Regular schools: This is an apple.
Montessori schools: It is red in color & round in shape. It is smooth to touch. It tastes sweet & juicy. It makes a crunching noise when eaten. It smells sweet. It is an apple.
India is home to hundreds of Montessori schools out of which a majority are located in South India. Yet, Montessori learning, despite being extremely popular, usually causes confusion in parents’ minds mainly because it is not a regular curriculum. This confusion, along with lack of information, has led to many parents questioning how good this form of learning is. In this article, we shall speak about Montessori learning and a few things about it that you ought to but may not know.
Dr. Maria Montessori introduced Montessori learning in India in 1939 when she was forced to stay in the country during World War II. She conducted training sessions even during war and, with the help of her representatives, she spread it far and wide. Today, hundreds of Montessori schools in the country follow the principles she initially laid out.
This form of learning has proven to be extremely effective because it engages children and truly helps them experience every concept. Whether it is something as simple as learning that the round, red fruit is called an apple or that E=MC2, sensory learning comes into play. This is one of the most interesting aspects of learning. Now, how do children benefit from it? They learn faster and they learn better. In other words, they retain their concepts well and that is why, on an average, Montessori students do better than children learning through other modes of education and curricula.
Now, let’s delve deeper into the subject and discover a few unique aspects of this type of education. Be prepared to be awed!
According to the principles of Montessori education, classrooms must be round shaped. This is to enable teachers (referred to as guides) to have a 360-degree view of all the children while they are engaged in various activities. Also, teachers don’t stand behind their desk and deliver instructions like in conventional schools. They are very much a part of the activities themselves!
Dr. Maria Montessori designed what are popularly called sensorial materials. This is to enable children to learn through sensory engagement, as mentioned earlier. Cylinder blocks, red rods, and the pink tower are a few examples of these teaching tools & equipment.
This form of education totally shuns the concept of dividing children based on age. In fact, classrooms usually have a healthy mix of older and younger kids. This practice helps them learn from their peers, which has been found to be one of the most impactful ways of learning.
Children decide their own lessons and move to the next once they master them. They learn from hands-on activities without the fear of performing well for letter grades and marks. Such as stress-free environment boosts confidence and gives children the freedom to learn at their own pace.
Many schools teach courtesy and values but Montessori Education prioritizes it. Plus, it goes far beyond respecting elders and greeting each other. They learn problem-solving, cleaning up, and solving disagreements peacefully, among other things.
Children learn how to care for fragile items instead of staying away from them. A typical Montessori classroom has many breakable items that children can easily access. They learn not to be afraid but to respect all items and to care for them. This is not something you would find in a conventional classroom now, is it?
When we think Montessori, we usually think of pre-primary education. We are also wary of the teaching approach because we are inclined towards textbooks and grading systems. However, Montessori learning is available for high school as well. Many schools offer complete Montessori education with CBSE or ICSE as the exit examination.
Children flourish in positive, happy environments where they have the independence to learn whatever they like at their speed. No wonder why Montessori education is popular across the globe as one of the most reliable methods of learning.
Were all these facts new to you or did you know a few of them?