The Montessori Method of Teaching

Montessori curriculum is different from traditional classroom curriculum that focuses on children learning the same thing, at the same time, in the same way. Montessori curriculum emphasises learning as a process that cannot be determined by a child’s age. Instead, learning is a process that is determined by the rate and speed at which a child can acquire one skill before moving on to another skill. This is why it is not uncommon to see mixed-age groupings in Montessori classrooms, where a 2-year old may be in the same classroom setting as a 4-year old, based on developmental ability.

According to Montessori practices, children are allowed to choose their work instead of the teacher choosing the work for them. An effective teacher in the Montessori classroom serves more as a guide, whose responsibility is to observe children during their periods and assess them according to mastery. By observing children’s behaviours, the teacher is able to identify what motivates them.