The Montessori Prepared Environment

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the important elements of the Montessori prepared environment and their importance in Montessori practice, based on the teaching method of Maria Montessori. The paper concludes that the most important elements of the Montessori prepared environment are freedom, structure and order, reality and nature, beauty, development of community life and the materials. The teacher is also a vital aspect, to ensure through observation that the environment is adapted to the changing needs of the child.

From the Paper:

"Structure and order is another important element. The child needs to internalize the structure and order of their surroundings to build their own mental order and intelligence. Through internal order the child learns how to interact with the environment. "He needs rather to bring order into the chaos created in his mind by the host of sensations coming to him from the outside world." . The child knows where the materials are kept and are arranged from simple to complicated. The child is assured a full cycle of activity by the order in which the activities are presented. The child will return the activity as they found it; in it's original state, ready for the next child."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Lillard, Paula P. Montessori, A Modern Approach. New York: (Schocken Books Inc) 1988.
• Montessori, Maria. The Absorbent Mind. Oxford: (The Clio Montessori series; v.1) 2000.
• Montessori, Maria. The Discovery of the Child. Oxford: (The Clio Montessori series; v.1) 2000.

More papers on The Montessori Prepared Environment:

• Essay # 43744 : "Prepared Environment"
• Analytical Essay # 148144 : "A Look at the Montessori Approach to Education"
• Essay # 85760 : "The Montessori Method"

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