Comparison of developing literacy skills following the Montessori method and developing literacy skills in the Slovenian language syllabus

摘要

The Montessori Pedagogy is more than 100 years old; in Slovenia it has been present for 11 years in practice, but for many years in theory. Maria Montessori believed that education is help to life and that it is actually the process of preparing a child for life. She wanted to follow and help children to develop their intelligence with the help of senses and to follow their inner development in accordance with their nature. Her method is based on three interconnected elements: the child, the teacher and the prepared environment. ududTeaching literacy does not start when children start school, however, it takes place since birth. Parents as well as teachers are obliged to provide good grounds on the basis of which the children will be able to build their knowledge. We must use a child's interest in learning, his free choice and enable him to individually research with the help of his senses and thus come to knowledge and conclusions in the process of teaching literacy. udOnce a child started writing out of the blue. He was stunned and shocked, he shouted loudly: »I can write! I can write!« (Montessori, 2009: 132)udLast but not least, the conclusion of the International Scientific Conference »Teaching literacy; youth and adult literacy« (Hočevar, 2010: 229‒233), in 2010 in Žalec was that more attention should be given to individual literacy development. Differences in children's linguistic abilities demand an individual approach in the process of teaching literacy and setting goals which would represent a high challenge for many children in the class. udud