The Montessori teaching-learning method is one of the most widelypopular ‘alternative’ educational pedagogies now.The method is being extensively used all over the world and is predominantlyimplemented in early childhood and primary school education. The highly trained teachers with Montessori teacher training online program generate a personalizedlearning environment created according to a child’s unique aptitudes, comforts, and learning approach.
The Montessori teaching-learning technique comprises of anequipped environment for young learners.Usually, aMontessori classroom assimilateskids of miscellaneouseternities that are generally clustered in periods of 3 years. This naturally encourages socializationand solidarity among them.The Montessori education isa completelyhands-onteaching-learning experience.
Let us have a look at the 5 basic principles of Montessori teaching-learning education —
The Montessori Method is developed by Italian educationalist Dr. Maria Montessori and here are the five basic principles: –
- Respect for the Kid
One of the major principles underlying the complete Montessori method is respect for the child. Dr Montessori strongly believed children should be appreciated. Montessori trained teachers respect all students and they must learn to observe the young learners without judgement.Respect is the element of the Montessori process where teachers instil respect with kindness in children.
Dr Montessori says, “As a rule, however, we do not respect children. We try to force them to follow us without regard to their special needs. We are overbearing with them, and above all, rude; and then we expect them to be submissive and well-behaved, knowing all the time how strong is their instinct of imitation and how touching their faith in and admiration of us. They will imitate us in any case. Let us treat them, therefore, with all the kindness which we would wish to help to develop in them.”
- Absorbent Awareness
Dr Montessori believed the children have absorbent minds. She believed that the young mind is prepared and enthusiastic to learn. Children learn from their surroundings, and they are always engrossing new information.All kids are born with distinctivedimensions and desire to learn.
With the help of their senseskidscontinuallycaptivate information from the world around them. Children educate themselves and this has been a core belief of Montessori education. The Montessori settinghelps the young learners by providing them with educational experiences. This encourages their sense of belonging, self-assurance, individuality and intervention.
- Sensitive Periods
The primary six years of life are vital in a child’s growth as they create an understanding of themselves as well as their surroundings. These sensitive periods are very crucial for learning and education. Dr Maria Montessori believed kids can simply learn certain information throughouttheir sensitive periods of sharp learning.
Montessori educatorsmonitor for these sensitive periods to checkwhether the children are being provided with enough resources along with opportunities or not.Even though all kids experience sensitive periods, the timing and arrangement will differ for every child.
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- A Prepared Environment
Children learn best in a prepared environment, according to the Montessori principles. They require a place in which they can do things for themselves without restrictions. A well-prepared environment offers learning materials as well as experiences to children in a methodical format.
This also providesyoung learnerswith the freedom to select their own learning materials and try things for themselves. Montessoriteachers can formulate the best teaching-learning environment for children by: Perceiving children. The important characteristic and aim of an organized environment is self-reliance.
- Auto Education
Auto education is also known as self-education. This concept believes that kids are accomplishedby educating themselves. It is also one of the most important principles in the Montessori technique. Montessori instructorsdeliver the learning setting with the proper guidance with the help for children to educate.Introducing kids to new study materials in a prepared environment, encouraging exploration, etc. are the core values of Montessori education.
How’s the Montessori classroomsetting?
Well, one of the mostbroadlyacknowledgedstructures of a Montessori classroom setting is that of the multi-age classroom. Montessori schools believe multi-age school-roomsempoweryoung learners to work more efficiently at their natural stride.
Montessori classrooms are characteristically set up in 3-year age assortments. Montessori educators also think this allows children to learn better social assistances which eventually help them to grow academically in a co-operative and non-competitive learning atmosphere.
Therefore, Montessori learning spaces are organized in such a way as to best encourage learning.Let us just have a look at some of the following considerations in a Montessori classroom arrangement:
- Montessori classroom is quiet, peaceful and well-organized.
- In these kinds of setups, you will see walls are usually painted in various neutral shades with minimal substances and artworks.
- Montessori classroom doesn’t have any desks, you will also see a teacher is not standing at the front of the classroom to deliver a lesson.
- Montessori classrooms also consist of child-sized equipment, tiny spaces for reading, accessible shelves, child-sized kitchen utensils, etc.
- Artwork is cautiouslyselected and exhibited at children’s eye level.
- You will see that different types of resources that appeal to all five senses – sight, touch, smell, taste and hearingare being used in Montessori classrooms.
- Montessori classrooms generally have enough space for the young learners to move around without troubling others.
- Living plants can also be seen in Montessori classrooms.
Here are few ideologies of Montessori education that can clear the myth around it.
Montessori educators gently helplearners to maintain the cleanliness of this organized environment to keep it arranged and attractive.
Now, after knowing all of these, you must be wondering about the curriculum of the Montessori approach, right? Well, let’s have a quick read then –
The Montessori curriculum basically covers 5 key areas of learning, including:
Sensorial –Sensorial educationgenerally helps kidsto categorize their environments and create a direction. Various sensorial materials were being planned by Doctor Maria Montessori to aid children to express their sensory involvements. The major aim of sensorial learning is to help in the growth of the knowledgeable senses of a child.Also, there are sensorial resources that focus on pictorial perception, tangible impressions, auditory sense, olfactory and taste sensitivities and so on.
Practical Life–In Montessori classrooms, the young learners mostly learn daily-life assistances like how to get dressed, make snacksand care for plants and animals, etc. Children also learn apt social communications, being sympathetic and supportive, listening without disturbing, resolving strugglesquietly and so on. These kinds ofpractical life activities encourageindividuality, and fine- and gross-motor synchronization.
Language– Different language materials are being intended in the Montessori approach to improve thelanguageby exploring both written and spoken language. With the various language-based actions, kids learn numerous phonetic sounds, how to combine words phonetically and so on. Childrengrowby using tangible materials that comprise of their written work and also learn to communicate their opinions and feelings.
Culture –In Montessori education, cultural activities help the child to experience music, stories, artwork and items from the society with cultural contextual. Geography, science, zoology and botany all are being encompassed in this part. The culture area boostskids to advance their capacity for creativity with developing fine motor aids. Children also develop responsiveness and gratitudeto the world around them.
Mathematics –The young learners learn to identify numeralsthrough hands-on activities. Several mathematical ideas are presented to the kidwithtangible sensorial materials. This encourageskids to comprehendelementary maths concepts – learning number recognition, counting and sequencing of numbers, etc.
With Montessori teacher training online , trained Montessori teachers are in great demand all across the globe.If you choose to employ the Montessori process then getting educated with this teaching method is your foremost step. It is important to keep in mind – no apprentices are the same. Just like students, teachers also need to keep learning to keep growing.
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