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Montessori Model of Teaching versus Ashland’s Class

Think about the model of teaching that you would like to implement in your classroom.  Analyze Mrs. Ashland’s classroom through the lens of the model of teaching that you plan on implementing.  Make sure to include the following points in your analysis:

1. Your chosen model of teaching

The teaching model that I would like to implement in my classroom is the Montessori model.

1. How your chosen model of teaching aligns with Mrs. Ashland’s classroom

There are several aspects in which the Montessori model aligns with Mrs. Ashland’s teaching model. First and foremost, Mrs. Ashland’s class is very secure and inviting, which is in line with the Montessori teaching model. In addition, Mrs. Ashland has designed her class in such a way that it encourages community and cooperation among the children. In a similar way, the Montessori model of teaching encourages children to participate in a community of learning and be ready for life in an environment of democracy (Krogh, 2013). Just like the Montessori model suggests, Ashland’s class is decorated with bright and attractive colors, attractive pictures and cultural objects on the walls and the floor which make the children feel that the environment belongs to them once they enter.    

1. How your chosen model of teaching and Mrs. Ashland’s classroom might not align

Just like there are several similarities between Mrs. Ashland’s classroom design and the Montessori model, there are also several differences. However, there are two most outstanding ones. The first one is the fact that Mrs. Ashland’s design is exploratory as opposed to Montessori’s model which is structure-based. In Mrs. Ashland’s class, children are encouraged to participate in meaningful conversations and be creative. In addition, they are free to explore anything in the class unlike the case in the Montessori model. Further, Ashland’s class is exclusively made up of children aged four years old and she seems to be more of a teacher than she is a guide. Montessori model, on the other hand, is made to accommodate children of varying ages who are allowed to have more free choices. It also seems that Mrs. Ashland forces children into groups when they meet at a given point in the morning to plan the schedule of the day ahead. The Montessori model does not force children to work in groups.  

1. What modifications you would need to make to Mrs. Ashland’s classroom in order to ensure that your chosen model of teaching could be successfully implemented

I would make a number of modifications on Ashland’s model so as to ensure that my Montessori model is implemented successfully. First, I would ensure that children in Ashland’s class are not coerced or directed into appropriate social behavior and learning. My class for pre-primary children would be organized in such a way that they can decide for themselves on whether they want to work alone or together. Here, there will be small and large tables to facilitate children’s decisions. I would achieve this by eliminating the daily meetings at the start of each day to listen to the day’s schedule. I would also do away with the daily meetings where children listen to stories. Lastly, I would modify the class in such a way that it accommodates children of different ages by introducing teaching content suitable for children at various development stages (Illinois State University, 2005).  

1. How the textbook supports your analysis

The text has several evidences which support my analysis above. For instance the text states that Montessori “…also believed that very young children could not be directed or coerced into appropriate social behavior and learning, which led to teachers taking on roles as guides or facilitators, rather than instructors.” The text also suggests that the Montessori model, on the other hand, is made to accommodate children of varying ages who are allowed to have more free choices (Krogh, 2013).