Understanding Montessori Curriculum in Private Schools
You may not have known, but some tech giants, famous musicians, and athletes were Montessori educated. One such famous person is Jeff Bezos, who has shown great commitment to Montessori learning. In 2018, the American entrepreneur pledged $1 billion to develop low-income Montessori preschools. The Montessori method of learning has many benefits, as it emphasizes individually paced learning and fosters independence. With this form of learning, kids broaden their thinking about the world at an early age.
A research was conducted to compare students using Montessori and non-Montessori learning methods. The results showed the former helped students advance more rapidly on math and literacy tests. It explains why more parents are looking for private schools deploying Montessori learning instead of traditional learning practices. Here’s more about this learning method.
What Is Montessori Learning?
This learning method was developed by Dr. Maria Montessori in the early 1900s. She believed that children learn better when they choose what to learn, not by following structured learning programs. Many Montessori schools are based on this philosophy. As such, a Montessori classroom creates an environment that allows children to commit to interesting activities, which helps them concentrate for a long period.
Parents looking for private schools using Montessori should be keen to examine the classroom environment. It should be spacious and open and equipped with materials that help foster a child’s development. Normally, classes have theme areas where learning materials and bibliography are exposed on the shelves to allow freedom of movement. Also, kids are allowed to work in groups or individually, following their unique styles and rhythm. The idea is to promote independence when learning by allowing children to find activities that interest them and coax them to respond to evolutionary needs.
The Montessori Classroom
Unlike traditional schools that structure learning by grade, Montessori learning in private schools focuses on age. Dr. Montessori believed that educators should follow the child to recognize their evolutionary needs and create a favorable environment to respond to them. The doctor discovered that children develop in four evolutionary stages, and each period is different:
- To age six: During this stage, a child takes and absorbs each aspect of their environment, including language and culture.
- Six to 12 years: At this stage, a child develops a rational mind exploring the world with abstract thinking and imagination.
- 12-18 years: The teenager desires to contribute to society and understand humanity.
- 18-24 years: At this stage, the child explores the world, desiring to find his or her place in it.
This philosophy forms the basis private schools use to structure Montessori classrooms: younger than three years, three to six years, six to nine years, and nine to 13 years. Most preschools focus on kids aged three to six, dividing the class curriculum into four areas.
The Four Focus Areas Of the Class Curriculum
The first area focuses on activities familiar to the child, including setting the table, washing, arranging flowers, and polishing. The premise for these activities is to encourage children to develop coordination and control of their environments.
The second area focuses on developing a kid’s senses. The classroom is furnished with materials that isolate qualities such as flavor, smell, weight, color, and texture. The third is to enable children to find meaning in the world, raise their perception, and develop a sense of admiration in their environment. The curriculum should also foster kids’ language skills. This means showing them how to write using their senses and introducing other language activities like music, art, geography, and history.
The last area involves nurturing a kid’s mathematical skills by introducing numbers. Some private schools in Miramar have curriculums for older children ages six to 12, too. The curriculum for kids within this age group focuses on awakening their imagination, creativity, and innovative capacity.
Benefits of Montessori
The main benefit of Montessori learning is that kids are active within their space. They’re self-regulated, which is a huge criterion for success in school and in life. Traditional learning focuses on intelligence which isn’t the sole determinant for success in modern-day learning. Also, the play-based settings in a Montessori school foster imagination and social skills.
A child’s mental, physical, and social development is critical. Finding a learning institution that nurtures all these areas plays a significant role in their long-term success. Montessori is a reliable learning method that encourages this holistic approach. Therefore, enrolling your child in private schools applying this method is important.
