IS IT TRUE THAT MONTESSORI ALLOWS CHILDREN TO DO WHATEVER THEY WANT TO DO, FOR AS LONG AS THEY WANT TO DO IT?
A Montessori classroom is a carefully prepared environment with a variety of materials and activities to satisfy the youngest to the most advanced student. Children in a Montessori environment may choose their own work; however a teacher must first present a lesson on that material. A child may work on the material as long as he or she likes. Montessori teachers are trained in observation. The teacher keeps careful records of what lessons have been given, observes the child and his choice of activities, and checks each child’s knowledge in one area before moving on to the next lesson. The teacher will offer an alternative to a child who has chosen something beyond his ability. Children are free to move about the classroom at will, to talk to other children, to work with any equipment that they understand, or to ask a teacher to introduce new materials. A child is not free to disturb other children or to misuse materials.