Maria Montessori’s pedagogy and small schools. The Montessori educational method within the multi-classes

The pedagogical thought of Maria Montessori supports the multi-class as it is able to respect and care for the natural interests of children. From semi-structured interviews made with six teachers of the multi-classes and three school managers of public institutions in the upper Caserta area, it emerged how Montessori pedagogy offers valid and effective suggestions for teaching in the multi-classes. In particular, didactic continuity, heterogeneity, the teacher-director and the learner-actor, time management, reciprocal teaching represent the salient points of the Method embodied in the multi-classes. As soon as it will be possible to return to the classrooms, temporarily closed due to the Covid19 pandemic, the qualitative exploratory research will be completed through the planned focus group, but not yet realized. Il pensiero pedagogico di Maria Montessori sostiene la pluriclasse in quanto essa è in grado di rispettare e curare gli interessi naturali dei bambini. Da una serie di interviste fatte alle docenti delle pluriclassi di alcune scuole pubbliche dell’alto casertano è emerso quanto la pedagogia Montessori offra validi ed efficaci suggerimenti alla didattica nelle pluriclassi. In particolare, la continuità didattica, l’eterogeneità, il docente-regista e il discente-attore, la gestione del tempo, l’insegnamento reciproco rappresentano i punti salienti del Metodo concretizzati all’interno delle pluriclassi.