Early childhood constitutes a critical phase in the development of any child. Alongside his actual home, Montessori lies at the heart of providing the formative education in the first few years of a child’s life. Montessori Schools are based on the pioneering Montessori philosophy proposed by DR Maria Montessori that aims to unlock the hidden potential of a child by providing maximum opportunities for his learning and growth. Montessori education is a child-oriented approach that aims to develop the inner potential of a child to the fullest so that he can embark onto the path of holistic development. The Montessori approach primarily revolves around child development classes that seek to provide the resources and environment to promote the development of a child at all levels – cognitive, social , physical and emotional development of a child to ensure his future success.Â
Mixed-Age Grouping
Montessori education doesn’t work through a standardized approach but utilizes mixed learning methods. In addition to one-on-one learning, it also includes mixed age groupings or students of different ages in the same classrooms. These children belong to different planes of development which facilitates collaborative learning as children get to interact with their peers and learn from each other.The younger children look up to the older one as role models and benefit from their knowledge and insights when participating in group activities.
Independence
Independence is a central plank of Montessori learning as it strives to foster an independent learning spirit among children instead of forcing them to adhere to a rigid curriculum and a regimented environment. The classroom environment allows students to easily access their learning materials so that they explore and learn at their own pace. This also instills self-reliance as they are encouraged to take care of themselves by engaging in a series of day to day activities such as dressing up , preparing snacks. By accomplishing these tasks, children feel self-motivated and confident to pursue higher goals while enhancing their academic performance.
The Prepared Environment
The Montessori classroom is often referred to as a prepared environment in that it is a carefully designed sphere that is conducive to learning. Each aspect of the classroom from props, learning materials , color scheme, furniture is geared towards enhancing his sensibilities and perception of the practical world. Also, the classroom offers maximum opportunity to the child to engage in a variety of activities to stimulate his mind.
Absorbent Mind
A major tenet of the Montessori method is that of the absorbent Mind which likens the first 6 years of a child to a sponge which takes in information from the environment. It believes that children learn best through a hands-on approach and not when they are forced to learn concepts and memorize stuff. At this stage of their development, they ability to learn is at its highest and therefore learning embedded activities are found to be far more effective in making children imbibe core concepts and thus lay a solid basis for future learning.
Freedom of ChoiceÂ
A montessori classroom offers limitless possibilities to the child to discover and learn without being bound by any fixed syllabus or routine. Here, the child embarks on a process towards self-guided learning where he feels free to give full expression to his inner creativity and choose activities based on his individual interests and likings. This is crucial to make his proactively involved in learning rather than doing things out of compulsion.
Planes of development
According to Maria Montessori, childhood is divided into distinct phases or planes of development that are defined by its own set of characteristics and development goals. The first phase, falls into the category of early childhood and spans the period from birth up till six years of age and is characterized by an absorbent mind and sensitive period. The second plane is the childhood phase which is a time when a child’s imagination is most active and is keen to explore things around him. The child then enters the adolescent phase from ages 12 to 18 , a relatively unsteady period when a child develops on a social level and develops critical thinking skills. The fourth and final phase marks transition to adulthood when a child recognises himself as an individual and seeks out independence and a sense of accomplishment or individual worth thorough his career choices
Human Tendencies
Montessori regard all children as sharing certain traits or tendencies innate to human nature that guide their development.These tendencies include a curious mind, empathy, basic cognitive abilities, and instant reflexes. The Montessori environment aims to support the growth of these tendencies so that they develop to their full potential.
A montessori guide or teacher
In searching for a Montessori school for your child, you are likely to have come across the word guide which actually refers to the teachers in Montessori schools. The reason for this is that in a Montessori School , teachers have a very specific role and function. They don’t simply instruct standing in the front of a classroom to complete a set syllabus. In a Montessori classroom, they move around the class and conduct individual and group learning plans based on the aptitude and learning potential of each child. They don’t just teach but act as a role model for the child after his parents and are dedicated to a personalized approach to teaching where every child receives an adequate amount of attention and care. They also strive to create a nurturing environment for the child where the child feels accepted and easily integrates into the classroom. They are basically guides in the true sense who don’t dictate but make learning fun and engaging to develop their sensibilities.
Conclusion
Montessori Schools in Texas have emerged as the true partner of presents in catering to the development needs of children and adolescents by providing a cohesive and a learning-oriented setting for your child. They are committed to providing transformative Montessori education to your child that instills a love for lifelong learning in him and equips him to explore new horizons in life for his own development and progress of the community at large.
