What is the Montessori Method of Teaching and How Can It Benefit Your Child?

What do Jeff Bezos, Taylor Swift, and Google founders — Larry Page and Sergey Brin — have in common?

Well, other than being incredibly successful, they all attended Montessori schools.

There are over 22,000 Montessori schools worldwide, with most of them open to kids between the ages of 3 and 12.

Many ex-students (and their parents) of Montessori schools are overwhelmingly positive about their experiences. But what exactly is the Montessori Method of teaching? And how can it benefit your child?

What is the Montessori Method?

The Montessori Method is an approach to education developed by Maria Montessori (an Italian physician and educator) in the early 1900s.

She believed — quite radically for the time — that children learn best when they’re led by their own curiosity.

Her approach is child-centered: children work at their own pace and get to learn based on their interests. This way, kids are way more engaged with school, and learn a range of academic, social, practical, and life skills.

All you need to do as their teacher is provide the right materials and inspiration to support their education.

What does a Montessori classroom look like?

Walk into a Montessori classroom and you’ll find a quiet, calm space. There will be children of different ages and a number of different activity stations.

Kids are free to move between these stations, which have been carefully prepared by the teacher. Each space contains hands-on resources designed to appeal to all five senses and develop skills in all of the usual school subjects.

A Montessori teacher doesn’t stand at the front of the class giving instructions. Instead they move around the room, inspiring and guiding children to make their own discoveries.

What are the benefits of the Montessori Method of teaching?

As we’ve covered, the Montessori Method is very different from the traditional school set-up. But does that make it better?

Montessori cultivates independence

Montessori students get to make their own decisions about what they do within the classroom. Even with a little guidance from you, much of their learning is self-directed, meaning they’ll be way more engaged in class.

In this type of teaching, your little ones are encouraged to set up and clear away their own activities. This simple act is so empowering; it gives kids the ability to take control of their own education.

And as your child grows older, they will begin to look critically at their work and self-correct.

All of this encourages students’ sense of independence and pride in their own accomplishments.

Hands-on learning

Most Montessori resources have a sensory element, which means kids get a really hands-on style of education. They’re always an active participant in whatever they’re studying.

From number rods in math class to sandpaper letters in English, Montessori resources are designed to build a concrete foundation in all of your kid’s topics. This helps them keep up when you move onto more abstract ideas.

Tailored education

Children in a Montessori environment don’t have to keep pace with the rest of the class.

For kids who work at a slower pace, this style of teaching can be super beneficial — no more feeling pressured to keep up with their peers, and no more rushing to complete work.

And for kids who work a little faster, the Montessori Method can prevent boredom and loss of interest as children don’t need to wait to move onto other areas they find fun.

It’s non-competitive

Because groups are mixed-age, and because the Montessori Method uses a non-traditional grading system, children are less likely to compare themselves to others.

Without the pressure of classroom competition, kids are able to focus on their learning journey.

A sense of community

Many Montessori families say that the school is like a second home.

Children stay with the same teacher and classmates for a three year period, which means strong bonds are formed all-round.

It’s also common to see kids of different ages working together, with older children mentoring their younger classmates.

A love of learning

Children in a Montessori school choose activities that genuinely engage them. They don’t ever have to sit in a class they don’t enjoy.

This means they’re so much more likely to see school and the process of learning as something to love. And if they see school as a positive, they’ll probably want to keep learning long after they “graduate”.

That curiosity will serve them well, throughout their life.

Are there any downsides to the Montessori Method?

A Montessori education won’t suit every family. Here are a few of the downsides associated with Montessori learning.

Too much independence can be problematic

As we mentioned above, Montessori students are encouraged to be independent and think for themselves. And while this equips them with the skills to become entrepreneurs, leaders, and innovators, it doesn’t necessarily prepare them for work within a more traditional organization.

Being able to collaborate with others and work within existing structures can be important in a career. And these aren’t skills prioritized by the Montessori Method.

Lack of routine

Some children (and parents and teachers for that matter) actually like routine. The structure and order of a traditional classroom with scheduled classes can help kids to feel safe and secure.

A Montessori classroom and the Montessori school day undeniably lack structure. Kids who are used to routine at home may find this unnerving, and for some, it just might not be a great fit.

Transition to conventional school can be tricky

As we’ve seen, a Montessori school is very different from a conventional school. And children generally move from their Montessori experience to a “traditional” high school.

Transitioning from an unstructured setting to one where expectations are very different can be a challenge for Montessori kids.

What do you think?

Now you’ve seen the pros and cons of the Montessori Method, do you see a role for this way of teaching in your child’s education?

Remember: you don’t need to take an all or nothing approach. Some schools incorporate Montessori principles without sticking 100% to the ideas of Maria Montessori.

And it’s perfectly possible to do the same at home, too.