Early Education

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses and compares educational approaches of Maria Montessori and other developmentalists. The author explains Montessori's theory of sensitive periods and other theories held by Piaget and Erikson of the different stages in a child's development and his capacity to learn.

From the Paper:

"A major difference between Maria Montessori and other developmentalists is that "she dedicated herself to the actual teaching of children." (54) Montessori's research in mental retardation led her on to a similar path that other educators such as Itard, Sequin, and Froebel had also taken. Their belief held that simple observation is the first requirement in educating mentally retarded individuals. Through observation, they learned natural proclivities of the challenged children and built upon them. This served to make use of an existing foundation, creating a much stronger grasp on concepts that the children already had at least a mild understanding for; as opposed to starting with a tabula rasa. (55)
"A concrete application of this would be when Montessori incorporated a tactile approach in her education. She observed that the mentally challenged children learned best by touching and feeling objects. So, she gave them wooden letters to learn reading and writing with, thus forming a bridge for the children from the unfamiliar to the familiar."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Theories of Development: Concepts and Applications, William Crain, author, Prentice-Hall, Inc., publisher 1980

More papers on Early Education:

• Analytical Essay # 130501 : "Montessori and Head Start Early Education"
• Descriptive Essay # 146899 : "Stimulus Learning in Early Education"
• Term Paper # 111444 : "The Importance of Early Education"

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