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Discovering the Joy of Montessori for Life
Roots of Responsibility & Wings of Independence From the moment of birth onwards, humans strive towards independence. Children feel this need very strongly; they wish to do things for themselves and participate in the world around them. This is feasible only in Montessori classrooms. Thus, the child becomes self- reliant in his own education, saying, “Help me to do it myself”. Teach me and I will forget, Show me and I might remember, Involve me and I will never forget. Synonymously, Montessori, children are given the experience of involving and discovering the answer for themselves. This leads to a much deeper learning experience, and creates a lifelong love for learning. Living in an Environment of Beauty As you walk along the corridors of the Montessori classrooms, you will observe the aura, harmonious and joyful, perfectly created to meet the developmental needs of every child. The ambience is by itself most welcoming and you will never wish to take your eyes off the classrooms. You will witness wonder ! One cannot overlook the walls of the classrooms which depict the subject scheduled for the day. For instance, as your feet take steps forward, you will notice the walls depicting a forest and corresponding could guess the child is getting to know about forests. So, children learn and play, in many different ways, whether by themselves, in pairs, in small groups, in large groups, inside, outside, at tables or on the floor. Who would not desire to halt and peer at the items in the environment scaled to the child’s size, including furniture, shelves, utensils, dish ware, cleaning implements and the Montessori materials? What sparkling and alluring colours, natural materials, fascinating cultural objects and captivating pictures on the walls! Obviously, all offer the children complex, sensory and intellectual experiences. Now, I hope you will realise and agree that children when first entering a Montessori environment will explore an immediate and touching moment in agreement with what you felt. Let’s Observe the Inner Life Developing It’s certainly a self-directed process of exploring and discovering. Schools should offer children more than just academic skills helping them grow into confident, free-spirited, thoughtful and self-motivated people. That’s exactly what Montessori classrooms provide. This by- all- odds support the development of imagination and creativity. The open-ended activities allow children to explore new ideas thinking beyond the horizon, providing a foundation for self-expression and innovation. Learning is situated in real-world applications and contexts. Children participate in setting, clearing and cleaning the table. These practical life skills are fun for children and encourage them participate in the natural rhythm of the home. Joy Brims from the INSIDE of a Child. Nature has abundance to give and children love to be at the lap of nature. Accordingly, outdoor environments are important in Montessori schools, as they offer opportunities to engage with the natural world. Montessori teachers draw the child into new tasks and help in the process of nurturing children’s natural inquisitiveness. Joy reveals itself in multi- sensory ways through busy, natural learning where children are free to move about and talk to one another, a place where community flourishes along with individual learning. Heart of Flowing Imagination Montessori Education ushers self-directed activity, hands-on learning and collaborative play. In Montessori classrooms children make visionary choices in their learning, while the classroom and the highly trained teachers offer age-appropriate activities to guide the process. We can definitely opine that Montessori classrooms are beautifully crafted and designed to meet the needs of the children and we could undoubtedly accord that experiential learning in this type of a scenario will lead to a deeper understanding of language, mathematics, science, music, social interactions and much more. Every material in a Montessori classroom supports an aspect of child development, creating a tone between the child’s natural interests and the available activities. Learning through their own experience and at their own pace is mostly identified in this aura. They can respond at any moment to the natural curiosities that exist in all humans and build a solid foundation for life-long learning. In summary, Montessori schools allow children have fun while they learn, respect and care for the people and things around them and take responsibility for their actions which is a true preparation for real life.By using the mind, the body and the senses, learning becomes an activity that engages the whole self.