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Home » Montessori » Principles » What is Auto-Education? {Montessori’s Control of Error}

What is Auto-Education? {Montessori’s Control of Error}

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Once the teacher trains on the method and prepares spiritually to direct a class, she focuses on giving lessons introducing the child to the materials. From there the child leads his learning to experience with his own “hands” with control of error built into the works to enable auto-education.

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Montessori’s Control of Error

“Montessori materials are designed so that the child receives instant feedback as he works, allowing him to recognize, correct, and learn from his mistakes without adult assistance. Putting control of the activity in the child’s hands strengthens his self-esteem and self-motivation as well as his learning.” (Source: American Montessori Society)

What is Auto-Education?

The teacher observes the child and knows when to intervene to direct the child back to an activity that suits his development. If the child is not treating material properly, then the teacher will redirect the child either to end that work (perhaps he was not ready to complete that work) or to give another lesson on that work. The child learns respect through these experiences.

Every piece of material in the Montessori classroom contains a “control of error”, the ability for the child to self-correct and for the teacher to stand back to observe and then to guide when necessary. “This self-correction leads the child to concentrate his attention upon the differences of dimension, and to compare the various pieces.” {Montessori: A Modern Approach}

Control of Error is automatic feedback that tells the child he needs to make an adjustment in order to complete the work successfully.

No teacher needs to intervene in the learning process: “The goal is that the child will develop a sense of satisfaction from the work itself, not be dependent on the approval of a teacher.” (The Montessori Controversy) A child learn to make his own decisions and therefore to know and comprehend his instincts effectively. He develops confidence and the ability to problem solve.

Thanks for choosing to read this post.
Marnie

Tagged With: Theory

About Marnie Craycroft

Marnie hails from Maine where she spent summers buried in sand and winters buried in snow. She is the daughter of a nearly four decade veteran of the public school systems. Teaching has always been a part of her life. She founded Carrots Are Orange in 2010.

Carrots Are Orange is a Montessori learning and living website for parents and teachers.

Marnie graduated from Wesleyan University in 1999 with a BA in Economics. She spent nearly a decade working in investment management. In 2006, she earned her MA in business from the University of Washington’s Foster School of Business.

Marnie moved to the west coast in 1999 and currently lives in Boulder with her husband and three sons. She is Montessori trained. Her work has been featured on Apartment Therapy, Buzzfeed, PBS Kids, BabyCenter, the Melissa & Doug blog, Huffington Post, and WhattoExpect.com. Besides writing, passions include running (usually after her three sons), photography, and outdoor adventures.

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