N6 Educational Psychology


• Maria Montessori did not believe in giving the children equipment that is not realistic to life. In her method, fantasy play has been neglected; a child enjoys playing with a block, pretending that it is a car, plate or a doll.


• This is a sign of imagination and must be encouraged. In the classroom, no provision is made to encourage fantasy play and fantasy stories are not allowed to be told.


• Group activities are neglected. Individuality is important, but in society most things are being done in a group or are related to a group.


BUT:


• Montessori children are unusually adaptable. • They know how to work independently and in groups. • The skills that they have learned from being in a Montessori classroom completely outweigh the problems that they encounter when they first make the transition to a traditional school.


One of the major reasons of the Montessori success with the children of the poor may be its lack of assumption of pre-learned skills. Montessori began her work with mentally retarded children and then with children from the most deprived backgrounds.


Therefore, she never took any previous knowledge for granted. She built into her method the simplest of life’s experiences – how to wash, to dress, move about, carry things, how to hear, touch and see. Every skill had to be presented from its most primitive beginnings; muscles were developed for holding a pencil before the pencil was given, an object was handled before the name was given.


The three main areas of learning are motoric, sensory and language. The use of the senses is very important and is essential in the Montessori teaching method.


As already noted, Maria promoted the family-grouping method. She grouped the children into the age groups of birth to three, three to six, six to twelve and twelve to eighteen.


There is also no failing of a certain level and remaining behind while others pass on. A child stays in that group and progresses from one stage to another. He can only go on to another stage when he has mastered the one he is on.


A method of schooling that focuses on personal development rather than exams produces more mature, creative and socially adept children, scientists have found. Psychologists in the US found that, across a range of abilities, children at Montessori schools out-performed those given a traditional education.


8.3 Role of the parents


• As a parent, you want not to just teach your child, but to prepare him for life. • Dr. Montessori’s scientific observation of young children led to her discovery that they are motivated by an inner guidance at specific periods in their early lives, which leads to self- directed learning.


• By observing your child, determining his needs, andmaking activities available to him, you will be assisting in his self-development. Montessori called this “following the child”. There are several ways you can do this:


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