Is Arithmetic Taught By Shiller Truly Montessori?

ShillerLearning is a non-profit organization that publishes research-based curricula, music, manipulatives, flashcards, and workbooks for students aged 4-13. The curriculum includes pre-K and pre-Algebra, as well as language arts for 3-9 year-olds. ShillerMath is a Montessori-based homeschool curriculum for children aged 3-13, offering an easy-to-learn, multisensory approach to homeschool math and language arts. The curriculum is designed with Montessori principles, but parents don’t need to know Montessori or math.

ShillerMath is based on the Montessori philosophy and was edited by the Princeton Center for (Montessori) Teacher Education. It offers a flexible and hands-on approach to learning, with no planning required. The curriculum is divided into two kits: Kit 1 and Kit 2, which use Montessori-inspired manipulatives.

However, some critics question the authenticity of ShillerMath, as it claims to be open and go. While the curriculum uses manipulatives with a Montessori approach, it doesn’t follow a specific method. The program also has lesson books, but these are used as a supplement to the curriculum.

Despite its Montessori-based approach, ShillerMath is a popular choice among busy homeschool moms worldwide. The curriculum is divided into two kits: Kit 1 and Kit 2, which provide a variety of activities and resources for children aged 3-13. Overall, ShillerMath is a reliable and accessible Montessori-based homeschool curriculum for children aged 3-13.

How is Montessori math different?

Montessori math education involves hands-on activities using manipulatives to teach advanced concepts like multiplication and division. Teachers understand each child’s unique learning style and abilities, providing individualized instruction and allowing them to work at their own pace. Montessori math is integrated into other areas of the curriculum, such as cooking or science experiments, allowing children to learn about fractions and measurement while they are working on their math skills. This approach allows children to develop their understanding of math at their own pace and with the help of their teachers.

What is the mathematical mind Montessori?

Montessori believed that children are born with a “mathematical mind”, a natural tendency for exactness, orientation, and order. This gift is manifested in older children as logical, systematic thinking. Montessori classroom activities explore these mathematical qualities, providing a strong foundation for later systematic learning of arithmetic, geometry, and algebra.

Research confirms young children’s early capacity to recognize that two objects are different from one object as early as the first year of life. Elinor Goldschmied based heuristic bag activities on toddlers’ natural tendency to compare, match, and grade objects. Fitting paper tubes into each other and posting shapes through appropriate openings enhances eye-hand coordination and their capacity to note similarities and differences.

During the second year of life, these experiences are often accompanied by adults’ comments that encourage and explain mathematical language. This is an example of how mathematical language accompanies the child’s experiences from early on, alongside the encouragement they receive from their parents and carers.

Is the Montessori Method successful?

The Montessori Method of Teaching, developed by Maria Montessori, is an educational approach that emphasizes hands-on learning, self-directed activity, and collaborative play. It is successful because it considers different learning styles and allows children to learn at their own pace and explore different subjects in depth. The method helps children develop essential life skills like independence and self-discipline.

The three main characteristics of the Montessori Method are self-directed learning, where children are encouraged to explore different subjects in depth, and there is no right or wrong answer in Montessori classrooms.

What is the best feature of Montessori Method of mathematics?

The Montessori Method places an emphasis on hands-on learning, utilising specially designed manipulative materials that enable young children to engage directly with concrete materials.

Is Montessori a proven method?

Professor Angeline Lillard at the University of Virginia has conducted a study on the Montessori method in Milwaukee, US, focusing on children who were selected through a lottery system. The results showed that Montessori children had better literacy, numeracy, executive function, and social skills compared to those who attended other schools. At age 12, they also showed better story-telling abilities. However, the results were based on a relatively small sample of pupils.

Chloe Marshall at the University College of London Institute of Education believes that Lillard’s results provide the most rigorous test yet, but she also suggests that the Montessori method does bring some benefits without any downsides. Recent evidence suggests that providing children with unstructured time leads to greater independence and self-direction, which is at the heart of the Montessori method.

What are the negatives of Montessori?

Montessori school is a type of early childhood education program that follows the principles and methods developed by Dr. Maria Montessori. However, it may not be suitable for everyone due to its child-led learning approach, lack of continuity, accessibility, loose curriculum, and less emphasis on group work. Montessori preschools are designed to provide a holistic learning experience, but they may not be suitable for everyone.

Does Montessori really make a difference?

The Montessori teaching method has been shown to positively impact children’s cognitive abilities, social skills, creativity, sensorimotor development, and academic results. However, there has been no comprehensive study to draw conclusive conclusions about its effects. A recent research published in Contemporary Educational Psychology aims to do so by conducting a meta-analysis of over 109 articles published over the last 30 years. The study compared the results of experimental groups using the Montessori pedagogy with those of the control group using another pedagogy.

The research surveyed over 21, 000 schoolchildren in North America, Asia, and Europe, focusing on academic learning, cognitive development, social development, sensorimotor development, and creativity. The meta-analysis aims to determine the trend of Montessori teaching methods and draw conclusions about their potential benefits.

What is the secret of the child Montessori?

Montessori teaches adults how to learn from children by observing, helping, and presenting. A well-prepared environment, following the child’s interests, and offering choices creates concentration without the need for punishments and rewards. The environment must facilitate the expansion of the being in process of development by reducing obstacles and allowing free scope for a child’s energies. The adult must adjust themselves to the child’s needs to avoid being a hindrance and substituting themselves for the child in essential activities. The child does not follow the law of the least effort, but instead uses immense energy for an unsubstantial end, spending intensive energy in the execution of every detail.

Is the Montessori Method good or bad?

The efficacy of Montessori education as a superior method of learning has not been empirically demonstrated. However, there is a prevailing belief that it fosters students’ interest in learning, self-discipline, and independence. The majority of Montessori schools do not assign homework, as they prioritize students’ autonomy in extracurricular pursuits. This pedagogical approach enables students to participate in activities that are both enjoyable and beneficial.

Do Montessori kids have better outcomes?

A recent study by Solange Denervaud, a neuroscientist at the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois in Switzerland, found that children attending Montessori schools tend to have greater creativity, which is linked to better academic outcomes. The study compared children of similar intelligence and socioeconomic backgrounds to eliminate confounding factors. Maria Montessori believed that with the right learning materials, young minds can be nurtured.

Denervaud suspects that the advantages stem from children’s experience of taking the lead on their learning activities from a young age, the increased opportunity to find their own solutions, and learning from their mistakes, which encourages flexible thinking.

What is the criticism against Montessori?

Montessori education has faced criticism for its high cost and perceived lack of accessibility, resulting in a socio-economic divide and limiting access to families from lower income brackets. Critics also highlight the unconventional methods of Montessori schools, which they believe are too radical to be effective. From an outside perspective, Montessori education seems to challenge traditional notions of what schooling should look like, leading many to question its validity.

However, those deeply immersed in the Montessori philosophy, such as teachers and parents, may find it difficult to imagine negative comments about the approach. Those who have only seen snippets or heard stories of Montessori in social media groups may view it as the worst educational approach ever.