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MONTESSCHOOL AT HILLCREST
The Montessori method is actually a philosophy for education for the young mind. This philosophy emphasizes that education needs to go far beyond the mere acquisition of knowledge, and instead be a practical aid to life a way of life.
Developed in the early 1900's by Maria Montessori, the first woman physician in Italy, the approach is one that recognizes the important impact a child's physiological and neurological development has on learning; it values and nurtures the child's natural curiosity, interests and readiness for learning. The Montessori way of learning recognizes each child's individual style, pace and approach toward learning.
Montessori offers a distinguishing and excellent alternative to other school programs in both public and private.
The most visible difference is that the Montessori classroom consists of students in a three-year age span. That is, children age 3 through 6 learn together in a primary classroom. This provides an environment where the younger ones learn from the older and the older ones perfect by teaching the younger ones.
Montessori learning can be broken down to five areas namely:
Practical Life - children learn to develop their concentration, coordination and order through performing daily tasks. They learn grace and courtesy, a sense of responsibility and independence.
Sensorial - develop the sensory-motor capabilities of the five senses. Sensorial education also provides the basis for other areas of development.
Language & Phonics - English language skills in hearing, speech, reading, writing and drama. The phonetic approach using sandpaper letters and the word-building kits takes new readers basic matching, word recognition and phrase-reading exercises to the point where they can confidently tackle sentences and stories.
Mathematics - Montessori math is taught as early as two by giving the child objects to hold, count and manipulate. These help him learn the fundamentals of simple addition, subtraction, multiplication and division to ensure a good math foundation before the child enters primary school.
Cultural - geography, history and science concepts are illustrated by simple experiment, charts, stories and educational excursions.
Another factor that differentiates the Montessori classroom is the unique materials used to illustrate and facilitate the understanding of abstract concepts and principles. At all levels, these materials offer a concrete approach to learning, from which, after repeated usage, the child is able to abstract a quality or concept. The materials are also sensorial, providing a variety of pathways through which a child may learn.
For example, children in the primary program may repeatedly touch letters cut out of sandpaper to get a feel for how to shape or recognize the letter in writing. The Montessori classroom is also a prepared environment, one that is adapted to child's physical and cognitive needs as well as his/her natural interests. The classroom and all that is in it, bends to the child's needs, rather than requiring the child to adapt to the physical environment.
The role of the Montessori teacher also varies from that of a teacher in a more traditional setting. Rather than being strictly an instructor, or a conduit of information, the Montessori teacher is primarily an active observer of the classroom. He or she watches the students carefully as they approach their work, intervening when a child is stuck or seems ready to move onto new material or more challenging work.
The Montessori teacher is able to provide direction and guidance to each child on an individualized basis, enabling each student to work at his or her own pace. Because of the mixed age grouping, the teacher also shares his or her role as educator with the older children in the classroom.
The older students help the younger ones with materials and work that they have already mastered. This process, in turn, helps the older children solidify their own knowledge, as the repetition reinforces the learning process.
The Montessori curriculum, across all ages, is an inter-disciplinary course that weaves together the study of language, math, science, geography, history, art and music. Although some topics may be singled out for "specialized instruction", the students are encouraged to approach their work with a broad stroke, and study the many facets any one topic may present. For instance, the study of Egypt will involve not a simple geography lesson, but will be developed into a lesson on history, art, science, literature, language, architecture, etc.
In all, the Montessori curriculum is designed to challenge students to integrate and synthesize information, identify and analyze problems, and develop inquiry and problem-solving skills. In the process, the students not only become well-educated, but also experience a genuine joy in learning.
The primary objective of a Montessori education is to enable the child to become an independent, creative and self-confident thinker. The classroom is designed to cultivate the child's own natural curiosity and love for knowledge. It is also a place where students learn respect for the rights of others, and learn to make choices that reflect not only a healthy self-confidence, but also a social conscience.
MONTESSCHOOL AT HILLCREST 6950 McCallum Boulevard Dallas, TX 75252. TEL : (972) 931 - 3774
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