Montessori education is a method of education developed by Dr. Maria Montessori in 1907. It is an educational approach to assist children from their preschool years through adolescence, with an emphasis on the development of the child as a person. The method seeks to develop each child’s independence and love for learning.
Why International Schools Adopted Montessori Principles and Philosophy?
Dr. Montessori was a strong believer in the idea that children should not be immediately taught to read and write when they first begin their schooling.
For her, these skills were too difficult to acquire and she felt that it would be better for a child to learn other skills before they started learning how to read and write.
Montessori also believed that children should be encouraged to use their five senses when learning. This means that teachers should not just read the textbook aloud but have the students touch different materials, listen to sounds, or smell things in order to help them learn.
Children also need freedom of movement as part of their education so Montessori designed classrooms with open spaces where students can freely explore new environments at will.
The Montessori Philosophy is Based on Three Principles
1. The acquisition of self-discipline and self-confidence as the child desires to do things, as opposed to external discipline.
2. The development of independence and autonomy in thought for the child.
3. The discovery of new ways of accomplishing tasks.
In today’s era a whole generation of kids are growing up in a digital age. They are used to screens, and they find it difficult to sit still and focus for long periods of time.
That is why international schools need to provide them with an education that works for their minds. Montessori education is one such method, which focuses on hands-on learning, social interactions and self-discipline.
Besides, many Montessori schools in Pune cropped up because there is a definite increase in interest from parents who want their children to have the benefits of this style of learning.
Why Montessori Schools in Pune Are Popular Amongst Parents?
Now, let’s read through top 5 reasons why parents want to send their children to Montessori Schools in Pune:-
1. Montessori Schools provide freedom to explore
Montessori schools provide children freedom to explore, learn at their own pace, and develop independence.
International schools that offer Montessori curriculum are also known as “child-centred” education. In a Montessori school, children are free to make choices and decide what they want to learn. They can explore different things in life at their own pace.
For example, if a child wants to learn about the ocean and does not want to do anything else for the day, he or she can do that without being pressured by teachers or other students. Hence children learn to become independent and take responsibility for their actions and decisions.
2. Children learn practical life skills
Montessori schools are known to teach children skills that will be useful for them in the future. These skills include practical life skills and cognitive skills – like language, arithmetic, geography, science, arts and physical culture.
Montessori schools in Pune are different from traditional schools because they don’t use any textbooks. Instead, they use a variety of hands-on teaching methods like puzzles and manipulatives to teach children different concepts.
At Montessori schools, children learn about things like the different shapes, colours, and sizes. They also have a focus on practical life skills in the classroom which includes doing tasks such as sweeping and dusting.
Children develop independence by working on these self-directed activities which allows them to feel empowered.
3. Children learn to develop cognitive, speaking and motor skills
Montessori schools are known for teaching students about cognitive skills, speaking and reading skills. Some of the other skills that children are taught at Montessori schools include telling time, learning to read, and developing fine motor skills.
At the same time, children also get to explore their creativity and have a lot of opportunities to learn about the world around them through field trips and mingling with children of multi age groups.
When it comes to cognitive skills, Montessori schools focus on developing a child’s ability to think independently, solve problems, reason and concentrate. The social skills that are developed by Montessori schools are teamwork, empathy and cooperation.
4. Children receive value-based learning and become independent thinkers
The children at Montessori schools learn through hands-on activities. They are not spoon-fed information – they have to find it themselves and use their problem-solving skills in order to figure things out.
This approach is said to be more effective because it teaches students how to explore for themselves rather than what to think, which can lead them down a narrow path later on in life when they have to make decisions about what they want their lives to look like without guidance from teachers or professors.
Furthermore, Montessori education focuses more towards delivering quality rather than quantity education. Under this system, children are encouraged to use specially designed learning toys to understand specific concepts and the children will keep working on the practical applications of the equipment until they master the concepts.
5. Montessori school encourages self-discipline and emotional development
The Montessori philosophy is all about self-discipline and emotional education, so children are encouraged to learn how to control themselves while also being given an environment that supports their natural development process.
Besides, it has been proven by studies that children who are taught self-discipline at an early age grow up to become intelligent and addiction free grownups.
Montessori schools are not only a place for children to develop their intellectual and academic skills. They also provide help for the emotional development of children in their formative years.
This type of schooling strives to create a supportive environment where every child feels welcome and accepted. It teaches the importance of living in harmony with others while respecting individual differences.
This philosophy is based on respect, patience, and empathy which are key factors for early childhood education and development.
Conclusion
In Pune, many international schools have adopted the Montessori curriculum because it is one of the best ways to teach children the 3 key components, which are reading, writing and arithmetic.
This is because the Montessori method is hands-on and in-depth. Children learn by doing and not through lectures.
They learn by using their senses to explore different materials, which teach them through tactile experience rather than memorization. It’s a great way for children to develop a love of learning that will stay with them for the rest of their lives!
