Montessori is a philosophy and method of education which emphasizes on the potential of the young child and which develops this potential by utilizing specially trained teachers and special teaching materials.
Montessori recognizes in children a natural curiosity and desire to learn; the Montessori Materials awaken this desire and channel that curiosity into a learning experience which children enjoy. Montessori Materials help children to understand what they learn by associating an abstract concept with a concrete sensorial experience; in this manner, the Montessori child is actually learning and not just memorizing. The Montessori Method stresses that children learn and progress at their own pace so that fast learners are not held back, and slow learners are not frustrated by their inability to keep up.
What is Montessori Apparatus?The Montessori environment offers unique education didactic (self-teaching) materials which are manipulated by the children. They accommodate many levels of ability. They are not “teaching aids” in the traditional sense, because their goal is not the external one of teaching children skills or imparting knowledge through “correct usage”. Rather, the goal is an internal one of aiding the child’s mental development and self-construction. They aid this growth by providing stimuli that captures the child’s attention and initiates a process of concentration. Children then use the apparatus to develop co-ordination, attention to details, and good work habits. When the environment offers materials that polarize children … the teacher is then able to give the freedom needed for healthy development.
What Does Montessori Offer My Child?Montessori allows children to experience the excitement of learning by their own choice. Dr. Montessori observed that it was easier for a child to learn a particular skill during the corresponding “sensitive period” than at any other time in life. These are periods of intense fascination for learning a particular skill. Montessori allows children the freedom to select individual activities that correspond to their own periods of interest and readiness and to progress at their own pace. A child who acquires the basic skills of reading and arithmetic in this natural way has the advantage of beginning education without drudgery, boredom, or discouragement.
Why Should You Send Your Child to a Montessori School?Montessori is education … not a nursery school. The best time to start your child’s education is during the early years … 2.5 to 3 years when most of a child’s intelligence and social characteristics are formed. 50% of the child’s mental development occurs before 4 years of age. In a Montessori environment, your child will learn to think in logical patterns and to deal with reality. Children with a Montessori background become better prepared to cope with the complex challenges of tomorrow’s world.
Why are Montessori Children Generally Self-confident, Out-going and Self-reliant?Montessori is based on a profound respect for each child’s personality. Children work from their own free choice and are allowed a large measure of independence which forms the basis of self-discipline. As children progress at their own pace and successfully complete the self-correcting exercises, they develop confidence in their ability to understand their achievement. Montessori presents endless opportunities among the children for mutual help which is joyfully given and received. Co-operative social interaction among children of different ages engenders feelings of friendship, respect for the rights of others, and self-confidence. These aspects of the Montessori program help eliminate the necessity for correcion which often causes feelings of inferiority and stress.
What is the Montessori Concept of Freedom?The Montessori environment includes a fine balance between structure and freedom. The concept of freedom carrying responsibility is gradually introduced from the time a child enters school. The Montessori children have a wide variety of constructive paths to choose. They gain the skills and tools to accomplish their choices and they are taught the social values that enable them to make enlightened choices. Undisciplined and unskilled children are not free, but rather are slaves to their immediate desires. Allowing this behavior to proliferate merely forms a habit that is hard to change. Children do not benefit from destructible behavior and they become unhappy. Freedom does not involve being able to do what you want to do. It does involve being able to distinguish what is constructive and beneficial and being able to carry that out.
What Happens When a Montessori Child Enters the School System?The habits and skills which a child develops in a Montessori environment last a lifetime. Since Montessori education is successful in developing concentration, self-discipline, a love of learning and social skills … the child is better equipped to enter new situations and to easily adjust to the traditional school environment. Good habits, that are acquired early in a child’s life, result in lifelong pursuit of knowledge.
How can we get involved?Each term the school does one or more projects. These may involve places around the world, cultural festivals, scientific or biological activities and so on. Parents who would like to contribute to these projects with ideas or equipment or artefacts are very welcome to do so. Occasionally we may ask a few parents to accompany us when the children are taken on an outing.
Why can't I have my deposit back?In line with most other private nursery schools we operate a strict policy of not refunding deposits if the terms of the contract between the school and the parents are broken - for example, if less than a term's notice is given for the removal of a child or a child commits to join the school but then doesn't. We need to plan several months in advance in order to run the school efficiently and the deposit helps to persuade parents to make only those commitments that they expect to be able to keep