Control of Error in Montessori

Upon entering the world of Montessori, one will be introduced to distinct Montessori Terminology, with terms like Control of Error covering the most essential concepts of Montessori Philosophy.

One of the cornerstones of The Montessori Method of education is the unique and innovative Montessori Materials. 

According to Dr. Maria Montessori, children have an Absorbent Mind During the first six years of their life. Children are highly receptive to sensorial stimulation as they are going through periods of sensitivity. 

The Montessori Methods of education integrate Montessori Materials to provide children with necessary stimuli that constructively cater to their natural curiosity during sensitive periods and facilitate the development of their inner potentialities. 

These Montessori Materials are an integral aspect of the Montessori Method and cover a substantial part of the Montessori curriculum.

Each Montessori Material incorporates Control of Error which helps children contemplate possible outcomes, identify their mistakes and rectify those mistakes through practice and repetition. 

Control of Error promotes children to indulge in autonomous play without the guidance of an adult. Montessori Terminology can become quite bewildering for most individuals who are not fully acquainted with Montessori Philosophy.

Here is everything one should know about this unique Montessori Term.

What is Control of Error in Montessori? 

The Montessori Method of Education promotes autonomous education for children. There are no rights or wrongs when using any Montessori Materials.

Montessori Materials are designed to provide children with instant feedback. This feedback in Montessori is termed as Control of Error in Montessori.

Control of Error helps children recognize, identify, rectify, self-correct, and learn from their mistakes without adult assistance.

Montessori Materials that integrate Control of Error help strengthen the child’s self-esteem while enabling the child to become independent, self-motivated, and self-reliant.  

Why is control of Error Important? 

Control of Error helps the child visualize their mistakes and contemplate possible outcomes independently.

Limiting the child’s educational experience to just right or wrong, as these terms can become harmful to the child’s self-esteem. 

The Montessori Method provides children with an autonomous curriculum and materials that do not require adult assistance.

Control of error eliminates outward interference during the education process and encourages children to indulge in auto-didactic education. This built-in Montessori Material feature helps children become independent, confident, and self-reliant individuals. 

What are the Chief Characteristics of Control of Error? 

Control of Error is a unique feature that is integrated into several Montessori Materials. Here are the chief characteristics of this auto-didactic Montessori feature:

1. Independent Learning: 
   Control of Error promotes autonomous education for children. The Montessori Materials do not require adult intervention and help children develop healthy self-esteem. 
2. Instant Feedback:
   Control of Error Promotes instant feedback to children with which the child can immediately visualize their mistakes, rectify those mistakes, and learn through their mistakes. 
3. Enables children to learn at their own pace:
   Control of Error enables children to make their own judgments and allows them to work at their own pace. With the help of this Montessori feature, children are self-motivated to learn and complete designated activities. 
4. Provides Feeling of Accomplishment: 
   Control of error helps children identify and rectify their mistakes through the process of trial and error. When children self-correct and visualize their mistakes without any adult intervention, it provides them with a sense of satisfaction. 

Some Montessori Materials that incorporate control of Error: 

Control of Error refers to the unique quality of Montessori Materials that enable children to complete and correct their educational tasks without adult assistance.

Control of Error enhances and develops Problem-Solving skills in children as well as propels them to actively participate in educational activities.

Here is a list of Montessori Materials based on different Montessori Programs that integrate Control of Error:

• Sensorial Materials
  1. Pink Tower
  2. Brown Stairs
  3. Baric Tablets
  4. Thermic Tablets
• Mathematics Materials
  1. Binomial and Trinomial Cubes
  2. Knobbed Cylinders
• Language Materials
  1. Moveable Alphabets
  2. Pink, Blue, and Green Series
  3. Vocabulary and Sentence Building Cards
  4. Picture Cards
  5. Matching Word Cards
• Practical Life Materials
  1. Grasping Material
  2. Pouring Materials 
  3. Cleaning up a pill
• Other Materials:
  1. Nomenclature Cards
  2. Word Cards
  3. Picture/ Word cards

Does Control of Error Promote Auto-Didactic Education?

Limiting your child’s learning experience to wrong and right can decrease their interest in education overall.

While most Traditional Educational institutions incorporate simple books or notebooks to facilitate education the Montessori Method of Education on the other hand provides children with unique Montessori Materials and activities.

Almost all Montessori Materials have built-in Control of Error which helps the child analyze, identify, and rectify their mistakes.

By doing so, this unique feature of Montessori Materials helps children complete as well as correct their own mistakes without any adult supervision or adult assistance.

Hence Control of Error promotes auto-didactic education and encourages the child to become empowered, confident, as well as independent.

See Also:

• Montessori Materials
• Montessori Method of Teaching
• 10 important Principles of Montessori Method
• Montessori Activities