The Montessori Method Makes Me Want To Be A Child Again, Learning

Don't you?!

Above, the left image is from Rasmussen College, right image from Montessori Academy –Americans, both are saying, "Follow that child!" Teaching – and therefore learning – should be always as exciting as that. (In creative writing? "Follow that idea!")

Filipino, I studied to be a teacher, passing the very first Teacher's Exam in the Philippines 55 years ago and, believe it or not, going on 80, I'm still learning. Oh, yes, I'm self-taught in several digital skills in the wide world of producing nonfiction.

I'm not a Montessori product, but knowing what I know now, I would have loved it if I were.

This time, our youngest, Graciela Antonia "Ela" Reynoso Hilario has just begun teaching at a Montessori school in Calamba, Laguna, and I'm happy for her – and the children. I have always had the impression that going Montessori is the best way to educate a child. So what if it's expensive? If you want the best, you have to pay for it! Or do it yourself.

So, right now I am going to teach myself about the Maria Montessori Method of Teaching-Learning. MM was an Italian doctor and independent-minded educator (Wikipedia, en.wikipedia.org). I'm an independent-minded writer.

ANN says the Montessori method has 6 key principles ("Montessori Theory," Author Not Named, 2019, Daily Montessori, dailymontessori.com):

1. Independence– "Never help a child with a task at which he feels he can succeed" – MM.

2. Observation– "We can spend countless hours just watching children and see how they are enjoying themselves, exploring their environment" – ANN.

3. Following The Child – Individually, "The aim of the children who persevere in their work with an object is certainly not to 'learn;' they are drawn to it by the needs of their inner life, which must be recognized and developed by its means" – MM.

4. Correcting The Child – "Children make mistakes... There is no need to raise your voice in situations like those. Instead, calmly recognize the mistake, "Oh, you've spilled the water…, why don't we get a cloth and wipe it up?" – ANN.

5. Prepared Environment – "The teacher's first duty is to watch over the environment, and this takes precedence over all the rest…." – MM.

6. Absorbent Mind – "It is for this reason that one should not try to say 'No' to a child. We do not want them saying 'No' to us rudely. Instead, we say 'Stop' when we want to tell children that what they are doing is wrong" – ANN.

Melissa Stepien says (Brianna Flavin, 29 November 2017, "Pros and Cons of Montessori Education," Rasmussen College, rasmussen.edu): "Students who experience a Montessori classroom tend to be more able to manage themselves and think independently." (You need that ability for creativity.)

Teacher or parent, you cannot always be there – so, "teach" the child to think for oneself, decide what to do, and take responsibility for the results – and/or rewards.

Even the Chinese have imbibed the Montessori motto (ANN, undated, "Montessori Philosophy," Montessori School of Shanghai, montessorisos.com):

"Help me to do it myself."
Same as in teaching creative writing.@517