Angeline Lillard, professor of psychology at the University of Virginia,praised Montessori methods when speaking at the centenary conference ofthe Maria Montessori Institute this month.
Professor Lillard told Nursery World that learning through embodiedcognition, with children physically performing tasks, as opposed tohaving lessons dictated to them by a teacher, should be extended toolder children.
'Embodied cognition is the idea that our thinking is tied to ourbodies,' she said. 'When under-twos develop, they pick up knowledgethrough action, but Maria Montessori carried it further. For her, whenteaching older children, movement cognition remained extremely close andabstract learning was further away.'
Professor Lillard said that schools should have more collaborative andself-directed learning through to age 11.
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