The Montessori Approach
The Montessori method believes that children learn directly from their environment and other children. The teacher is there to facilitate the child’s exploration and creativity. All subjects are interwoven and the child learns at their own pace. This helps each child gain independence and confidence, and be proud of their own achievement. Montessori children are usually very adaptable. They have learned to work independently since they have been encouraged to discuss their work freely with others and to make decisions from an early age, these children are problem-solvers who can make appropriate choices and manage their time well. Their good communication skills ease the way in new settings and situations. Research has shown that the best predictor of future success is a positive sense of self-esteem. Montessori curriculum is based on self-directed, non-competitive activities, to help children develop strong self-image and the confidence to face challenges and change with optimism.
Why Choose a Montessori Nursery?
The Montessori environment is a nourishing place for children. It is designed to meet the child’s need for self-construction. The environment is responsive to the continually changing needs of the growing child. Expression is encouraged through art/craft and drama. A positive self-concept is the foundation for learning success. The child’s self esteem is central to Montessori education. At The Montessori Nursery School, we believe in providing an all round learning environment, which will help the child to develop physically, cognitively, socially and emotionally.
The Montessori Classroom
The Montessori classroom is a “living room” for children. Children choose their activities from open shelves with self correcting materials and work in distinct work areas – on tables or on rugs on the floor. The practical life exercises enhance the development of task organisation and cognitive order through care of self, care of the environment, exercises of grace and courtesy, and refinement of physical movement and coordination. The sensorial materials enable the child to order, classify and describe sensory impressions in relation, length, width, temperature, mass, colour, etc. The Montessori math materials, through concrete manipulative materials, allows the child to internalise the concepts of number,
symbol, sequence, operations and memorisation of basic facts. The language work includes oral language
development, written expression, reading, and the study of grammar, creative dramatics and children’s
literature. Basic skills in writing and reading are developed through the use of sandpaper letters (loose alphabet letters) and various presentations allowing children to effortlessly link sounds and symbols and to express their thoughts in writing. The child is also presented with geography, history, life sciences, music, art and movement education.
Every child want to learn. With the freedom to investigate the world around them, they will become active learners. In the Montessori environment, children have the freedom (within limits) to choose their own activities from many stimulating and motivating activities from the open shelves. With this freedom of choice, children will become enthusiastic learners and this will aid them to develop self-discipline. The Montessori environment is child centered. Children progress at their own pace. Lessons are given on individual basis or in small groups. This enables the teacher to discover more about each individual child and their inner development. Children develop best in a caring environment where they are allowed to express themselves, learn from their experiences, and integrate those developments of learning in to their world.
