The Montessori method has the basic principles - to perform exercises independently and the game form of training. This method is unique in that an individual approach is chosen for each child - the child chooses his own didactic material and how much time he will be engaged in. Thus, it develops in its own rhythm.
The method of early development Montessori has a key feature - to create a special development environment, in which the baby will want and be able to exercise their abilities. This method of development is not similar to traditional occupations, since the materials of Montessori give the child the opportunity to see their own mistakes and correct them. The role of the teacher is not to teach, but to give the child a guide to independent activity. Thus, the technique helps the child develop logical thinking, attention, creative thinking, speech, imagination, memory, motor skills. Particular attention is paid to collective tasks and games that help the child to learn the skills of communication, to master everyday activities that promote the development of independence.
Indeed, Montessori's method provides every child with unlimited freedom of action, because the child decides what he will do today: read, study geography, count, plant a flower, and erase.
However, the freedom of one person ends at the place where the freedom of the second person begins. This is the key principle of a modern democratic society, and one outstanding teacher and humanist about 100 years ago embodied this principle. At that time, the "big world" was far from real democracy. And most likely that's why small children (2-3 year olds) in Montessori Garden knew very well that if other children reflect, then they should not indulge and make noise. They also knew that they had to clean up the materials and toys on the shelf, if they had created a puddle or dirt, they had to be wiped thoroughly, so that others were pleased and comfortable to work with.
In a school with the Montessori method there is no usual division into classes, because all children of different ages are engaged in one group. The child, who has come to this school for the first time, easily joins the children's collective and assimilates the accepted rules of behavior. To assimilate help "old timers", who have experience of staying at the Montessori school. Older children (old-timers) help the younger not only to learn, but also show them letters, teach how to play didactic games. Yes, it's children who teach each other! Then what does the teacher do? The teacher carefully observes the group, but only connects when the child himself seeks help, or in his work experiences serious difficulties.
Room Montessori class is divided into 5 zones, in each zone the thematic material is formed.
For example, there is a zone of practical life, here the child learns himself and others to serve. In this zone, you can really wash clothes in a basin and even pat them with a hot real iron; a real shoe polish to clean your shoes; cut the vegetables for a salad with a sharp knife.
There is also a zone of sensory development of the child, here he learns by certain criteria to distinguish objects. In this zone there are materials that develop tactile sensations, sense of smell, hearing, sight.
The mathematical zone helps the child to master the concept of quantity and how the quantity is associated with the symbol. In this zone the child learns to solve mathematical operations.
The language zone, here the child learns to write and read.
"Space" zone in which the child about the surrounding world receives perhaps the first views. Here the child also learns about the culture and history of different peoples, the interaction and interrelationships of objects and phenomena.
The Montessori method instills self-service skills for children, since it believes that this will not only make the child independent (zip up the jacket, lace up the shoes), but also help develop the muscles that are needed to master the skills of writing.