Question 1

Montessori's work combined her background in which fields?&#10;A) Psychology, medicine, and education&#10;B) Business, education, and accounting&#10;C) Horticulture and art&#10;D) Podiatry, psychiatry, and sports medicine

Accepted Answer

Maria Montessori's work in developing the Montessori method of education drew on her background in psychology, medicine, and education. She was one of the first women to graduate from the University of Rome Medical School and her work in psychiatry, educational theory, and anthropology informed her educational approach.

Question 2

Based on her work with children with developmental disabilities, (so-called &#34;defective children&#34;), what did Montessori see the need for children to engage in?&#10;A) Teacher-directed activities&#10;B) Productive, hands-on work&#10;C) Learning through play&#10;D) Whole-group instruction

Accepted Answer

Maria Montessori emphasized the importance of productive, hands-on work in the development of children, particularly those with developmental disabilities. She believed that engaging in practical, meaningful activities facilitated learning and development more effectively than traditional, teacher-directed methods.

Question 3

What was the origin of Montessori's first program for children?&#10;A) 1945; a school for gifted, wealthy children in Reggio Emilia, Italy&#10;B) 1919; a reform school for factory workers' children in Germany&#10;C) 1905; an academic training school focused on science education in Vienna, Austria&#10;D) 1907; a &#34;Children's House&#34; for poor children in Rome, Italy

Accepted Answer

Maria Montessori opened her first program, Casa dei Bambini or "Children's House," in 1907 for poor children in the San Lorenzo district of Rome, Italy. This innovative educational approach focused on child-led learning.

Question 4

Montessori's program was widely embraced by the public. Why did professionals in the early childhood field NOT agree with her methods?&#10;A) Progressives dominated the field and viewed play as the most appropriate means of learning for young children, not Montessori's repetitive, purposeful work.&#10;B) Professionals in the field, at the time, believed in a more structured, academic approach.&#10;C) Progressives did not trust a program that came from Italy and was designed by a woman.&#10;D) Montessori's program was too open-ended and creative arts-based.

Accepted Answer

Professionals in the early childhood field, particularly those influenced by progressive educational theories, often emphasized play as a central component of learning. They viewed Montessori's emphasis on repetitive, purposeful work as being at odds with their belief in the importance of play for young children's development.

Question 5

What captured the public's attention first about Montessori's method?&#10;A) Beauty of children's paintings, displayed in museum exhibits.&#10;B) Advanced academic skills, demonstrated on national tests.&#10;C) Parents' comments about children's imagination and creative thinking abilities.&#10;D) Children's rapt attention to task as they repetitively completed the didactic materials.

Accepted Answer

Montessori's method first captured public attention through the observation of children's deep engagement and concentration on tasks, as they worked repetitively with the didactic materials designed by Maria Montessori. This aspect highlighted the effectiveness of her educational approach in fostering independent learning and focus among young learners.

Question 6

What did Montessori believe about children's development?&#10;A) Children grow through adult-directed activities.&#10;B) Children grow purely through biological processes (maturational theory).&#10;C) Children develop through spontaneous activity that comes from an inner drive.&#10;D) Children develop by watching, not engaging with, the world around them.

Accepted Answer

Maria Montessori believed that children develop through spontaneous activity guided by an inner drive. This philosophy underpins the Montessori method of education, which emphasizes self-directed activity, hands-on learning, and collaborative play.

Question 7

Montessori believed children learn through:&#10;A) Sensory experiences and absorbing their surroundings.&#10;B) Rote instruction.&#10;C) Fantasy play.&#10;D) Reading.

Accepted Answer

Montessori education emphasizes learning through sensory experiences and interacting with the environment, allowing children to explore and discover on their own.

Question 8

Montessori laid out three key roles of the early childhood teacher; which one is NOT one of these?&#10;A) Prepare the environment.&#10;B) Active participant in children's play.&#10;C) Present materials.&#10;D) Observe children at work.

Accepted Answer

Montessori emphasized the teacher's role as a guide or facilitator rather than an active participant in children's play. The teacher prepares the environment, presents materials, and observes the children, allowing them to explore and learn independently.

Question 9

Which of the following is NOT one of the key ideas Montessori believed about children's development?&#10;A) Children strive to be independent and self-sufficient in their environment.&#10;B) Children develop through &#34;sensitive periods.&#34;&#10;C) Children's minds absorb their surroundings and stimuli.&#10;D) Preschool-age children's development is not as rapid as school-age children's.

Accepted Answer

Maria Montessori believed that children go through significant developmental stages at all ages, including rapid development during the preschool years. This contradicts the statement in option D, making it the incorrect choice regarding her beliefs.

Question 10

Montessori believed the following are driving forces in children's development, EXCEPT:&#10;A) Children have a natural sense of spirituality&#10;B) Children need plenty of unguided time for open-ended activities&#10;C) Children have internal sense of purpose and seek purposeful activities&#10;D) Children are driven to make sense and order in their world

Accepted Answer

Montessori emphasized guided activities and structured environments to support children's development, rather than unguided time for open-ended activities.

Question 11

Montessori based her method and sequencing of activities based on:&#10;A) Sensitive periods in children's development.&#10;B) Common practices in parenting and education in the late 1800s.&#10;C) Practices aligned with Progressivism.&#10;D) Observations of her biological children.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Montessori based her method and sequencing of...

Question 12

What is the definition of auto-education?&#10;A) Self-directed action using didactic materials.&#10;B) Prescribed handbooks for teachers.&#10;C) A complete guide to parenting.&#10;D) A complete curriculum guide based on themes throughout the year.

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the definition of auto-education?&#10;A) Self-directed...

Question 13

What is the sequence of actions teachers should take to support children's drives and needs?&#10;A) Set minimal limits, let children engage in free play, observe and document&#10;B) Prepare environment, engage children in whole group instruction, test children's knowledge&#10;C) Set clear limits, model proper use of materials, back away to observe&#10;D) Prepare the environment, let children explore freely, add more materials to environment based on children's interests

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the sequence of actions teachers...

Question 14

Montessori believed teachers' influence on children should be:&#10;A) Direct and deliberate.&#10;B) Indirect and intentional.&#10;C) Strict, instilling discipline.&#10;D) Protective of children's innocence.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Montessori believed teachers' influence on children should...

Deck 10: Montessori Education: Environment, Materials, and Methods