Name: Sabiqa Naeem Roll Number: 15152

Assignment Module 1

Q#1: Discuss the Life and works of Dr. Maria Montessori and why is she referred as a lady
much of her time?

Life of Dr. Maria Montessori:

Dr Maria Montessori was on born on 31st August 1870 in a middle class educated family. Her
father was a conservative military man but mother was liberal lady who always encouraged
Maria for education. Maria was the only child of her parents. Maria was very intelligent,
confident and strong lady. She was the pioneer in introducing Montessori Method and early
childhood education.

Education:

As her father was an army man, she got opportunity of education in big cities of Italy. When
Maria was doing her studies, at that time whole Europe was very conservative in its attitude
towards the treatment of women but despite the opposition of father and her male friends Maria
graduated from the medical school of university of Rome with highest honors and became first
women physician in Italy in 1896. He got the title of first lady doctor in the history of Italy. Later
on as a physician Maria specialized in pediatrics and psychiatry.

Work with special children:

In 1900 after 4 years of her degree in medicine Maria was appointed as the director of new
Orthophrenic School attached to university of Rome that was formerly an asylum for insane and
deficient children of the city, most of whom would be diagnosed as autistic in twenty first
century. In that school Maria did some experiments of these patients and them she realized that
those patients wanted some purposeful activities which could stimulate their senses and mind
and increases their self esteem and give them sense of achievement.

Inspiration from Itard and Seguin:

Maria Montessori browsed the medical libraries of western Europe for almost one year and
found some successful work done on the education of disabled children. She got really inspired
by the work of two French doctors from 18 th and 19th centuries: Jean-Mark-Gaspard-Itard (1775-
1838) and Edouard Seguin (1812-1880). From the studies of Itard and Seguin, Maria took the
scientific approach to education based on observation and experimentation. She used these
methodologies and concluded that disabled students can learn the same things as normal students
with little more effort.
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Casa dei Bambini:

Casa dei Bambini (House of Children) was inaugurated in 1907. It was the first day care located
at the worst sum district of Rome. When Maria joined the school there was fifty students from
the age of two to five with one untrained teacher. Children spent time in the school from morning
till evening. Almost all the students were cranky aggressive and impatient. She introduced
perpetual discrimination of hand on materials, eye hand manipulative exercises and puzzled that
she used with mentally disabled students and to her surprise the results were miraculous.

Maria introduced many practical exercises in the school that were related to everyday tasks like
cleaning, dressing, gardening and she found that students were interested in such kind of
activities. These activities made them efficient and independent.

When Maria was criticized of her method being very structural, she argued that educators job is
to serve the children and children themselves have strong inner urge to choose the activities that
can help in their development. These urges are universal and the result of many years of
evolution. The progress of students was tremendous and although they were too young to sent to
public schools but still they begged to learn how to read and write. Maria improved her method
through trial and error. She continued to observe the children, made educational guesses and
finally experimented.

World Wide Response:

Casa dei Bambini became famous all over the world and people from different parts of Europe
started visiting the school and got amazed by it. After that Maria Montessori started expanding
the number of schools. Best part of casa dei Bambini was that it got duplicated everywhere.

Highest Recognition and Awards to Montessori:

Maria was pictured on Italian 200 coin and on the 1000 Lire bill through the 1990s until Italy
adopted the euro. She was also nominated for Nobel peace Prize thrice.

Montessori Death:

Maria Montessori passed away in Netherland in 1952 but she will always live as immortal
because of her contribution in education field and her methods that will always help the children
to become better human being.

Woman Ahead of her time:

Maria Montessori lived in old days but was “A WOMAN MUCH AHEAD OF HER TIME”
because her discoveries are still being practiced all over the world.
Name: Sabiqa Naeem Roll Number: 15152

Q#2: Which are the main requirements to be considered to start a house of children? How
do you implement them?

During childhood natural urges are universal and are experienced by every child. However every
child has his/her own experience in these periods. The children who get better experience in
these periods develop more as compare to children who experience less.

