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What is Montessori Education?

What is Montessori education?

Montessori is the technique of educating kids through self-directed activities, learning experiences through plays, and creative ways. For example, teachers offer activities to students that are according to their age and guide them to do unique art in groups. These activities help develop children’s understanding of the world early on, and fosters creativity, teamwork, and curiosity at an early age.

How is Montessori different from Daycare?

Montessori is different from daycare because when you admit your child to Montessori, they become able to get proper schooling with qualified teachers in a lively environment. Daycare is equivalent to sending your child to a babysitter. It is essentially a place that watches over your child when you are away. It has fixed learning outcomes and no flexibility. Montessori school is the best learning institution for your children. Montessori schools embrace a philosophy to make a child independent, self-confident, and a keen observer. Children learn to discover new things, speak words, and understand other kids of their age.

What do infants learn at Montessori?

The infants at Montessori need the most attention. They are between 0-18 months of age but the mind of an infant absorbs more information than at any other age. You can mold them as you want. They will learn to crawl, scoot, and roll on their own. The Montessori approach encourages independence by putting things within a child's reach so that he/she can learn how to do what they're on their own. I was so happy when my child spoke her first word "Mom" while I was driving her back home. It was such a beautiful feeling. The other day when she crawled into my bedroom, I was surprised that she has learned to crawl & she can roam around herself in my room. These are some of the happiest moments for parents.

 What do toddlers learn at Montessori?

Montessori learning for toddlers is about a child's social interaction with other children. They explore their environments and learn about the use of different things. They also learn to hold a pencil and write initial letters. They are trained to use the material with minimal assistance so they can start doing things themselves. Yesterday, I was making pancakes for my child, and she came up to show me a clay box she made for her clay collection. She was so excited to make it and told me she learned this in her art class with her friends. Montessori education also encourages peer learning and allows children to discover new things inside and outside of the classroom.

What do preschoolers learn at Montessori? 

Teachers guide preschoolers to do art, learn alphabets, describe sensory expressions, and many more. If you are sending your preschooler to Montessori, you will notice an instant change in their personality and the way they develop their communication skills based on how they speak to you.

Why Little Village is the best Montessori? 

The Little Village School provides: a welcoming and clean environment, freedom to your child to explore and discover new things and hires qualified teachers. It helped my child to grow into a confident and intelligent girl. I am excited to see her grow into a kind human being who is ambitious and makes sensible choices for herself and people around her. You can learn more here.

Posted 1/21/2021 

Practical Life Lessons Montessori 

Montessori schools are not only concerned with giving your child education but with instilling them with practical skills that they can use. An emphasis is clearly placed through all the activities in a Montessori School.

In practical life lessons, your child is taught and engaged in life practices that are important for their growth. These practical activities are no sense mundane. Activities like getting dressed, cleaning after oneself, courteous greetings and more are what are considered as the markers of growth for any child. Montessori use challenges, props and other tools to help the child work out these new milestones in an exciting manner. 

The Montessori method of teaching obviously takes advantage of the motivation of children to learn new things. The mind of a child is one that is eager for knowledge. You could think of it as a sponge ready to absorb any new information or knowledge existing in its environment. The challenge is presenting this new information that will be interesting to them. While it may seem like quite the task (which it is), Montessori accredited schools and teachers are trained and qualified to offer this and much more.  

The different practical life lessons at a Montessori School  

There are a number of fundamental lessons and concepts that are taught at a Montessori school. We have endeavored to categorize them so that those who are new to such a curriculum or teaching can get to see the difference. 

• Personal self-care

  The skills are ones that provide the means for your child to be independent. Activities in this category range depending on the age and level of your development of your child. For example, a Montessori teacher would teach a child of between 18 to 24 months on putting on clothes. For a child slightly older, say 3 years, the teacher would engage them in organization skills that are beneficial both in the classroom and at home. 

