Materials That Aid Independence

 

As was mentioned, the materials in a Montessori environment are themselves intended to invite activity. They are furthermore designed to allow for maximum independence in the child: Everything—including the dustpan and brush—is child-sized; activities are laid out in an orderly way on easily accessible open shelves; and the design of the materials makes it easy for the child to identify, and gradually correct, any error. The last point all but eliminates the need for correction by a teacher, something that has become a mainstay of traditional education. Instead of an external force judging him, the child relies on the impersonal judgment that comes from his senses. The guide in the material may be mechanical (all the pieces fit together only one way), it may be visual (the eye checking groups of objects sorted by touch), or there may be an answer sheet. Either way, by coming to rely on his own self-appraisal, the child develops a “friendly feeling” towards error, setting him on a path to self-improvement.

 

Referenced from:

http://montessoricentenary.org/briefins/WhatIsMontessoriEducation.pdf