Eight Principles of Montessori Education
3. Interest: The third principle of
Montessori education is that the best learning occurs
in contexts of interest. Interest can be more
personal, as when an individual has an
abiding interest in ladybugs or dogs that seems to
come from within. Montessori education capitalizes
on these unique individual interests. Interest can also
be situational, an interest that would be
engendered in many people exposed to interesting
events and activities. Dr. Montessori created
situational interest. She trained her teachers to give
lessons in a manner that would inspire children by
presenting just enough information to pique curiosity.
Montessori education also capitalizes on interests
that appear regularly at particular times in
development, called sensitive periods. For
example, children have an intense interest in learning
language during the preschool years. The Montessori
materials and basic lessons ensure a core of learning
across curriculum areas, but each child's imagination
invested in the particular avenues of learning that
the child pursues beyond that core.
* Read about the first two principles of Montessori
education in previous newsletters. Movement & Cognition and Choice.
* Check back next month to learn about the fourth
principle of Montessori Education - Extrinsic Rewards
Are Avoided
Teacher Quote of the Month, (yes, even
teachers say silly things!)
"You should raise your hand when you are
interupting."
Read more kid quotes on our website!
