Montessori Education Week will be celebrated from February 28-March 5, 2016.   What a great time to remind ourselves why Montessori works!

Scientific research has shown that cognition is optimized when movement is consistent with thinking.  You see this with infants as they crawl in the environment.  The ability to move naturally within the environment leads to neurological developments that allow perception of depth.  Also, Montessori’s use of hands on materials, such as sandpaper letters or working with the red rods, helps support the connection of movement to thinking.

We learn best when we are interested in what we are learning about.  Research has shown that a learner’s interest significantly impacts the quality of one’s learning.  Montessori materials, lessons and the fact the children can choose what interests them helps promote quality learning.   When children are interested in a particular subject they tend to go much deeper into a subject to gain more insight and understanding.

Extrinsic rewards reduce motivation and level of performance once the rewards are removed.  When one expects to be rewarded for something one already likes to do, one subsequently loses interest in the activity. Montessori states that a system of prizes may turn an individual aside from their true vocation.   As adults, it is important to be aware of how to foster self-motivation within the child.

People thrive when they feel a sense of choice and control.  Montessori classrooms have an array of choices as in what to choose and within a given work what step comes next or how long do they want to work with the material.   Among other things choice enhances creativity, well-being, and problem solving speed and ability.

If you are interested in learning more about the scientific research behind these principles read Angeline Stoll Lillard’s book Montessori: The Science Behind the Genius.

Sincerely,

Susie