Before children start to read and write, there is lot more that goes into their learning techniques. In a Montessori environment children are provided with many exercises to prepare for reading, writing, mathematics and more. The simple rule that the material is returned back to where it was picked up from, gives children a sense of order and confidence. Children look forward to coming to school because of that sense of comfort. Carrying the material back and forth from the shelves to the activity areas develop their environment awareness. It also gives them a reason to move around the classroom rather than sitting in one place for long periods of time. It all leads to an increasing attention span.
Students are free to choose or not to choose a task. It elevates the pressure of performance. As soon as a child feels not being forced to make a decision, they get interested in what they like to do. Being able to make simple choices gives them sense of respect. It sends out the message to them that they are trustworthy. This results in responsibility and sincerity towards their work. Children become internally driven. Their work becomes their reason of fulfillment, rather than meeting expectations of others.
are specifically designed to refine their large and fine motor skills, body control, and tools of self awareness. Just the precise amount of weight of the material helps build their muscles. Pouring, sifting, buttoning, rolling wash cloths, sweeping, sponging and many other skills help children become self sufficient and confident in themselves.
Sensorial exercises refine their senses. Feeling, weighing, and comparing rough and smooth boards, baric tablets and grading color tablets (and many other exercises) refine their five senses and more. They learn to tell the difference by actually experiencing rather than just looking at the pictures. Sensorial material is designed to prepare them for scientific experiences and understanding.
Various exercises are developed to help build their vocabulary. Long before they are ready to read and write, children learn to use appropriate terms like, hot, warm or cold and hot, hotter or hottest. They practice simple words to communicate with each other. Once their speech is clear they are introduce to basic phonetic sounds and phonograms. Reading and writing is gradually progressed into grammar, punctuation and more. Numerous exercise are developed to increase their vocabulary of the general knowledge also.
Foundation for Mathematics is built on 'concrete to abstract' concept. Before children are introduced to the symbols, they learn to manipulate counters and follow patterns and amounts. Symbols are learned at the pace the child is comfortable with and interested. Addition, subtraction and rest of the functions are learned by manipulating actual counters in a specific pattern which leads to more complex mathematical skills like decimal system, algebra and fractions. All these skills are introduced to the child gradually and subtly but precisely. Children tend to show better computing skill by using these well thought out Montessori techniques.
Montessori Curriculum expands over Life , Earth , Physical and other branches of science. It gives children endless opportunity to experience and grow. Social science involves not just the community awareness but also global awareness. At Montessori Cares, we approach one's self identity by narrowing down from the galaxy to the universe to gradually one's own address and phone number. This approach gives us the sense of belonging to this planet earth on a wider level.
