Angeline Lillard, professor of psychology at the University of Virginia,praised Montessori methods when speaking at the centenary conference ofthe Maria Montessori Institute this month.
Professor Lillard told Nursery World that learning through embodiedcognition, with children physically performing tasks, as opposed tohaving lessons dictated to them by a teacher, should be extended toolder children.
'Embodied cognition is the idea that our thinking is tied to ourbodies,' she said. 'When under-twos develop, they pick up knowledgethrough action, but Maria Montessori carried it further. For her, whenteaching older children, movement cognition remained extremely close andabstract learning was further away.'
Professor Lillard said that schools should have more collaborative andself-directed learning through to age 11.
'Maria Montessori found that children want to learn to read and writewhen they are left to decide. And Montessori-schooled five-year-olds Ihave studied were more advanced with literacy and numeracy than theirpeers.'
Dr Steve Hughes, paediatric neuropsychologist at the University ofMinnesota, told the conference, 'The Montessori environment is the onemost suited to developing young minds. Activities in Montessorieducation lead to the better development of executive brain functions.'
