Abstract/Notes: Maria Montessori’s approach, based on observation of and experimentation with children’s learning processes, remains one of the longest-standing and widely embraced forms of alternative education. Contemporary neuroscience research increasingly validates Montessori’s principles, yet a robust bridge between these two fields remains elusive. Factors such as differing goals, terminology and the lack of a collaborative framework hinder their synergy. This literature review explores the intersection between neuroscience findings and Montessori’s educational philosophy, structured into five key areas. The Perspective first presents various neuroscience insights: an exploration of aspects related to learning, brain development and cognition. Second, a brief background on Maria Montessori’s contributions: a historical overview of Maria Montessori's life, work and educational methodology. Third is the identification of the areas where neuroscience and Montessori principles intersect, including the importance of movement, emotional development, social learning, the role of the prepared environment, the transition from concrete to abstract concepts, self-regulation, sensitive periods and memory. Finally, while acknowledging the challenges and limitations in researching Montessori education, this review emphasises the growing evidence that supports the alignment of Montessori principles with neuroscience findings. This underscores the enduring relevance of Montessori’s holistic education approach and highlights the potential benefits of a deeper collaboration between these fields, to enhance educational practices and promote comprehensive learning experiences for children. / L'approche éducative de Maria Montessori, fondée sur l'observation et l'expérimentation de l'enfant, reste l'une des formes d'éducation alternative les plus anciennes et les plus largement adoptées. La recherche contemporaine en neurosciences valide de plus en plus les principes de Montessori, mais établir un pont solide entre ces deux domaines reste difficile. Des facteurs tels que des objectifs différents, une terminologie différente et l'absence d'un cadre de collaboration entravent leur synergie. Cette revue de la littérature explore l'intersection entre les résultats des neurosciences et la philosophie éducative de Montessori, structurée en cinq domaines clés : Premièrement, la présentation de quelques idées neuroscientifiques : Une exploration de divers aspects neuroscientifiques liés à l'apprentissage, au développement du cerveau et à la cognition. Deuxièmement, un bref historique des contributions de Maria Montessori : un aperçu historique de la vie, de l'œuvre et de la méthodologie éducative de Maria Montessori. L'identification des domaines où les neurosciences et les principes Montessori se croisent est ensuite présentée, notamment l'importance du mouvement, le développement émotionnel, l'apprentissage social, le rôle de l'environnement préparé, la transition des concepts concrets aux concepts abstraits, l'autorégulation, les périodes sensibles et la mémoire. Tout en reconnaissant les défis et les limites de la recherche en éducation Montessori, cette revue met l'accent sur les preuves de plus en plus nombreuses de l'alignement des principes Montessori sur les résultats des neurosciences. Cela souligne la pertinence durable de l'approche éducative holistique de Montessori et met en lumière les avantages potentiels d'une collaboration plus approfondie entre ces domaines, dans le but d'améliorer les pratiques éducatives et de favoriser des expériences d'apprentissage complètes pour les enfants.

