environment around them, but are also beginning to focus inward, becoming aware of the choices they can make, and the desire to do so.
Control of Error
All activities in a Montessori environment has built in self-correction. The term control of error is used to describe this self correction.
Conscious Mind
The child is developing his conscious mind, when he is aware and is thinking or acting deliberately, being able to choose a thought, an action, or an object based on the information he gathered from his surrounding environment.
Cosmic Education
Maria Montessori talks about an awareness in the child that everything in the universe is connected and interdependent, forming a harmonious whole and they are a contributing to that whole.
Directed Choice
When a child has the opportunity to choose between two equally attractive and positive actions, objects, or activities, we say that his choice was directed.
Independency
The activities in the classroom are organized in such a way that each child can find many activities, which he can do by himself. He also chooses them and through daily work he is developing his independency by himself.
Normalization
The meaning of normalization is shown when the children are able to focus and concentrate for quite long periods of time and have a sense of satisfaction about their work.
Pincer Grasp
The thumb-and-forefinger motion that’s responsible for manipulating small items is called pincer grasp. It is practiced quite a lot during working in the Montessori classroom. Quite some activities of the Practical Life are done to practice this pincer grasp.
Practical Life
a series of fine motor skills that include cleaning and caring for the environment as well as preparing food. These activities benefit the child because it develops and prepares the child for fine motor skills that form the basis for writing and cognitive skills.
Prepared Environment
Maria Montessori talks about a prepared environment, when the world around the child ( either inside or outside) is designed so that the child has the maximum ability for learning and exploration. The term ‘prepared environment’ refers to a well-thought out environment, classroom or home, arranged with the child in mind. The aim of the prepared environment is to promote the independence in the child.
Sensitive Period
This is a period of time when children focus much of their time and energy on one certain skill or activity.
Work
As most adults say that children play, Maria Montessori told that they are working. This term gives a huge value to the activity the child is performing. Overall the child is enjoying the work and develops his interest through the different activities and the tools he is using.