• Care of the Surroundings

  Our curriculum teaches our children on the importance of keeping a clean environment. Montessori teachers help the kids of the significance of the space around them. From a parent’s perspective, this will make it easy to engage your kids in chores around the house. It will be easier for your kids to keep their rooms and the house clean; even when you are not at home. 

Importance of practical life lessons

• Responsibility. Your young child will learn to be responsible not only for themselves but also for their environment. 

• Teamwork. Practical life lessons teach the children on how to collaborate with their classmates. 

• Concentration. It’s a beautiful thing to see your child engaged and able to concentrate on a task. The future looks bright. 

• Motor skills. At such a young age, your child’s motor skills are basic and unrefined. The Montessori system of education purposefully develops your children’s motor skills through repetitive action and coordination. 

The young years of your child are his or her most formative years. The Montessori curriculum concentrates its efforts purposefully to develop your child on many fronts with the use of practical life lessons. Empower your child by enrolling them in a Montessori school near you and see them grow into a responsible young man or lady. 

Posted 2/11/2021

Questions Each Parent Asks About Montessori School

As a parent, the future of your child lays in your hands. It is easy to become swamped with the many options available to you with regards to schooling. Preschool and daycare are just some of the many alternatives for your young son or daughter. Looking to give their children an advantage over their peers, many parents have their eyes set on a Montessori School Education. They have heard of the benefits of Montessori education for preschoolers amongst their friends and in their circles. But they still have some questions about it. 

Well, this article is here to quiet down your nervousness or anxiety. We have done a survey of the most frequent questions asked by parents. Next time when narrowing down on a Montessori School, you can use this information to make your decision. 

1. What is a Montessori Education? 

The typical parent is sometimes more concerned on the benefits of something than knowing what it is. Let’s correct that with a simple definition of what a Montessori school is. 

First of all, Montessori Education was coined after the founder, Maria Montessori in the year 1907. She was an Italian female doctor and educator. As a teacher, she had her own school known as the Casa Dei Bambini (translated into the Children’s House). Truth be told, it was more of a children’s home for street children that an actual school. 

Her educational methods and method of approach were rather unorthodox. From her travels around the world, she built a solid regimen where she focused on a child-centered approach. She designed an environment which leaned more on fostering a child’s natural desire to grow intellectually. The materials and props she used enabled the kids to make use of the environment to learn. 

Essentially, the kids were learning new concepts on their own. What Maria Montessori focused was on creating the perfect surroundings which would stir up the children’s intellect. This was of course a result of years of scientific research and verifiable information. 

2. Is Montessori Education only for the wealthy?

Montessori education is synonymous with an elite lifestyle, which is not necessarily the case. This is more of contextual misinformation based on the origins of Montessori education. You should realize that even decades after its breakthrough in Italy, preschool and kindergarten was rarely offered. So, Montessori education was indeed for the wealthy and elite of society. Only private institutions offered it while the public education system was stuck to the more conventional route. 

Montessori education is more available to families across different levels of income now. As shared above, a Montessori Education is geared more towards creating a child-oriented setup where the kids can be guided. Seeing its importance, public schools are today using Montessori based education in preschool and kindergarten.

Posted 12/21

How To Find The Best Montessori/Preschool/Daycare Near Me?

Are you a parent looking to find a suitable Montessori school for your child? I was in a similar position just a few months ago when I was looking for the best Montessori near me for my 5-month-old. At first, it was a tough and overwhelming decision for me. I looked for several pre-schools online and after visiting them,  I decided on one for my child. Let's walk you through the my experience of finding the best montessori/pre-k near me.

Which Is The Best Montessori?

In my opinion, the best Montessori is the one that gives self-confidence and independence to my child. It's the first learning institution for my little one. What matters most to you? Is it the cost of tuition? Is it the distance from your home? Or is it the cleanliness of the classrooms? We all have different priorities, and it is important to become aware of them before selecting a Montessori or day-care. I like to write mine down before doing any research. This helps me make a decision quickly based on criteria that matter the most to me and my significant other.

