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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What
is the Montessori method?
What is the Montessori concept of Freedom?
What is the Montessori Concept of Discipline?
At what age should a child enter a Montessori Class?
What happens when children go from a Montessori class
to a traditional class?
What if the child enters in the middle of the year?
How do Montessori schools differ from nursery schools?
What
is the Montessori method?
The basic idea underlying Montessori philosophy of education
is that unseen within every child is the person the child will
become. Dr. Maria Montessori, an Italian physician who developed
this Method of teaching, recognized that only valid impulse to
learn is the self-motivation of the child. The teacher prepares
the environment, programs the activity, functions as the reference
person and custodian and offers the child stimulations; It is
the child who learns and is motivated through the work itself.
If the Montessori child is free to learn, it is because the child
has acquired an `inner discipline' from exposure to both physical
and mental order. This is the core of Montessori philosophy.
The
basic idea underlying Montessori philosophy of education is that
unseen within every child is the person the child will become.
Dr. Maria Montessori, an Italian physician who developed this
Method of teaching, recognized that only valid impulse to learn
is the self-motivation of the child. The teacher prepares the
environment, programs the activity, functions as the reference
person and custodian and offers the child stimulations; It is
the child who learns and is motivated through the work itself.
If the Montessori child is free to learn, it is because the child
has acquired an `inner discipline' from exposure to both physical
and mental order. This is the core of Montessori philosophy. Back
to Top
What
is the Montessori concept of Freedom?
Freedom is pre-requisite condition for learning. Freedom
is a goal, not a starting point. A free child is the one who has
developed his potential and prefers to work out problems for him
and is capable of and accepting directions when necessary. An
undisciplined child is not free, but a slave to his immediate
desires and is excessively dependent on others. The free child
of course, grows into a free adult. Back to Top
What
is the Montessori Concept of Discipline?
Discipline is the second pre-requisite condition for learning.
In Montessori approach, it is the inner discipline, which the
child develops over his own behavior through working with the
specially designed Montessori materials. A child lacking such
inner discipline is usually frustrated but they become happier
and self controlled after a period of time in a Montessori class
in which they experience challenging tasks absorbing their energies
and resulting in a sense of achievement. Back to
Top
At
what age should a child enter a Montessori Class?
The years between two and six are the years that a child
most easily learns the ground rules of good behavior. These years
can be constructively devoted to civilizing the child - freeing
the child through the acquisition of good manners and habits to
take his or her place in the cultural growth. Back
to Top
What
happens when children go from a Montessori class to a traditional
class?
Ample research has shown that Montessori trained children
develop a positive attitude towards learning. Montessori children
are found to be superior in significant level to their peers in
inter-personal relations and learning ability. Most children get
adjusted readily to new classroom situations, because they have
developed self-discipline and independence in the Montessori environment.
Back to Top
What
if the child enters in the middle of the year?
Children begin right where they are when they enter the
school. The materials are presented on an individual basis. Children
are allowed to work with an exercise or a set of material as long
as they feel the need to do so. They progress at their own rate
through self- motivation. Children are not in competition in the
Montessori classrooms. The key goal of the school is to provide
each child with the opportunity to learn and develop positive
attitudes towards him, toward others and toward learning. Montessori
system is for normal children. This is a special type of effective
education where each child is treated individually and respected
for the child's own accomplishments. Back to Top
How
do Montessori schools differ from nursery schools?
Montessori schools prepare the children directly and indirectly
for reading and writing, along with group activities. Nursery
schools usually gear towards group activities and free play. Back
to Top
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