While Dr. Maria Montessori’s pedagogy is about the teacher being the guide and to develop a prepared environment for students to make choices and to engage with the works to learn through the manipulation of works; the TEACCH approach which is also known as Structured Teaching the major components are structure, visual information, special interests, and meaningful, self-initiated communication. The components of TEACCH can be used as an intervention in the Montessori school, since the teacher is able to spend time assisting students independently the students can get the support, which is needed for them.
Treatment and Education of Autistic and
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Montessori Pedagogy A component of Montessori’s pedagogy is to create a prepared environment for students to engage in learning. This includes natural lighting, staying away from florescent lights that can irritate eyes and inhibit learning and concentration. Teachers create areas in the classroom designated for particular works in mind. There are desks for students to work at, mats to sit and do floor work, and larger areas to work as a group or the larger works. The teacher develops a daily schedule for the students and work together to agree which work to complete for the day. The curriculum areas are defined with clear expectations of the work and the level based on the mastery of the child. Using visual aids students can put back material in the correct place as well as see the final product to ensure student accuracy and completion of task.
In the Montessori program students learn though hands-on manipulation and by all of there senses. There are visual prompts to ensure what activities expectations are and how to complete them. While the environment does have pictures on the walls, they are of work done by the students or pictures of art, portraits, and architecture. When students view the pictures on the wall they learn about culture and the environment in the world around them. In Montessori curriculum there is no formal testing to evaluate the students performance. The completion and mastery of the work will encourage students to continue their progress. Students are evaluated based on the level they are at on a given task; learning, practiced, or mastered. Students who have mastered a task, are able to mentor their younger peers; this gives students many ways of learning the works. Sometimes students learn more from others their own age than from their teachers. |