Pros & Cons of Sending Your Child To Montessori Or Daycare

SHOULD YOU SEND YOUR INFANT TO MONTESSORI OR DAYCARE?

As a parent, you may have many questions in your mind about Montessori or daycare and where you should send your infant, or toddler. You may also wonder how much it costs to send your little one to pre-K for an early childhood education? Does the school have enough opportunities for my child? Is my infant safe or too young for day-care?  All these questions and concerns are valid, and I will share my experience and learning related to these.

MONTESSORI PROS AND CONS

Montessori provides your child with the freedom to discover new things, instill curiosity in your child from an early age, and teaches them to think on their own supported by group activities to develop social skills. With that being said, like everything else, sending your kid away to a school at an early age comes with its own advantages and disadvantages. Let’s review some pros and cons to help you decide if sending your child to Montessori is the right decision or not for you and your family. 

• HANDS-ON LEARNING

The design of the Montessori classroom is conducive to learning and intellectual stimulation for children of all ages.  It provides your infant or toddler with a friendly atmosphere to encourage learning and exploration. The tools and toys, shelves with art supplies, posters around the wall with inspirational content, and a library of books are available to foster growth, independence, and imagination from an early age. Love, attention, time, and touch for an infant are essential components of their development and growth. Soft blankets and pillows are always available for infants to provide them with the same comfort they’d receive at home. Along with providing infants with the basic food & shelter necessities, teachers work hard to mentally stimulate infants. They send me activities to practice at home as well to continue the learning engagement with my child. I place books or toys partly under a blanket and ask my child to find where they are. Emma starts looking for it and learns to find items under the blanket. Stacking blocks and knocking them down is also a fun activity for your 12-month infant. They love playing with building blocks and cups.  The teachers practice many such activities with the infants at school to ensure that children are meeting their developmental milestones.

• ENHANCED SOCIAL INTERACTION

The exposure to other children helps develop social skills in your child, especially in the absence of a sibling or cousin. Children learn to become more caring and giving in a Montessori as compared to at home. They learn to share both toys and credits by working in teams at an early age.  Most of the activities at the Montessori aim to develop peer to peer relationships and children learn to communicate with each other using both verbal and nonverbal language. 

• DEVELOPING SOFT SKILLS

Emma is learning to listen more attentively, and also to follow instructions through her activities at pre-K. Kids are rewarded with positive reinforcement when they line up, finish their meals, clean-up after themselves and return to the classroom on time once play time is over. The child learns acceptable behaviors and these habits are reinforced daily with a routine at a pre-school. 

Posted 12/29/2020

CONS OF MONTESSORI

Some classmates, educators, and administration can make your experience not as pleasant, which is why you must get to know the teachers, staff, and the director before enrolling your kid into the Montessori school. 

• EXPENSIVE MONTESSORI SCHOOLS

Pre-K activities such as music classes, art activities, and reading are crucial for your kid's early development.  However, the top schools are way too expensive for some parents. As a parent, I had to make several sacrifices to afford a good education for my child. For instance, cutting down frivolous shopping expenses and frequent Starbucks visits is one way to be able to make room in your budget to provide a bright future to your child.  

• PROXIMITY OF PRESCHOOL FROM YOUR HOME

Some parents don’t mind driving an hour to send their children to the best pre-school; however, this luxury of time isn’t available to everyone. I encourage you to review school ratings, talk to other parents that send their children to that Montessori before enrolling your kid there. Simply because the location is convenient for you should not be the sole factor in choosing a good Montessori for your child.

Posted 1/2/2021

Factors To Consider Before Selecting A Montessori/Preschool/Daycare

Choosing a half-day or full day pre-k for your kids can be an exciting experience, yet an overwhelming decision to make when there are a lot of options in town. When I was choosing a Montessori pre-k for my child, the following factors were of utmost importance to me:

TEACHER QUALIFICATION

When you are choosing Montessori for your kid, make sure the teachers are certified and have experience in their respective fields. If I am leaving my infant or little one at a place for an entire day, I want to make sure that my baby will be treated with love and respect by its caretaker. As a parent, I wanted my child to be in the hands of a responsible teacher who will take care of my precious one like I would take care of him/her. They should be responsible for classroom management, preparing my kid for activities, and be available for responding to my questions. The teacher should be a role model for Montessori kids, who will guide them and prepare them for self-study, self-confidence, and independence.

