Forum focuses on Montessori education

The Department of Agricultural Journalism and Montessori Children’s House are co-hosting an informational forum at 260 Union South, on Thursday, April 29, from 7-9 p.m. The forum will focus on the Montessori method of education.

Montessori Children’s House is a school located on the west side of Madison that offers Montessori-based programs for toddlers, preschoolers and kindergartners.

The forum, which is designed for educators and students, will consist of an informational presentation given by May Porco, the director of Montessori Children’s House, a short video on Montessori education and opportunities to see real Montessori materials and talk with teachers.

Maria Montessori (1870-1952), the first woman in Italy to become a doctor of medicine, designed this approach to education based on her knowledge and observation of child development. Montessori education, which is “child-centered” rather than “teacher-centered,” focuses on creating an environment in which children can learn in multi-sensory ways. For example, the Montessori math materials allow children to build numbers into the thousands with units, ten bars, hundred squares and thousand cubes of golden beads.

Refreshments will be served.