Language: English

DOI: 10.26034/cortica.2023.4218

ISSN: 2813-1940

Abstract/Notes: This paper lends insight into the fundamental postulates of Montessori pedagogyand definitions of contemporary educational neuroscience, focusing on the needsand solutions of contemporary didactic approaches. By presenting the results ofcontemporary researches, the paper connects the achievements of Montessoripedagogic methods and strategies with the scientific indicators of educationalneuroscience about the manners of positive impact on the development of anindividual. The results of the educational neuroscience research will corroborate thepostulates of Montessori pedagogy that state that understanding the developmentalstages of upbringing, individual competences, and specificities of each child areimportant for upbringing. Specific cases will be used to emphasize that, apartfrom the cognitive competence, it is essential to develop psychomotor and affectivecompetences, meaning that the development of these personality spheres isconnected and interdependent. By providing the pedagogic perspective, the paperpoints to the need for further deliberation on how to shape an optimal curriculum.The paper suggests that various social and technological changes are reasons toconsider pedagogic methods, strategies, and approaches of Montessori, which is alsosupported and substantiated by contemporary educational neuroscience.Key words: didactics; Montessori pedagogy; neurodidactics; neuroscience. - U ovom radu daje se uvid u osnovne postulate Montessori pedagogije i definicijesuvremene obrazovne neuroznanosti, orijentirajući se prema potrebama i rješenjimaza suvremene didaktičke pristupe. Prikazom rezultata suvremenih istraživanja radpovezuje dostignuća Montessori pedagoških metoda i strategija sa znanstvenimpokazateljima obrazovne neuroznanosti o načinima pozitivnoga utjecaja na razvojpojedinca. Rezultati istraživanja obrazovne neuroznanosti potkrijepit će postulateMontessori pedagogije da je za odgojni pristup važno razumijevanje razvojnih fazaodrastanja, individualnosti kompetencija i specifičnosti odgajanika. Specifičnimprimjerima naglasit će se da je uz kognitivne, bitno razvijati psihomotorne iafektivne kompetencije, odnosno da je razvoj ovih sfera ličnosti povezan imeđuovisan. Ponuđenom pedagoškom perspektivom rad ukazuje na potrebudaljnjega razmatranja kako pristupiti oblikovanju optimalnih kurikula. U radu sesugerira da je upravo zbog različitih društvenih i tehnoloških promjena potrebnorazmišljati o pedagoškim metodama, strategijama i pristupima Montessoripedagogije, što podržava i potkrepljuje suvremena obrazovna neuroznanost.Ključne riječi: didaktika; Montessori pedagogija; neurodidaktika; neuroznanost.

Language: English

DOI: 10.15516/cje.v22i4.3751

ISSN: 1848-5189, 1848-5197

Abstract/Notes: There is now a broad international consensus that investing in early childhood education and care represents the highest “return on investment” in terms of economic and social development. The pursuit of the dual objective of efficiency and equity has resulted in a reorientation of preschool curricula towards preparation for compulsory schooling, emphasizing the acquisition of the “fundamentals” (reading, writing, and arithmetic) most useful for future academic success. The chapter offers first a comparative analysis of how this “schooling process” unfolded in French and Belgian nursery schools and in the Danish kindergarten. It attests to the persistence of specific cultural and political traditions relating to both the respective roles of the state and families in early childhood education, as well as of conceptions of childhood and relations between adults and children. Second, based on field research conducted in French-speaking Belgium, it discusses the idea that the search for children's well-being and performance at the same time creates tensions in the exercise of the teaching profession. It then shows that it is possible to understand the success of the discourse of cognitive neuroscience and so-called alternative pedagogical methods, including Montessori, because these discourses seem to propose a way to overcome these tensions.

Language: English

Published: New York, New York: Routledge, 2024

ISBN: 978-1-00-337720-7

Abstract/Notes: The goal of this project is to reimagine learning spaces by combining education and architecture principles and a hint of imagination. This is done through designing a school in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington D.C. for children aged 3-12. The design integrates Montessori, Waldorf, and Reggio principles with behavioral and neuroscientific insights. Additionally, the imaginative essence of "Alice in Wonderland" brings a whimsical dimension, adding an enchanting layer to the architectural narrative. The design of the school considers how space impacts cognition and creativity, in addition to functional aspects. Highlighting the bond between architecture and neuroscience, the design emphasizes how the built environment shapes children's cognition and emotions. Sensory experiences, architectural elements, and nature integration shape the ambiance, significantly influencing children's cognitive development. Through a blend of educational philosophies, neuroscience findings, and the timeless allure of Wonderland, it aims to sculpt an environment that encourages curiosity, creativity, and profound world connection in children.

Language: English

Published: Blacksburg, Virginia, 2023

Abstract/Notes: This comment presents Maria Montessori (1870–1952) and highlights that her child-centered method of education is based on brilliant intuitions, which were confirmed by neuroscience research many decades later, such as the distinction of three critical periods in children’s psychobiological development; the importance of the environment in supporting cerebral development and in promoting learning, as well as of affective stimulation in psychological growth and maturation; the specific neural structure of humans that specifically enables the acquisition of a language; the vital role of fine object manipulation in neuropsychological development, and of the physical exercise in brain and nervous system development.

