The right early education for a child can lay a life-long foundation and help them tackle new problems easily. More than anyone, it is the parents who understand the importance of getting their children educated in the right environment such that it prepares them to be lifelong learners.
In such a situation, choosing a conventional school with a rigid curriculum will not be the right fit for your child’s learning needs. Therefore, your child’s early education needs to be completed in a preschool that understands your child’s unique needs and helps them grow their potential at their own pace. The Montessori method of learning is therefore the right choice for parents in Abu Dhabi looking to get their children educated with the latest teaching methodologies and the most modern curriculum.
Read on to find out how and why the Montessori method can be the apt choice to ensure the maximum all-around development of your young ones.
How is Montessori different from other curricula?
The biggest concern with conventional forms of learning is that they are standardized in their approach. The curriculum in these methods revolves around the growth of children as a group. However, every child has their own unique needs which is the primary focus of the Montessori method.
Developed by Maria Montessori, an Italian educator, in the early 19th century, the Montessori method believes that every child has their own unique needs and therefore they need to be allowed to develop their own spirit of inquiry in a safe and positive learning environment.
Scope for Montessori Education in Abu Dhabi?
In a well-developed city like Abu Dhabi, the access to high-quality education is much better than in most countries. Under the guidance of the UAE’s Ministry of Education, preschools have to maintain certain standards of imparting education that ensure that parents don’t have to suffer from sending their child to the wrong learning environment.
Listed below are some key advantages of Montessori education that can help you understand why this method ought to be the apt choice for your child’s learning needs.
Advantages of the Montessori approach for your young ones
1. Environment focused on children
Being learner-centric is what separates the Montessori method from other traditional approaches to learning. Instead of all the children having to follow the same pace of learning set by the teacher, the Montessori method allows children to learn at their own pace. A lot of thought goes behind every learning tool placed in the classroom. Right from the size of the play area to the amount of sunlight entering the classroom, every element is carefully constructed keeping every child’s needs as the highest priority.
2. Adaptable curriculum
In a Montessori classroom, children are given the freedom to choose what they’d like to learn as well. Apart from the freedom that comes with learning things at their own pace, being able to choose what they wish to learn lets children identify their own potential.
While the subjects included in the curriculum are aimed at stimulating children’s minds, the scope of their learning is pre-decided by the teacher in accordance with every child’s unique interests. These pre-established ground rules help children be more self-disciplined in their approach towards learning.
The curriculum imparts even more flexibility by allowing children with age differences of one to two years to study in the same classroom as every child is bound to experience growth in different subjects at different levels.
3. Hands-on learning experience
The aim of the Montessori approach is to allow every child to explore the tools in their learning environment as per their own level of curiosity. They are allowed uninterrupted sessions to discover the tools and form their own ideas. They are allowed to discuss these ideas with their peers and learning happens through discussions with their classmates and teachers.
This approach places more emphasis on helping children learn through actions rather than relying simply on listening to their teachers. The emphasis on inculcating knowledge through activities also makes sure that children are exposed to concrete, real-world knowledge as opposed to abstract theories.
4. Teachers as guides
While a conventional learning environment has the teacher imparting knowledge with the children just listening on one end, the Montessori method has the teachers observe the children’s natural pace of learning and then guide them in their journey.
The teachers encourage children to develop their spirit of self-inquiry and act as mentors as and when the children require help. This unobtrusive nature of teaching ensures that teachers let the children learn from a variety of experiences rather than forcing the children to learn against their will. As children learn of their own will, their levels of interest and concentration also improve.
The Montessori method surely counts as one of the latest approaches to learning. However, it has been around for at least a hundred years. While a number of studies have proven that the benefits provided by the Montessori method outweigh the advantages of conventional schooling, it is important to understand that a number of new teaching strategies have also been developed in recent years.
Kindergarten schools have realised the need for new approaches to help children absorb preschool concepts without much difficulty. These approaches go a step beyond the usual Montessori method by making use of the latest innovative tools of knowledge to give children the edge in being able to thrive in the current global era.
Backed by technology and recently developed teaching methodologies, these unique programs offer the best of the Montessori method coupled with the latest advancements in the field of education.
Conclusion
The accelerated pace of globalization means that cultures across the world are evolving every single day. And as cultures grow, so do the societies that are influenced by them. Therefore, one can no longer afford to have learned knowledge just once in school in order to take on the challenges that come with navigating the obstacles of daily life.
In such a case, being educated with skills that help one to grow and learn even after graduating school are the need of the hour. By being able to continue learning in the world no matter what the environment, one can keep up with the pace of globalization and become well-respected members of society.
Therefore, for parents looking to ensure that their children become self-confident learners for life, choosing a kindergarten offering an adaptive curriculum such as the Montessori method ought to be the apt choice for their children.
