Explain How the Role of the Teacher Changes in the Process of the Child's Growing Normalisation (Socialisation).
In this essay, I will define the term normalisation linking it with the concept of deviations. I will also outline the environmental aspects that support normalization, explain the maturational nature of normalisation, describe the teacher's initial approach with new children, explain the change in the teacher's role as each child begins to concentrate and focus on activities, and finally I will give reasons why a child might regress.
There are four characteristics that appear in every child that is developing normally. These are; love of work, concentration, self-discipline and sociability. Therefore normalisation is the process, through which the child obtains these characteristics, by repeatedly concentrating all of her/his attention on an activity. If a child is not normalised s/he develops deviations. A deviation is a defense created when development cannot proceed in a normal way. All children have some deviation, some worse than others. If these deviations are not corrected, they will become progressively worse and eventually permanent.
Maria Montessori has proven through many years of experience that normalisation causes the disappearance of many childish traits, not only those which are considered to be deviations but also others which are generally thought to be virtues. Among the traits that disappear are not only untidiness, disobedience, sloth, greed, egoism, quarrelsomeness, instability, imitation and wavering attention, but also the so-called "creative imagination", delight in stories, attachment to individuals, play, submissiveness and curiosity.
The environment, like the teacher, is very important for the child's normalisation. The smallest mistakes can distract a child and impede his development. To support nomalisation, the environment or school, should be made for the children, for example, the tables and chairs should all be child size. There should be a range of activities for the children, from sorting objects to table setting. It is very
There are four characteristics that appear in every child that is developing normally. These are; love of work, concentration, self-discipline and sociability. Therefore normalisation is the process, through which the child obtains these characteristics, by repeatedly concentrating all of her/his attention on an activity. If a child is not normalised s/he develops deviations. A deviation is a defense created when development cannot proceed in a normal way. All children have some deviation, some worse than others. If these deviations are not corrected, they will become progressively worse and eventually permanent.
Maria Montessori has proven through many years of experience that normalisation causes the disappearance of many childish traits, not only those which are considered to be deviations but also others which are generally thought to be virtues. Among the traits that disappear are not only untidiness, disobedience, sloth, greed, egoism, quarrelsomeness, instability, imitation and wavering attention, but also the so-called "creative imagination", delight in stories, attachment to individuals, play, submissiveness and curiosity.
The environment, like the teacher, is very important for the child's normalisation. The smallest mistakes can distract a child and impede his development. To support nomalisation, the environment or school, should be made for the children, for example, the tables and chairs should all be child size. There should be a range of activities for the children, from sorting objects to table setting. It is very
Bibliography: Montessori Centre International, (undated), Philosophy, Module 1, MCI, London. Montessori, M. (1988) The Absorbent Mind, ABC Clio, Oxford. Montessori, M. (1972) The Secret of Childhood, Ballantine Books, New York. Lecture given by Dr. Rita Shaefer Zener, The Secret of Childhood: Normalisation and Deviations, www.michaelolaf.net