Montessori’s Brain-Based Approach
Steve Hughes, PhD, LP, ABPdN is the Director of the Center for Research on Developmental Education and a board certified pediatric neuropsychologist. He is a scientist who speaks about brain development and educates parents about academic, social, and executive functioning. In his talk, “Good at Doing Things”, Hughes highlights Montessori’s brain-based approach to education and it’s benefits.
A few highlights include:
- More of the brain is dedicated to controlling your hands than any other part of the body
- Human beings learn best through hands-on exploration of the world, especially in childhood
- Montessori’s hands-on education philosophy is based on the idea that the hands are the tools the mind uses to discover the world
What Does That Mean?
Planes of Development. Normalization. Cosmic education.
If you’ve ever heard these terms in your child’s Montessori classroom, you might be curious about their meaning. The American Montessori Society has posted a Terminology glossary on their website that’s extremely helpful in clarifying some of the names and phrases particular to the Montessori environment.
Understanding these terms provides deeper understanding of the classroom culture and work cycle, which in turn equips you to effectively engage your child in conversation about his day.
The Peaceful Classroom 3
Today, we conclude our exploration of the Peaceful Classroom. In our previous posts, we examined the principles of Preparing the Environment for Peace, Making Room for Peace Education, Peace through Nature and Peace through Creativity; today we discuss Peace through Giving and Making a Difference in the World..
Peace through Giving
“The purpose of human life is to serve, and to show compassion and the will to help others.” Albert Schweitzer
Children need direct experiences with giving, joining the heart and hand. Children love to make things, small and large, and share with family, friends, and neighbors – they naturally want to share and help. Montessori addresses this desire with mixed-age classrooms where older students help the younger.
Practical life in Montessori is practiced at every level with the purpose of preparing children to take excellent care of themselves, our planet, and the people on it. Children are engaged in gift giving projects and works of charity throughout the year. The art of giving from the heart builds empathy and compassion, two essential ingredients of a peaceful person.
Make a difference in the world (Elementary and Middle School)
Help young people find active ways of working for peace, the preservation of the natural world, the relief of human suffering, or other concerns through organizations like Kids Can Make a Difference, Free the Children, Roots and Shoots, or Peace Jam, in which students work directly with Nobel Peace Laureates.