Control of Error (Montessori)

by 01 Aug 2023Glossary

Control of Error (Montessori)

Control of Error is a fundamental principle in Montessori education that allows a child to assess their own progress and correct mistakes independently.[1] This feature of Montessori activities promotes self-regulation, protects the child’s self-esteem, and fosters self-motivation. Control of error is considered an essential component of auto-education or self-education.

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Montessori Quotes

  • “To correct the mistakes of the child is to substitute oneself for the Directress (the environment). The teacher must always realize that the child who concentrates is extraordinarily sensitive to the lightest touch.”[2]
  • “The control of error through the senses, which has already begun to characterize the exercises of practical life, is a fundamental fact in our system.”[3]