REQUEST INFORMATION

Location of the montessori

It's significant to consider the location of your kid's pre-school because it plays a significant role in your child's performance in the classroom. I did not want my child and myself to be exhausted from the commute, so I preferred a place which was either within 5-10 miles of home or my workplace. This way I can check up on the kid easily if I needed to. Enrolling my child into a near by school, saves me time, which I am always short on! I also asked myself a few questions during the school tour: Is it a safe neighborhood? Is it easy to get in and out of? How long will it take me to drive or walk there? What’s the traffic like? I also focused more on the liveliness of the school so my little one feels fresh and happy there. I would also recommend you to choose the place that is lively, clean, and near to your home or work, so your kid doesn't get tired from the commute.

Cleanliness OF THE CLASSROOMS

Cleanliness can uplift you as well as your kid's mood. It's essential to monitor the cleanliness and hygiene of the classroom before admitting your kid to the pre-school. During the school tour, observe any signs of dust or neglect in the building. Questions to ask the staff:

• What is the cleaning cadence?

• What types of chemicals are used for cleaning?

• How often will my baby’s diaper/clothes get changed?

Not only is it important for the health of your infant or toddler, but also crucial to teaching him or her the value of cleanliness.

MONTESSORI CURRICULUM

Curriculum is a mandatory component of the Montessori method of schooling. When you admit your kid in a reputable Montessori, study the curriculum and reading time in the schedule. I was not looking for a babysitter for my child. My aim was to find a space where my child will be trained to become a good reader and listener. I looked for a pre-school where my child can partake in a gamut of activities which are both educational and enjoyable. I want his PreK to be a space to build vocabulary and also exercise creativity. 

What matters the most to you? How do you want your child’s education to shape him or her? As a parent, these are some of the questions I asked myself as I evaluated PreK schools near me. I’ve laid out all the factors that were of utmost importance to me and selecting the best Montessori for my child. I hope you found my experience insightful. Wishing you good luck in your search for the best PreK/Montessori/day-care for your little one.

Posted 11/28/2020

What Does A Child Do At Montessori All Day?

Are you curious what your child will do at Montessori all day? Which activities will they partake in and what would be your child’s timetable? How many times will he or she be fed? These questions pop up in every parent’s mind when they decide to enroll their infant or toddler into Montessori. I went through a similar journey recently as a parent, and in this article I will be sharing my findings and experience with you.

What is infant’s timetable at Montessori School?

When Emma was 9 months, her Montessori time table looked something like this:

What is a toddler’s timetable at the Montessori?

The toddler pre-school timetable is designed in a way to allow time for activities, learning, meals, outdoor play, and napping.  My 4-year-old, Emma, jumps into the car with a new drawing in her hand each day and on our ride home she does not stop yapping about the new friends she made at the playground. This is an indication of Emma’s learning and progress at pre-K as it is an indication of what an excellent job her teachers are doing in with developing her creativity and evolving her into a friendly, kind little being.  

ARRIVAL TO MONTESSORI

Upon dropping Emma at the Montessori, the teachers collect the child from the main gate and transfer them to the classroom.

Do they feed my kid at Montessori?

Most distinguished Montessori schools ensure that the students are always well-fed and are energized with nutritious meals throughout the day. Kids at preschool typically have breakfast at 7:00 a.m and infants are fed every few hours. Infants and young toddlers at pre-k mostly eat inside their classrooms; however, the 3-5-year-old kids eat in the cafeteria and mingle with students from other classes. Teachers transform their classrooms quickly for mealtimes. Sometimes, the little ones help the teachers set-up chairs and learn the important lesson of helping, and cleaning! After learning this at the Montessori and practicing this habit routinely, my little one at home comes up to me on weekends and helps me set up the table for breakfast! Isn’t that a lovely gesture? I believe that teaching children how to be helpful at a young age is extremely important, and I am so glad that she learned that at Little Village Montessori School.

