The scientific approach to Montessori education 

‍

Despite its detractors, Montessori pedagogy is based on a rigorous approach that has earned it the title of "scientific approach". From the outset, Maria Montessori applied a method based on observation, experimentation andconstant adaptation to children's needs. Why do we speak of ascientific approach to Montessori pedagogy? Can this pedagogy really be described as scientific? And what does modern neuroscience research have to say about it? These are the questions we'll be exploring to better understand what makes this pedagogy unique and timelessly relevant.

‍

A pioneering approach based on rigorous observation

‍

Unlike many researchers of her time, Maria Montessori did not seek to verify a pre-existing hypothesis. A trained physician, she applied a rigorous, unprejudiced methodology, carefully observing children's behavior to draw fundamental conclusions.

‍

• During her early experiences in a psychiatric hospital with troubled children, she identified their innate need for activity and exploration.
• At the San Lorenzo Children's Home, established in 1906, she has set up a carefully prepared environment, with furniture and equipment adapted to the children's size and needs.
• She adjusted and perfected her teaching materials as she went along, following an empirical approach close to that of the experimental sciences.

‍

In this way, Maria Montessori developed a pedagogy she described as "scientific applied to the education of children", now recognized as Montessori pedagogy.

‍

The 3 pillars of the Montessori scientific approach

‍

Maria Montessori structured her pedagogy around three fundamental elements, designed to meet the universal needs of children:

‍

1. A suitable environment

Montessori spaces are designed to encourage autonomy, curiosity and concentration. Children evolve in orderly, aesthetic spaces where each element has a precise purpose.

‍

2. A prepared adult

The educator plays a key role as a benevolent observer and guide. He or she is trained to understand the needs of each child and to adapt his or her intervention in a respectful and constructive manner.‍

‍

3. Scientific equipment

The carefully designed Montessori materials enable children to learn through experience. For example, the rough letters help to integrate the basics of writing through touch, while the golden beads facilitate understanding of mathematics by manipulating concrete quantities.

‍

Immerse yourself in the experience of the Pink Tower, and you'll understand that your child will later have inscribed in him the notion of 1 cm³ just like that of 1 dm³. Because they will have manipulated, over and over again, this small cube measuring 1 cm on each side and the one measuring 10 cm. That's why a material that doesn't conform, in its dimensions for example, won't produce the same results. Each piece of equipment is part of a precise progression, in a logic of construction of notions. It is scientifically thought-out and designed.

‍

‍

The contribution of neuroscience: modern validation

‍

More than a century after Maria Montessori's first observations, modern neuroscience confirms the accuracy of many of her pedagogical principles. Among the major discoveries that corroborate her intuitions :

‍

1. The role of sensitive periods in child development
‍

Maria Montessori observed that children go through critical phases when they are particularly receptive to certain learning (language, movement, order). Neuroscience has shown that these Montessori sensitive periods correspond to moments of heightened cerebral plasticity, when the brain is ready to absorb and integrate new skills. Maria Montessori spoke of children's absorbing spirit.

‍

2. Learning through experience and manipulation
‍

Maria Montessori placed manipulation at the heart of her pedagogy, believing that children learn best by using their hands and interacting with their environment. Today, research shows thatmultisensory learning activates different areas of the brain, enhancing memory and understanding.

‍

3. The link between autonomy and intrinsic motivation
‍

Maria Montessori stressed the importance of letting children choose their own activities, within a predefined framework, and progress at their own pace. Neuroscientists explain that this autonomy stimulates intrinsic motivation, essential for lasting, fulfilling learning.

‍

4. The impact of an ordered environment on concentration
‍

According to Maria Montessori, a structured environment helps children to organize their thoughts. Neuroscience confirms this observation, revealing that reducing visual and auditory distractions promotes optimal concentration.

‍

Scientifically designed materials to promote learning

‍

As we have seen, Montessori materials are not just aesthetic or practical: they are the fruit of in-depth scientific reflection. Each tool meets specific objectives and promotes :

‍

• Fine motor skills: with activities such as decanting and dressing frames, children strengthen hand-eye coordination and prepare their hands for writing.
• Progression to abstraction: concrete activities, such as red bars or gold beads, enable a natural transition from the tangible to abstract concepts in mathematics and logic. Children work in language, with small objects, before moving on to photographic representations and drawings. Gradually, they move from the concrete to the abstract.
• Autonomy and self-confidence: by freely manipulating the materials presented, children become active participants in their own learning. In this way, they develop solid self-esteem.

‍

A universal and timeless philosophy

‍

Maria Montessori always advocated a universal pedagogy, capable of adapting to all children, whatever their cultural and/or social background. Her scientifically-designed materials are used in schools all over the world. It offers a systemic educational approach that respects individual needs. A child whose parents regularly move from one country to another will always be able to find his or her bearings in a Montessori environment, whatever the language used in the classroom.

‍

The scientific approach to Montessori pedagogy is proof of Maria Montessori's avant-gardism. Thanks to her rigorous observation and intuition, she laid the foundations of an educational method that continues to inspire and transform education.

Modern neuroscience, by confirming Montessori principles, reinforces the relevance of this pedagogy in today's world. Offering a Montessori education means enabling each child to reveal his or her full potential in a caring, structured and enriching environment.

‍