As the homes are designed according to adults needs, children cannot have better experience
their because adults stop children a lot of time from doing what their natural urges want them to
do to reach maximum development.

So Montessori is the place where children are able to do what they want to and fulfill their
interest. Therefore, when you plan to start a Montessori, one has to be very particular and keep in
mind numerous things.

While starting the house of children, the most important thing is classroom design. Classroom is
the place where children spend the entire day. All the activities, equipments and Montessori
material should be adequate in number and appropriate so the children can use them.

1. The maximum number of students in each class should be 30.

2. The size of classroom should be 20 square feet per student for early level, 30 squares for
elementary level and 40 squares feet for secondary level.
3. House of children should be child-sized so that he can enjoy all the activities. There
should be child-sized tables, chairs, shelves, science labs etc so that he can enjoy his own
world and fulfill his desires.
4. A Montessori should have proper big windows for ventilation and children can have
exposure with sunlight.
5. As natural environment is very important so to bring children close to the natural
environment there must be garden where children can grow fruits and vegetables.
6. In Montessori student should be allowed to perform activities and they should not face
prohibition in Montessori as they face at home because “prohibition is sweet or bitter,
prohibition is prohibition”.

While starting a house of children, these points should be kept in consideration.

How to implement?

It is very important to consider the requirements to start a house of children but implementation
of these requirements is equally important.

There should be proper implementation to make the students happy.

There are certain ways in which we can implement these requirements:

Name: Sabiqa Naeem Roll Number: 15152

1. Respect of the children.

2. Focus on individual child.
3. The prepared environment.
4. Polite behavior of teacher.
5. Parents-Teacher meeting.

Respect of the children:

Every child needs respect. Respect is the most essential thing for the children development.
Parents force their children to follow their rules and that’s why children cannot fulfill their needs.
Children’s respect should be the first priority in Montessori.

Focus on individual child:

It is very important to understand that every child’s understanding, learning progress and growth
is different from other children.

The prepared environment:

Another compulsory requirement to implement is to prepare a proper environment in which

children can perform proper activities. Montessori material should be in reach of children.

Polite behavior of the teacher:

The role model of the student is their teacher so she should have a polite behavior with her
students.

Parents-Teacher meeting:

Proper Parents teacher meetings should be conducted in the Montessori to evaluate the
development of the children. Teachers should guide the parents regarding the nature of the
student.

Q#3: What are the discoveries made by Dr. Maria Montessori by observing the child?

1. Children love to work purposefully:

Children do not work for incentives like adults but they prefer to work purposefully. If the
children are corresponded with their inner developmental needs, they work until they attain the
desired goal. Their natural desire helps them select the task and then concentrate on it.
Name: Sabiqa Naeem Roll Number: 15152

2. The inner drive is sufficient:

The children work out of their inner purposeful urge so the adults do not need to become their
motivators or conventional teachers. They just have to give them desired necessary conditions to
work in. For the development of child it is compulsory that they work in all human fields at
specific times. Offering incentive to finish the work is not allowed to the teachers so that
children focus on their inner urge to do work.

3. When something that answers the inner needs meets the child’s eyes spontaneous interest
is kindled.

When the suitable conditions are provided to specific interest then the result is spontaneous
repetition and this spontaneous repetition further leads to concentration that is the beginning.
When children find right conditions they work with proper concentration.

4. Very young children need order for their development:

Children need proper orders for their development. This development is not only related to the
things but also with the functions, values and other human activities. Yung children are in the
process of building their personalities that will last forever. He needs consistency in everything
in his environment. Children take time to understand that things can also be different.

5. Normality depends on all the human powers working in unison in collaboration:

When suitable conditions are not available to the children, they deviate from normality. The best
way to bring child back to normality is to rectify any developmental error. If the child works
individually then the developmental errors can be rectified.

6. Activities involving sensorial concepts, language, arithmetic, art, culture was found to be
necessary for the child’s education:

Children need activities having concepts like language, art, sensorial etc for their development.
Maria Montessori has discovered that activities like these bring intelligent and voluntary
movement of the personality of children.

