ALL ABOUT MONTESSORI

Montessori education emphasizes learning through all five senses, not just through listening, watching, or reading. Children in Montessori classes learn at their own, individual pace and according to their own choice of activities from hundreds of possibilities. Montessori classes place children in multi-age groups, forming localized communities in which the older children spontaneously share their knowledge with the younger ones.

Main features of Montessori method of education

  • Theoretical basis is the philosophy and beliefs of Maria Montessori.
  • Prepared environment supports, invites, and enables learning.
  • Children educate themselves- self-directed learning.
  • Has a set of curriculum regarding what children should learn. Montessorians try to stay as close to Montessori’s ideas as possible.
  • Children are grouped in multiage environments.
  • Children learn by manipulating materials and working with others.
  • Learning takes place through the senses.

Activities which are followed in Montessori house

Exercise of Practical life

For younger children, there is something special about tasks that adults think ordinary such as washing dishes, polishing shoes and peeling vegetables. These exercises are exciting to children because they allow them to imitate adults. In this area of the classroom, children learn to respect themselves and their environment. Children develop good working habits as they finish each task and put away all materials before beginning another activities.

Sensorial Exercises

The sensorial materials in the Montessori classroom help children to distinguish, categorize and relate to new information in a way they already know. Children don’t learn just through listening – they also learn through touching, smelling, seeing, tasting and exploring. Our program provides projects that allow children to learn through all of their senses – while adding in fun and laughter!

Mathematics

It is proven that if children are exposed to mathematic materials in their early years, they can easily assimilate many facts and skills of arithmetic. These same skills are harder to achieve if introduced later in a child’s development. Children in a Montessori classroom never sit down to memorize addition, subtraction and multiplication tables. They instead learn to perform these operations with concrete materials – such as blocks, number rods and beads.

Language Arts

Children learn the phonetic sounds of letters before they learn alphabetical names. Even simple rhymes, games and conversations with friends can help develop a child’s language skills. Reading instruction begins on the day a child wants to know what a word says or when he shows interest in a Montessori activity using sandpaper letters. Children are encouraged to explore books for answers to their own questions.

In addition to the basic Montessori materials, exercises and activities that were specifically designed to foster growth in these areas, there are many other opportunities each day to develop reading and math skills where children learn naturally and easily.

MONTESSORI PROGRAMME IS DIFFERENT FROM OTHER PROGRAMME

In many non-Montessori classrooms children are expected to learn by listening to the teacher.

Work is usually with paper and pencil. In a Montessori classroom, on the other hand, children learn by practicing with apparatus which embodies the concept to be mastered. For example, when learning about shapes such as triangles, squares, circles, etc., instead of listening to a teacher talk about the shapes and watching her draw them in the chalk board ,the children trace real figures and make designs. They fit different shapes together to make patterns. They make fine discriminations by fitting shapes into the correct corresponding holes.

The Montessori curriculum is much broader than many other programs. The Montessori program teaches more than just the basics. First of all, it has exercises to develop the child’s basic capacities-his or her ability to control movement (motor development), and to feel and have emotions (affective or emotional development). In this way, the program helps the child become a competent learner. This develops independence and responsibility. In addition, the curriculum also helps the child develop a strong foundation in language and math, and an in-depth study of physical and cultural geography, zoology, botany, physical science, history and art.

How does Montessori education benefit children?

Experience and research both indicate that children attending Montessori schools tend to be competent, self-disciplined, socially well adjusted, and happy.

Competence: Children in Montessori schools are often several years above grade level in their basic skills. Also, since the Montessori education is comprehensive, children are often exceptionally knowledgeable in a number of other areas as well.

Self Discipline: Montessori schools are well known for children’s development of self-discipline. Children choose to work long and hard. They treat materials and others with respect. They display patience and resistance to temptation and the ability to attend for long periods.

Social Adjustment: Montessori school children usually strike a visitor as friendly, empathetic, and cooperative. The class-room is a cheerful social community where children happily help each other . It is not uncommon to see a child offer to help another child. Also, learning social grace and courtesy are a part of the Montessori curriculum.

Happiness: Most of the parents comment on how much their children love their school. They feel the difference in the child that they are independent and do their works without any force from the parents.

They behave as they are more mature than their age.