Montessori's Education Theories

CCurrently, there are several theories of how to educate children in the classroom. These theories help teacher to understand more about the ways children grow and learn. The founders John Dewey, Maria Montessori, Erik Erikson, Jean Piaget, and Lev Vygotsky agreed that children best learn when they interact with others, and are allowed to do everything they are capable of. In addition to that most of them believed that teachers should observe children to determine where children are in a learning process and where they are capable of doing in order to plan curriculum.
JJohn Dewey believed that the interest and background of each child and group must be considered when teachers plan learning experiences, and that teachers must be sensitive to

She believed that children could learn to use real tools safely. Materials should not be kept out of the children’s reach instead children should be able to reach materials when they needed them. Montessori believed that this will help them become responsible for their own learning. In addition, she believed that for children to grow and develop skills, adults should let them do everything they are capable of. This will foster children’s independence, and will allow children to take responsibility. Finally she thought that careful observation was the key to determine what the children were interested in or need to learn [Mooney, page 33]. Teacher should take the time to observe children and reflect to better prepare the best possible environment, and to plan curriculum.
EErik Erikson theory identifies eight stages through which a healthily developing human should pass from infancy to late adulthood. In each stage, the person faces, and hopefully masters, new challenges. According to Erikson each stage builds upon the successful completion of earlier stages. He believed that there is a task that must be accomplished at each stage of

As well he believed that teachers should observe children carefully, and plan curriculum according to their observations. He believed that teachers need to use those observations to determine where children are in a learning process and where they are capable of doing, given their individual needs and the social context that surrounds them [Mooney, page 84]. In order to plan curriculum, teachers should observe children carefully to know each child’s development. Observing children are essential to good curriculum