senses and the motor system, and to
implicitly introduce the decimal system
and the notion of cubing. Each block is
one centimetre longer on all sides than
the one that came before, and there
are ten such blocks going from one
cubic centimetre to ten. The increasing
size is reflected not only visually but
also haptically and baricly: each
block is heavier by an exponentially
increasing magnitude. The child
uses the Pink Tower in a specific way:
carrying each cube to a rug, and then
reassembling the tower from memory,
from the largest to the smallest cube,
carefully centreing each subsequent
cube on top of the preceding one. The
material is treated with great care; the
teacher is to intervene when materials
are handled roughly. When finished,
the tower is admired then carefully
dissembled and returned to its original
location.
Montessori teaching
Montessori teachers typically have a
standard teacher qualification as well
as an additional Montessori specific
training. The teacher is a guide or
facilitator whose task it is to support
the young child in his or her process of
self-development. They are foremost
an observer, unobtrusively yet carefully
monitoring each child's development,
recognising and interpreting each
child's needs.
The teacher provides a link
between the child and the prepared
environment, introducing the child
to each piece of equipment when
he or she is ready in a precise, clear
and enticing way. The most important
attribute of a Montessori teacher is the
love and respect she holds for each
child's total being.
Formative years
The formation of children's
fundamental capacities is hugely
important during the first years of
life – not just academic learning but
the ability to concentrate, persevere
and think for themselves as well as
the ability to interact well with others.
Children who have been given the
right kind of support during these
formative years grow into adults who
are self-motivated, love learning, can
think flexibly and creatively.
The Montessori approach provides:
• An environment that serves the
particular needs of each child’s
stage of development
• An adult who understands child
development and acts as a guide to
help children find their own natural
path
• Freedom for children to engage in
their own development according to
their own particular developmental
timeline
Montessori sustains children’s love
of learning. There is an inner drive in
every one of us, an inner voice that, if
we listen to it, tells us which way to turn,
which option to choose. If we allow
children to listen to this voice, to follow
their interests from birth, they are likely
to learn a lot about themselves and
their world as they grow. They will learn
what they like and what they don’t like.
They will come to know what they are
good at, and how they are challenged.
The focus that comes from doing what
interests them will allow them to learn
many things and become confident
learners. When learning is not overly
prescribed, children love learning!
Learning is a happy experience. If
one is able to harness a child's innate
delight in discovery, to make use of
a child's self-motivation, there is no
reason why this enthusiasm for school
should fade.
“
Character
formation
cannot be
taught. It
comes from
experience
and not from
explanation.
- Maria Montessori
March 2016
69
