Intelligence is defined as “the sum of those reflex and associative or reproductive activities which enable the mind to construct itself, putting it into relation with the environment. (Lillard, 1972. p 160)
Maria Montessori believed that the hand and brain work together to develop intelligence. What work a child is doing with their hands is recorded in the brain, while the brain is guiding the hand in their work. Montessori materials begin as works in concrete form for the child to explore with their hands and other senses. The works progress from concrete form to abstract reasoning as intelligence is developing. A child learns through experiences they have using all their senses. Children work with materials in the classroom by exploring with their hands. A Montessori guide assists the child in developing their intelligence by preparing the environment and guiding them to freely explore and experience new things.
How is Intelligence Developed?
Children learn by touching, feeling, and doing. In a Montessori classroom, the children move around the room and explore the materials by touching and feeling them with their hands. They engage in a wide variety of activities that they are free to choose from. The brain is guiding the hands of the child while they are working, and their experience with the work is traveling to their brain and being recorded. This cycle continues over and over. These are the experiences that develop intelligence. Dr. Montessori found that the hands and brain work together to develop intelligence.
The development of intelligence through the hands begins at a few months of age when you see a baby grasping for objects and put their hands in their mouth. Once they develop mobility and control of their hands they start picking things up and pulling themselves up. As they develop, their hands are used for climbing, lifting, and carrying. When a child has developed more control, they will seek more purposeful work with their hands.
The Montessori environment provides works that a child can do to continue to develop. They can fold, set the table, dust, do puzzles, and use their pincher grip to grasp items. The pincher grip will be preparation for writing as their intelligence develops. Later, the learning will naturally become more abstract as they progress from the concrete experiences.
Montessori Materials That Progress From Concrete To Abstract
Dr. Montessori believed that children develop intelligence by using their hands. She developed concrete learning materials that represent learning concepts. These materials can be manipulated and explored repeatedly with the hands in order to get a deep understanding of a concept or skill. It is through this exploration of the physical representation of concepts that a child can develop naturally to a more abstract understanding. The Montessori materials are multi-sensory because Dr. Montessori believed we learn through all of our senses. Children use all their senses when exploring materials within the classroom so that they can gain a complete understanding. It is through this exploration with their hands that it goes to brain to be understood and remembered.
When the child begins working with the number rods, bead chains, and sandpaper numbers, they use their hands to touch, feel, and manipulate the materials. They sort them, count them, put them in order, add and subtract them. Later when they have progressed, they will learn these skills in an abstract manner without the support of the materials. This is the process of moving from concrete to abstract concepts. Children do the same with materials when learning to read. They begin to work with their hands using materials such as the metal insets, sandpaper letters, and the moveable alphabet. They move from those concrete materials to learning to write with a pencil and paper and reading books.
How A Guide Can Assist The Child In Developing Intelligence
A Montessori guide will assist students toward independence. They guide them in their lessons and observe them to monitor their progress. The guide can assist in developing their intelligence by preparing and maintaining a beautiful, engaging and inspiring learning environment, giving new lessons at the appropriate time, and assisting when needed. As stated by Dr. Montessori, “All the changes in man’s environment are brought about by his hands. Really, it might seem as if the whole business of intelligences is to guide their work.” (Montessori, 1964).
The guide can assist in developing a child’s intelligence by letting the child initiate active involvement with the materials rather than telling them what to do. After a lesson is taught, it is time for the guide to step back and not interrupt, so a child can explore and develop intelligence naturally and independently. The children have a desire for knowledge and mastery of learning, and the most important thing to do now is not to interrupt that process of learning.
Conclusion
Intelligence is developed through the connection of the hands and the brain. Maria Montessori created materials that children can manipulate and explore with their hands, because she believed the hand and brain work together to develop intelligence. Intelligence is developed through their experiences using their hands. It is the role of the Montessori guide to assist the child in developing their intelligence by preparing the environment and guiding them to freely explore and experience new things.
It is through our hands that we learn, build, and experience the world around us. In a Montessori classroom, children develop intelligence by learning abstract concepts through touching and manipulating concrete materials by the use of their hands.
