What the Evidence Says About Montessori Education (2024)

FAQs

What the Evidence Says About Montessori Education? ›

In nonacademic measures, Montessori students also excelled; they demonstrated stronger executive function, including self-control and working memory, and reported a more positive school experience overall compared to traditional students.

The data show that a Montessori education provides academic benefits, especially in language and math. Montessori students demonstrated stronger executive function and reported a more positive school experience.

Studies conducted over the last thirty years appear to support this view, suggesting that various aspects of Montessori teaching methods could benefit children's cognitive abilities, social skills, creativity, sensorimotor development and academic results.

Analysing their progress at age five, Lillard found that the children who went to the Montessori school tended to have better literacy, numeracy, executive function and social skills, compared to those who had attended the other schools. And at age 12, they showed better story-telling abilities.

Montessori education is often praised for its focus on individual learning paths. However, critics argue that this may lead to a lack of opportunities for students to engage in competitive and cooperative activities that prepare them for real-world scenarios.

Overall, the answer to both questions was “yes”. Children in the high-fidelity Montessori school, as compared with children in the other two types of school, showed significantly greater gains on measures of executive function, reading, math, vocabulary, and social problem-solving.

They found that the children in the Montessori school showed better reading and math, improved social skills, and advanced executive functioning by the end of kindergarten.

Research studies show that Montessori children are well prepared for later life academically, socially, and emotionally.

Montessori education is based on the belief that all children are unique individuals, that they all have immense potential, that they want to learn and be busy. Therefore the teacher needs to guide each child through the learning process by using materials that fit their specific needs and pace.

In traditional education, the child's journey is designed around academic competence. With more freedom to cater directly to the whole child, the Montessori student will experience greater agency, responsibility, and sociability in their daily classroom experience.

Are there any downsides to Montessori? ›

Limited Focus on Assessment: Montessori education places less emphasis on traditional forms of assessment such as grades and exams. While this aligns with the philosophy of individualised learning, it can be a disadvantage for parents and educators who value more conventional methods of evaluating a child's progress.

The Montessori Philosophy focuses on the long-term goals for students so they are prepared for college and beyond. A Montessori education will serve students well in college because there is a focus on mastery for each student. Students in the Montessori classroom are provided with individualized learning plans.

Research has shown that Montessori education can have long-term benefits for children. Montessori students often display advanced social skills, a greater sense of responsibility, and higher levels of academic achievement.

One limitation of the Montessori method is that it is not well-suited to all children. Because the Montessori approach is based on the idea that children are innately curious and motivated to learn, it may not be effective for children who are shy, struggling or who have special needs.

Although many important public figures of the time were praising Montessori's work, Kilpatrick was highly critical. Through his lectures and 71-page dissertation entitled The Montessori System Examined, he denounced the method and philosophy.

In the Montessori Classroom a child may move about freely but not run or push. He or she can talk softly and respectfully but never shout. When the child is finished with his or her work it must be returned to the shelf in proper order, and in its proper place.

The Montessori education system places a high value on social/emotional learning and developing the whole child. Children will learn how to be polite and basic manners, such as how to greet one another, how to solve a disagreement, how to respect one another, and how to clean up after themselves.

The child of today may have a variety of experiences that children did not have a century ago. However, the way that children learn from their environment and experiences is the same today as it was when Maria Montessori first started exploring human learning. She observed that children are naturally smart and curious.

Montessori education recognizes that children learn in different ways, and accommodates all learning styles. Students are free to learn at their own pace, each advancing as he is ready, guided by the teacher and an individualized learning plan.