Friedrich Froebel's Teaching Methodology

1. Research in detail Friedrich Froebel's teaching Methodology and compare it with the Montessori Method of Early Childhood education.

Froebel: Founder of Kindergarten

There are many beliefs in common between Montessori's and Froebel's education philosophies.

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Both believe in the child's right to be active, explore and develop their own knowledge through investigation. 

Both see activity as a guide to education and do not believe in repressing it.

Both believe the environment cannot create a human being , but it does give them scope and material, direction, and purpose.

Both believe that it is the teacher's task is nurture, assist, watch, encourage, guide, and induce, rather than to interfere, prescribe, or restrict.

It is in the practical application of their beliefs that we see the actual difference between Montessori's and Froebel's philosophies. Montessori children spend most of their time working with materials under the individual guidance of the directress, while kindergarten children are usually engaged in group work or games with an imaginative background and appeal.

Other similarities in the philosophies that are manifested differently in actual implementation are:

Both agree on needing to train the senses, but Montessori's curriculum is more elaborate and direct than Froebel's. Using Séguin's apparatus as a guide she developed materials that teach sensory discriminating through steps and repeated exercises. Froebel on the other hand designed a series of objects (Called "The Gifts" or "Occupations") for creative use, but these materials were not designed specifically for or adapted to the training of sensory discrimination. Instead, sense training can be a side effect of the activity in which they are used.

Both systems believe in the need for free bodily activity, rhythmic exercises, and the development of muscular control; but Froebel's philosophy seeks much of this through group games with an imaginative or social content, while the Montessori philosophy places the emphasis on special exercises designed to give formal training in separate physical functions.

Both philosophies believe in teaching children social skills and empathy. In Froebelian philosophy this training is done primarily through imaginative and symbolic group games. (For example the children play