Language: English

DOI: 10.1177/1073858420902677

ISSN: 1073-8584

Abstract/Notes: La mia personale attenzione agli apporti della biologia e, più in particolare, delle neuroscienze per la conoscenza dei processi di sviluppo, apprendimento e formazione (a livello motorio, sensoriale, linguistico, emotivo) e, parallelamente, per lo studio dei processi di cambiamento che si verificano nel corso delle varie età della vita individuale, mi hanno portata a formulare la proposta (confluita nel testo Educazione e senescenza) dello studio comparato della mente bambina e della mente anziana e, in particolare, dello studio dei processi di invecchiamento bio-psicologico e socioantropologico. Le domande iniziali sono state: quale la struttura del cervello, le sue funzioni?, in quale modo le modificazioni cerebrali intervengono a modificare la mente? Per rispondere a questi quesiti, si presentava ineludibile lo studio delle ricerche che in quegli anni si andavano moltiplicando sul cervello e le sue funzioni. Tutto ciò collegato ai contributi che alla mia prima formazione aveva dato il testo di Maria Montessori “La mente del bambino”, unitamente alla conoscenza delle tesi dell’evoluzionismo darwiniano. Si tratta di spiegare i comportamenti umani in termini di attività del sistema nervoso e ad approfondire le interconnessioni cervello-mente-ambiente nonché i collegamenti tra basi neuronali, meccanismi fisio-psicologici (agire, percepire, pensare, parlare, apprendere, comunicare) e ruolo dei contesti ambientali nell’attivare il potenziale di sviluppo e nell’innescare l’attività mentale. / Mi interés personal por las aportaciones de la biología y, más en particular de las neurociencias, al conocimiento de los procesos de desarrollo, aprendizaje y formación (a nivel motor, sensorial, lingüístico, emotivo) y, en paralelo, por el estudio de los procesos de cambio que se verifican en el curso de las sucesivas etapas de la vida de las personas, me han llevado a formular la propuesta (de la que nació el libro Educación y senectud) de hacer un estudio comparado de la mente infantil y la mente anciana y, más en particular, un estudio de los procesos de envejecimiento bio-psicológico y socio-antropológico. Las cuestiones planteadas han sido las siguientes: ¿cuál es la estructura del cerebro y cuáles sus funciones?, ¿de qué modo las modificaciones cerebrales provocan cambios en la mente? Para contestar a estas preguntas se hacía necesario el estudio de las investigaciones frecuentes aquellos años sobre el cerebro y sus funciones. Todo ello vinculado, por otra parte, a las contribuciones que, en relación a la primera infancia, nos había proporcionado María Montessori en su obra “La Mente del niño”, así como las tesis del evolucionismo darwiniano. Se trata de explicar el comportamiento humano en términos de actividad del sistema nervioso y profundizar en las interconexiones que se establecen entre cerebro-mente-ambiente, así como las relaciones entre las bases neuronales, los mecanismos fisio-psicológicos (actuar, percibir, pensar, hablar, aprender, comunicarse) y el rol de los contextos ambientales a la hora de activar el potencial de desarrollo y desencadenar la actividad mental. / My personal interest in the contributions of biology and, more particularly of neurosciences, to the knowledge of the processes of development, learning and training (to the motor, sensory, linguistic and emotional level) and, in parallel, my interest in the study of the processes of change that take place in the course of the successive stages of people’s lives, have led me to formulate the proposal (from which the book Education and Senescence was born) to make a comparative study between the infant mind and the old people mind and, more particularly, a study of the processes of bio-psychological and socio-anthropological aging. The questions raised have been the following: what is the structure of the brain and which are its functions?; how do brain changes cause changes in the mind? To answer these questions it became necessary to study the quite frequent researches in those years about brain and its functions. All this linked, on the other hand, to the contributions that, in relation to early childhood, Maria Montessori had given us in her work “The Mind of the Child”, as well as the theses of Darwinian evolutionism. It is about explaining human behavior in terms of activity of the nervous system and deepening the interconnections that are established among brain-mind-environment as well as the relationships among the neuronal bases, the physio-psychological mechanisms (act, perceive, think, speak , learn, communicate) and the role of environmental contexts in activating the development potential and triggering the mind activity.

