蒙特梭利教育法 The Montessori Method

瑪麗亞．蒙特梭利博士(Dr. Maria Montessori 1870-1952)是偉大的女教育學家，亦是首位義大利女醫生。  她根據長期的觀察和實驗，建立了一套全人的教學方法和教育哲學，以及一系列蒙特梭利教具，以配合孩子個別的身心發展及讓成人協助兒童發展。

蒙特梭利教育是集結醫學、心理學、胚胎學、人類學及哲學，讓成人協助兒童發展的方法。其理論是遵循兒童成長的自然法則，培育孩子學習所需的自然因素，讓兒童在特別營造的環境中自由而有序地進行主動的自我學習。

蒙特梭利教學有甚麼特點？

蒙特梭利以科學觀察及驗證發現了兒童有自我學習，使自己趨於完美的潛能。此發現使蒙特梭利以非傳統的全新態度來看待兒童。因此，蒙特梭利教學具有別於傳統教學的特點：

以兒童為中心
視兒童為與成人有別的獨立個體，並以兒童為中心，從兒童的角色出發。

不 “教” 的教育
幼兒在6歲前還沒有足夠的認知、辨異的能力，故不適合說教的教育。蒙特梭利教學反對以教師為中心的填鴨教學，主張由日常生活訓練著手，再配合良好的學習環境、豐富的教具，讓兒童自發性的主動學習，自我教育。

把握兒童的敏感期
0至6歲的幼兒隨著成長，會出現特定的喜好傾向，例如於某段時間會對數字、文字、感官、秩序等特別好奇。若能把握在敏感期學習該特性，即可得到最大的學習效果。

此外, 幼兒教育須重智慧和品格的養成, 尊重兒童的成長步調, 而導師扮演協助、啟導的角色。

蒙特梭利教學的六大領域
日常生活教育
感官及音樂教育
數學教育
語文教育
自然人文教育
和平教育

澳門的蒙特梭利教育
蒙特梭利教育哲學在歐美、中國大陸、台灣及日本早已是極具影響力的教育哲學，我們在2010年6月把蒙特梭利教育方法正式引入澳門。

在家中進行蒙特梭利教育
蒙氏教育不單是一種被採用於學校的教育方法，受過其培訓的家長亦可在家中進行。但各位家長要留意：成人必須要經過正規培訓，以深入認識蒙特梭利教育法的真正內涵，絕不能單靠掛上 “蒙特梭利” 名字的商品盲目地去催谷兒童發展。只要你自己成為一個 “預備好的成人”，並為孩子設計好一個“預備好的環境”方能啟發孩子自我學習、自我成長。

Dr. Maria Montessori (1870-1952) was a great female educator and the first female doctor in Italy. Based on long-term observation and experimentation, she developed a holistic teaching method and educational philosophy, along with a series of Montessori teaching materials, to support children’s individual physical and mental development and enable adults to assist in their growth.
Montessori education integrates medicine, psychology, embryology, anthropology, and philosophy as a method for adults to support children’s development. Its theory follows the natural laws of child growth, nurturing the natural factors children need for learning, allowing them to engage in free yet orderly, proactive self-learning in a specially prepared environment.

What are the characteristics of Montessori teaching?

Through scientific observation and verification, Montessori discovered that children have the potential for self-learning and striving toward perfection. This discovery led her to view children with a completely new, non-traditional attitude. As a result, Montessori teaching has distinctive features that differ from traditional methods:

Child-centered  

It regards children as independent individuals distinct from adults, centering on the child and starting from their perspective.

Education without “teaching”  

Children under 6 years old lack sufficient cognitive and discriminatory abilities, making didactic teaching unsuitable. Montessori teaching opposes teacher-centered, rote-learning approaches. Instead, it starts with daily life training, combined with a well-prepared learning environment and rich teaching materials, enabling children to engage in spontaneous, proactive self-learning and self-education.

Seizing the child’s sensitive periods  

From 0 to 6 years old, children develop specific preferences during growth, such as heightened curiosity about numbers, letters, senses, or order at certain times. Capturing these sensitive periods for learning yields the greatest results.

Additionally, Montessori emphasizes the development of intelligence and character, and respects the child’s growth pace. Teachers, being critical guides, should actively take up supportive, facilitating roles. 

The six major areas of Montessori teaching:
•    Practical life 
•    Sensory and music 
•    Mathematics 
•    Language 
•    Science and culture
•    Peace education

Montessori education in Macao 

The Montessori Method has long been highly influential in Europe, America, mainland China, Taiwan, and Japan. We formally introduced The Montessori Method to Macau in June 2010.

Implementing The Montessori Method at home  
Montessori education is not just a school method; parents with appropriate training can also apply it at home. However, parents should note: adults must undergo proper training to deeply understand the true essence of Montessori education. Do not blindly push child development by simply buying products labeled “Montessori.” Only by becoming a “prepared adult” yourself and designing a “prepared environment” for your child can you inspire their self-learning and self-growth.