7. Children showed that they could assimilate the knowledge, normally considered to be too
complex for the child, if it is presented in rightful condition:

Dr. Maria Montessori realized that there are certain topics and area of knowledge that are
necessary for the development of children rather than being the subjects that should be
memorized or learnt.
Name: Sabiqa Naeem Roll Number: 15152

8. Real discipline comes through freedom:

Educational institutes find the problem of discipline. When children are given freedom they
manage their speaking, moving, handling materials and interacting with other children. The
children reveals order, quietness remarkable work attitude striving towards perfection. Discipline
is born from freedom. It comes from inside and does not imposed from outside.

9. Real obedience is based on love, respect and faith:

When real obedience leads to inner satisfaction, it becomes real obedience and hence it leads to
real development.

10. Children are often seen to behave in certain manner:

If children are not provided with right conditions for development they sometimes behave
destructive, disorderly and stubborn but if the right conditions are provided to the children they
behave in loving orderly and responsible behavior.

11. Most of the activities presented to the children in Montessori houses of children are
result of observing the child:

These activities can be discoveries and constructed. The silence activity, walking on the line is
some of the examples.

12. Help me, DO it myself:

Rather than doing things for children it is preferable to help the children do the task themselves.
It makes the children independent in their social and individual life.

13. Montessori discovered that the environment itself was all important in obtaining the
results that she had observed:

Maria Montessori waned to have child size furniture in the classroom to reduce the frustration
children feel when they have to use adult size furniture. Eventually Maria designed the entire
school according to the children requirements.

14. Montessori further studied the traffic pattern of room:

She arranged the furnishing and the activity area to minimize the congestion and tripping.
Children loved to sit on floor as she bought rugs too define work area.

15. Montessori carried this environmental engineering throughout the entire school
building and outside environment:
Name: Sabiqa Naeem Roll Number: 15152

She designed child-sized toilets and low sinks, low shelves, windows low to the ground and
garden tools of all sorts.

Q#4: What does PILES stand for when we talk of human development? Discuss the
physical, lingual and intellectual development taking during 3 to 6 years of age?

PILES stand for:

P= physical

I= Intellectual

L= Language

E= Emotional

S= Social

The first phase of child development starts from 3 to 6 years of age. In this period child needs
freedom and right environment to practice the activities he observe, learn and watch in the
environment. Is they are given proper environment they can bring their learning into action.
Strong intellectual, physical and lingual development takes place in this phase because children
are very curious about their surroundings and want to explore the world around them.

PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT:

The most rapid and important development in this phase is the physical development. In this
phase child is very active, energetic and imaginative. He wants to explore the world and conquer
it. First of all the muscles get strengthened and then they develop coordination. In this age
energetic physical activities are required.

At the age of 3 years:

A child starts mastering Walking, running, jumping and kicking ball.

He starts moving the tricycle with pedals and steer it well
He starts climbing the stairs like an adult.
He is able to sit with crossed ankles.
At the age of 4 years:
At this age he can climb up the tree and bend down.
He starts playing different games and improves in catching and kicking balls.
Name: Sabiqa Naeem Roll Number: 15152

He becomes proficient in climbing stairs.

He can balance on one foot and cross his legs.
At the age of 5 to 6 years:
At the age of 5 to 6 years child become more efficient and strong
He can play all games and can dance well
He can walk along a thin line and can balance him properly
He can slide, swim and climb
INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENT:
With the passage of time the child’s intellect also starts improving. Child starts strengthening the
intellectual power.
At the age of 3:
He can color all the names.
Can copy a circle.
He uses child’s scissor of cutting.
At the age of 4:
He is able to build ten bricks tower.
He can draw a house.
At the age of 5 to 6 years:
He can draw pictures with features all head, body etc
He can copy shapes like square, triangle and circle.
LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT:
As soon as the child born, language starts developing. In the age of 3-6 languge develops and
improves drastically. Child starts making full sentences. He becomes to advance level at this age.
Child starts understanding about object and relationships.
At the age of 3 years:
More inquisitive questioning.
Can recite numbers up to 10 but can count only 3 objects.
Name: Sabiqa Naeem Roll Number: 15152

Able to have simple conversations with others.

