M2T3: Response Paper #1

Pamela Salinas
C&T 709: Foundation of Curriculum and Instruction
Kansas University
September, 2015

What is good teaching? How should I present what is on my lesson plan? How do
I evaluate the effectiveness of my teaching? While analyzing the theorists Ive chosen to
discuss, these questions have stayed with me and the answers to them have changed
multiple times and will most likely continue to do so as I continue to learn more about
curriculum.
Curriculum and instructional strategies are constantly evolving to develop a
process towards success. After reading, listening to my classmates and engaging in
discussions with them, I decided to focus on Maria Montessori and Jerome Bruner. Both
theorists stand out to me because both theories allow the student to step away from a
traditional way of learning (teacher-centered) and give them a bigger role in their own
educational journey. Something I didnt become familiar with until I became a teacher.
When I was in school, I wasnt often given the opportunity to work with my peers.
Maria Montessoris founded a theory that supports students in developing their
independence, building their confidence and to self-regulate. According to Montessori,
there are 6 essential factors in a Montessori environment.
1. Freedom Allowed to explore their surroundings and follow natural impulses.
2. Structure and Order Reflects structure and order in their world.
3. Beauty Environment should suggest harmony.
4. Nature and Reality Use nature to inspire children, they shouldnt be confined in
the classroom.
5. Social Environment Work and play in groups
6. Intellectual Environment Will not reach its purpose if the other 5 factors arent
practiced. The child must develop as a whole and not purely on intellect.

Montessori positions the learner in a structured environment where the student

has the freedom to move throughout the classroom while making decisions as to what
type of activity theyd like to engage in.
The teacher introduces concepts and motivates students to participate in
discussions amongst each other. After the student has carefully selected the activity
theyd take part in, the teachers role is to observe and guide the students in the areas
theyve chosen to take part in.
Montessori established many of her theories on the works of other theorists, such
as Jean Itard. Itard had created physical and sensory activities for a boy who had been
found living in a forest for almost a decade. Itards studies led him to assume that normal
human growth has developmental phases, which inspired Montessori to apply similar
techniques while working with children that suffered from developmental disabilities.
While Ive never taught or personally observed a Montessori classroom, as I
furthered my research on Montessori, Im realizing that many of the Pre-K classrooms in
my school district have applied similar teaching strategies such as, allowing students to
have free-choice, the freedom to walk around the classroom and guiding them in an
activity. These teaching strategies are being introduced to the Kindergarten classrooms in
our district this year in efforts to bridge Pre-K and Kindergarten so that students
transition would be smoother.
Jerome Bruners stated, children should learn how to learn. Bruners theory
believed curriculum should promote the development and growth of problem-solving
skills through their own findings. This would allow students to become active
contributors in their own learning.

According to Bruner, the teacher should support the learning process by

developing lessons that allow the student to become familiar with the subject, engage
students in an active role, and later reflect on what they learned through asking each other
questions: how, who, when, why, where etc.
Bruner was influenced by Piagets theories involving childhood cognitive
development and then developed a three-stage model for the way children turn
experiences into knowledge.

1st Stage: Enactive a baby learns about the world around them through doing
actions on physical objects.

2nd Stage: Iconic 1-6 year old is learning through models and pictures

3rd Stage: Symbolic 7 years old or older learner begins to think in abstract
terms.
Montessori and Bruner are similar in that they both feel the learner must take

some responsibility for their own learning. The learner must become involved in their
daily objectives while having the liberty to decide how they will interact with it and make
it their own. Both theories make learning authentic; involve higher level thinking
questions, and makes topics more interesting and fun.
The biggest difference I found in their theories of curriculum is that while
Montessori based her work findings while working with students that had developmental
needs, Bruner had directed his theory towards gifted children.

References

Bruner, J. (1977). The Process of Education. Cambridge, Massachussetts. Harvard

University Press.
Crace, J. (2007). Jerome Bruner: The Lesson of the Story. Retrieved from
http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2007/mar/27/academicexperts.highereducati
onprofile
Shute, Nancy (2002). Madam Montessori. Smithsonian. Retrieved April 20,
2011 from http://www.smithsonianmag.com/people-places/montessori.html
Anne Everett. (1912) The Montessori Method by Maria Montessori, Retreived April 23,
2011from http://digital.library.upenn.edu/women/montessori/method/method.html
http://youtu.be/f2cb0ajbOjk MMCSFI, "Maria Montessori Children's School
Foundation, Inc." YouTube. Web. 18, Jan. 2010.