Posted 12/5/2021

Montessori Activities For Children

How much Outdoor Play time does my child get at pre-k?

Once the kids have had breakfast, they start to line up and wait patiently in line next to their buddy till the teacher instructs them to step outside for play time from 7:45a.m to 9:30a.m. Swings, basketball court, and even yoga mats are available for children to use during their time outside. Some toddlers stay by the swing set, while others team up quickly to play ball. Teachers ensure that there are enough structured activities in place to foster teamwork along with mild exercises for physical activity.

MONTESSORI ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN

Next, the timetable for toddlers is designed as 10:00 am to 11:30 am for creative and art activities.  During creative arts, the kids are taught to use art supplies such as paint, crayons, markers, clay, chalk and so much more! In a fully equipped Montessori classroom, each child chooses activities of specific interest to him/her.

Additional Activities for Pre-K Children

• Literacy oriented activity involves a clay box in which children will trace the alphabets and letters

• Numeracy activities are so much fun for kids that include shaped blocks and shapes to organize them in order.

• Life Skills oriented activities are serving food to their friends, pouring water in cups, etc to turn your kid into a functional and kind being.

Lunch Time at Pre-K

While children assist the teacher in cleaning up the classroom, staff quickly serves lunch inside the classroom. During lunch, students are served with nutritious meals and spend time with their friends. Teachers ensure that all children have company or are enjoying their lunch hour and finishing their meals on time, including the vegetables!

What Skills and talents do children learn at Pre-K?

After lunch, students come back to the classroom setup at 1:30 pm.  Post- lunch activity is probably the favorite part of pre-school for my kid because she loves her music instructor. Emma is learning how to play the flute and she enjoys singing new songs with her friends. The nursery rhymes are very catchy – even I find myself chanting them sometimes while driving with my child.

Do Children Sleep at Montessori?

Yes, some children sleep peacefully at Montessori during nap time. I know this must be unusual for some parents, but it indicates that the child is comfortable at pre-k and feels at home there. Those who do not nap join the teacher for story-time and reading where sometimes the older children take turns to read.

What do kids do while waiting for their parents to pick them up from pre-k?

While waiting for parents to arrive, students enjoy literacy, numeracy, and oral activities. They are set free to do the activities of their choice with the material on the shelves. My little one loves to play with building blocks. She builds colorful houses, and school building by connecting the blocks to each other. Maybe she will grow up to be an architect! Who knows? I am grateful that the Montessori education is planting the seeds in my child and helping her evolve into a curious, kind, and intelligent girl that I want her to be.

Posted 12/5/2020

What is Sensorial Education?

As the name suggests, sensorial education makes use of practical activities that assist the child in focusing on their senses and discerning and categorizing this information. For those new to the Montessori style of education, our curriculum focuses on teaching practical life skills that are fundamental in a child’s life. We are intentional on building up a child physically, mentally and socially. Early sensorial activities are key to building up your child’s mental capacity and intellectual learning capabilities.

The basis of sensorial education is the child’s own motivation to learn and interact with their new environment. If you’ve been in the company of a one-year child to 18 months child, you know that they are very curious about their surroundings. Even the most mundane and common item feels them with wonder and fascination. They would want to touch this item or put it in their month. This urge to interact and feel an object in their environment is what we want to manipulate. The lessons provided by Montessori teachers will focus on teaching them on how to understand what they touch, hear or see.

Through repetitive lessons and also through their Montessori free play time, the children are able to absorb the different items. Their young minds will be quick to find the impressions that we seek for them to learn. And sooner rather than later, you will see their minds turn as they are able to separate objects according to color, size, weight and so on. It is only after such has been impressed in their minds and the difference is cemented in their minds will the teachers start introducing the simple names that are associated. This is how the Montessori style of education works. It is all about building one concept on another concept. Wholesome teaching is what we endeavor to do here.