At the age of 4:
Loves to have a joke.
Copies X, T, H, V and O.
Knows primary colors.
At the age of 5 to 6:
Still asks the meaning of intangible words.
Knows more songs and rhymes and loves to sing them.
Is increasingly articulate.
Only confuses the letters S with TH or F with TH now.
Q#5: Write a comprehensive note on the role of teacher in a Montessori classroom?

A Montessori teacher is a directress, facilitator and the guide. She plays a very significant and
distinct role in teaching the students. There are two basic arts to understand the role of teachers.

1. Productive art.
2. Cooperative art.

PRODUCTIVE ART:

Productive art can be defined as “art in which the activity of the artist is the principal and the
only cause of production, such as carpenter, shoe maker, tailor etc. A log of wood will always
remain to be log of wood unless a carpenter makes a piece of furniture out of it.”

COOPERATIVE ART:

A cooperative art is a type of art in which the activity of artist is neither the production, nor the
cause of production. There are three basic cooperative arts.

Farming:

The art of raising animals and plants.

Healing:

The art of curing (This includes physicians, nurses, doctors, surgeons etc)
Name: Sabiqa Naeem Roll Number: 15152

Teaching:

The third one is what we are concerned with.

ROLE OF A TEACHER IN MONTESSORI CLASS:

In a Montessori class, a teacher has several roles. As the children imitate their teachers, a teacher
should be a role model for the children. The important roles of the teacher in a classroom are
given below:

PREPARATION OF ENVIRONMENT:

The most important task of Montessori teacher is to prepare a suitable environment in which
students feel comfortable to select the task they want to perform, according to their interest. All
the Montessori material should be placed in low racks so that children can take that material,
explore them and put them back in order.

PROVIDE APPROPRIATE MATERIALS:

Appropriate Montessori material helps the students to meet the needs of their interest and
develop their interest in different fields of education. Montessori teacher should provide students
the appropriate Montessori material.

OBSERVING THE CHILDREN:

A Montessori teacher should observe all the children individually and each student should be
treated individually according to their interest and teacher should provide them Montessori
material according to their interest. There should be a dynamic link between the interest of
children and the environment provided to him. Teacher can best interpret the need of children if
they observe them keenly.

GIVING LESSONS:

To keep the children attentive and focus in the classroom, teacher’s lessons should be interesting
and brief so that their attention does not get diverted. Teacher should guide the students with
little necessary and simple information so that the students can perform their task at their own.

EVALUATE THE STUDENT:

The best way to evaluate the student is to evaluate them individually. In this way teacher will be
able to understand the needs and effectiveness of their children well.
Name: Sabiqa Naeem Roll Number: 15152

A GOOD COMMUNICATOR:

As the best mentor for the students is their teacher so a teacher should be a good communicator.
If a teacher will be a good communicator she will be able to help children learn how to be a good
communicator. Children will be able to communicate their thoughts to the adults.

MORAL SENSE DEVELOPER:

The Montessori teacher plays a very strong role in developing the moral sense in children.
Teacher develops the sense of respect, courtesy, grace and calm.

DIAGNOSTICIAN:

Diagnostician means that the concerns are with psycho-education assessment. Montessori
teacher plays the role of diagnostician as she figures out the growth, behavior and development
of children and help parents understand the behavior of their children.

PROTECT STUDENT’S INDEPENDENCE:

A Montessori teacher should keep the student independent and give them enough space to work
according to their own interests. He should respect and protect the freedom of students. He
should deliver relevant and interesting lesson to the students and set them free to work according
to their own interest and create new ideas to fulfill their needs.

SUPPORTIVE:

The teacher should be supportive, offering warmth, security, stability and non judgmental
acceptance to each child. He should support her children to learn and generate new ideas. And
work independently.

To conclude, Montessori teacher is not just a teacher but a guide. Her ultimate goal is to facilitate
the Montessori children. She works as a mentor, guide, teacher and directress in order to
maintain curiosity, creativity and intelligence in students.