Language: Italian

ISSN: 2255-0666

Abstract/Notes: Maria Montessori developed an educational program during the first half of the 20th century. Nowadays, the Montessori method (MM) is considered one of the main alternatives to teacher-paced conventional preschool education. This review aims to open a dialogue between the MM and current understanding of neurodevelopment. Four conceptual pillars of the MM—the sensitive periods, the education of the senses, the prepared environment, and spontaneous activities through repetition—are discussed. According to the MM, the teacher provides children with an environment that, leaning on maturational time windows, should promote sensory development through spontaneous repetition. We describe brain changes in 3- to 6-year-old children due to development and externally-provided experience. Then, it is discussed whether these pillars are supported by neuroscience. Finally, the influences of Montessori are explained, and we suggest possible lines of research to underpin the neuroscientific grounds of the MM.

Language: English

DOI: 10.1111/mbe.12262

ISSN: 1751-228X

Abstract/Notes: This paper lends insight into the fundamental postulates of Montessori pedagogy and definitions of contemporary educational neuroscience, focusing on the needs and solutions of contemporary didactic approaches. By presenting the results of contemp...

Language: Croatian, English

DOI: 10.15516/cje.v22i4.3751

ISSN: 1848-5189, 1848-5197

Abstract/Notes: Error monitoring is a neuroscience concept representing the mechanism which causes a moment of pause after making a mistake. This pause allows individuals to direct attention to important information which can be integrated in order to adjust behavior and thoughts and then adapt by learning from mistakes. Quantitative measures of behavior, brain structures, and neural responses reveal that students who learn at Montessori schools develop an ability to detect errors early and learn to self-correct, whereas students from traditional schools tend to be response oriented. This chapter describes research on error monitoring among Montessori students and presents characteristic factors of Montessori pedagogy that could have a direct impact on error monitoring in children.

Language: English

Published: New York, New York: Bloomsbury Academic, 2023

ISBN: 978-1-350-27561-4 978-1-350-27560-7 978-1-350-27562-1

Series: Bloomsbury Handbooks

Abstract/Notes: This article presents descriptions from seven schools of how they are applying research in neuroscience and the cognitive sciences to student learning. Braemar College, Woodend, Victoria implemented Fast ForWord with the knowledge of independently verified results in 2008 to assist students deemed to be at risk academically. Concordia College, Highgate, SA has implemented Brain Week since 2005. It aims to provide Year 8 students with the capacity to understand how their brain works ad to understand what happens to their brain when they learn. The Montessori International College, Buderim, Qld uses the Montessori curriculum to precisely trigger brain functions that are the building blocks of learning and personality. Ravenswood School for Girls Gordon NSW is reviewing its pastoral care program to provide an authentic program which will guide adolescents as they transverse the middle years and promotes student wellbeing, and which has at its base a deep understanding of the changes the adolescent brain is undergoing. St. Michael's Collegiate School, Hobart, Tas is using an executive function mindset to help all students in areas such as planning, organising, prioritising, initiating, sustaining, shifting and self monitoring. This, combined with focused effort, positive self concept, and strategic mindsets, are key to student success across all grades. Scotch Oakburn College, Launceston, Tas is considering brain based maths learning, which in beginning arithmetic takes advantage of the learner's number sense, subitising and counting strategies by making connections to new mathematical operations, so that multiplication tables become tools leading to a deeper understanding of mathematics, rather than an end unto themselves. With the wealth of research evidence growing about the plasticity of the brain, Wilderness School, Medindie, SA designed and implemented in 2011 a 'Thinking and Learning' unit for all Year 9 girls on mindsets.

Language: English

ISSN: 1324-2326