Such a refined and sequential method of teaching is a critical part for any child. We teach the human mind on how to absorb information from the environment and differentiate that information. This thought process will prove critical when you move your child to elementary school and high school. Such skills are not only important for intellectual learning but also for

learning and appreciation of art, music, sports and reading. Interacting with one’s environment is all about being able to process what your senses are telling you and make a rational decision. The building block of that is sensorial education.

So, how is sensorial education implemented?

To kick start, Montessori teachers instill the practice of using the child’s hands and eyes to interact with

their environment. These two will be their tools. This approach also allows them to keep active, alert and to concentrate on the current activity at hand. In a typical Montessori school or classroom, you will find an area known as the sensorial area. It is within the sensorial area that the five senses: seeing, hearing, smelling, touching and tasting are enhanced.

Teachers make use of sensorial material that is customized for children of such an age and with their level of development. The material also allows for easy correction whenever an error is made. Size is one of the fundamental teaching lessons in sensory education. When teaching on size, there are a number of sensory materials that are used. Some of them include: the pink two, knobbed and knob less

cylinders, red rods and also brown stairs. Don’t mind the names. The tools are able to help the children discriminate objects in terms of size and weight. This is the building block of mathematics. It will be easy for your child to count and also compare thanks to this type of sensorial learning. Coordination and sequential order is also an important element taught during this stage. Other forms of sensorial education include: form, color, tactile, olfactory and auditory. All these are taught in accordance with the Montessori style of education and increase the child’s sense of perception.

Posted 1/27/2021

Montessori Play Based Learning

Is there a child in this world who doesn’t like to play? One who doesn’t like running around and playing with their friends? I don’t think there exists such a child. One characteristic that both Montessori and traditional schools have in common is the dedicated time that they have placed on play time for children. Adults know the importance of play for a child. It builds up their cognitive and social skills as well as helps speed up their physical development. 

However, that is where the similarities end. Traditional schools would keep children in a playground or play area and leave them to fend more themselves. For Montessori schools, we do things a little bit differently. Our style of education is focused on the research and teaching of one Maria Montessori. She was an Italian teacher and physician who worked with children in the 20th Century all over the world. From all her words of wisdom, there is one particular phrase that is used to develop our play based learning: “Play is the work of the child.” 

What this means is that even through playing, a child is able to learn certain skills and grow exponentially. 

Real life situations 

If you have ever watched children, you will realize that they gave a fascination with real life materials. Have you ever wondered why? This is because of their attentive, hawk-eyed and curious nature. They have been watching their parents or older people do these things and want to see the same results. They want to have the same experience. They want to play and interact with real materials that can give them real results. That’s why they would be more interested in a real smartphone than the dummy, plastic phone you bought them. 

Instead of nurturing this engagement in a controlled environment, traditional schools will seek to snuff them out. There will be the creation of pretend tools and pretend situations whereby children can act like the adults but just without the experience. 

In a Montessori school we give our children the chance of experiencing the real thing. Our style of education believes in creating a holistic child by introducing them to practical life activities. They can learn different skills, different concepts and learn to be the reliable, independent and strong young man and woman that you inspire them to be in the near future. 

Lessons learned

“So, what are some of the lessons that my child can learn in the play based learning that is encouraged in Montessori schools?” This is a common question asked by parents when they hear of this aspect of our program. It is a valid question and some of the answers are stated below. 

One lesson learnt is the right to choose. There will always be a Montessori teacher supervising at any given time. But this teacher will not tell them what to do or instruct them on how to do or to stop a certain activity. The children have a certain freedom when it comes to the games they want to play. 

Another key lesson to play based learning is the structure of plays and games. There will be rules to be followed in any game. There must be an end goal to it. This form of play ensures that the child’s mind and effort is structured to following the rules so as to achieve the goal. 

With Montessori based schools, even play can be a style of learning.  

Posted 2/3/2021