Montessori Preschool - What Sets the Standard?

The Montessori Preschool program is committed to keeping their promise to promote the learning methods that Maria Montessori established nearly a century ago. However, while a school can say they follow the Montessori dogma, they may not be as close a follower as you may think. So how do you choose which one is the best Montessori school for your preschooler? You must make sure to find out whether or not they are accredited and that they have the authority to claim that they are indeed a Montessori school.

The Montessori Method

One thing to consider is the fact that Montessori schools allow the child to pursue their education at their own pace and method, while traditional schools will force your child to adhere to a specific curriculum and criteria. If the school follows a definite curriculum that applies to all students, it is not a true Montessori school. Students that attend real Montessori schools are allowed to create their own school schedule and time allotment while traditional schools do the opposite.

The Benefits

Most Montessori schools have classrooms that allow children to have an environment where they are provided with several learning activities that they can choose from, in order to gain the necessary knowledge. They will actively be involved in their education as they work at their own pace and can learn what they want when they feel ready to do so.

A great difference in traditional and Montessori classrooms is that while normal classes include a teacher who teaches what they feel is necessary while the students slowly detach from the lesson, Montessori classes have teachers who are there to merely guide the student when they sway from their learning direction. While most traditional schools have a definite system for reward and punishment, Montessori schools let the child make rewards and punishments for themselves.

Finding the Right Preschool

Because these preschools are beginning to expand all over countries, some are starting to narrow down their basic goals to the point where each school is established for a different purpose or study of work than the Montessori Method. So how do you make sure that your preschooler is in the appropriate school for them?

Make it a point to find a school that is accredited, and that can show the proper documentation to prove they follow the Montessori Method of teaching and they follow the variety of learning and progression activities established for learning at Montessori schools.

Also be sure that the school is safe for your child by taking extensive care of students who enter. Once again, the teachers must show that they are not there to teach or enforce learning on a student, but are there to simply see that actual learning is taking place. At Montessori schools, your student should have the opportunity to learn whenever and however they can. So if there is any sign of certain rules and curriculum being applied to the class as a whole, it may not be the Montessori school you want for your child.

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Montessori Preschool Curriculum Choices and Benefits

Choosing a Montessori preschool curriculum is key to a successful educational program. Maria Montessori's teaching method encourages young children to develop a strong sense of individuality, responsibility, and promotes their natural strengths. When choosing a Montessori preschool curriculum it is important to ensure that the essential core elements of the program include Mathematics, Language Arts, Sensorial Activities, Cultural Awareness, and Practical Life skills.

The number one principle of Montessori education is that children retain best when they are involved in independent active play and learning. The Montessori preschool curriculum should allow for children to play independently, while the parent or teacher is the facilitator between the child and the curriculum.

Another wonderful benefit from choosing a Montessori preschool curriculum is that children are allowed to work at their own pace. This helps the child gain confidence as well as self-esteem- two important qualities that are developed through Montessori education. The Montessori educational method believes that all children have a natural desire for independence, creativity, and to achieve self esteem through mastering tasks. You will also find that Montessori curriculum is most effective when used with small group settings. This is easily obtained for those who are using the program at home with one child, but in the daycare or preschool settings where there are small groups of children, it will be beneficial to have children work individually.

The basics of Montessori encourage and foster independence. Therefore, most Montessori preschool curriculum choices will involve children working from one activity to the next. The teacher never forces a child to work or complete a task but is there to gently guide and oversee. The teacher will ask the child questions regarding which activities the child feels comfortable with and will offer their assistance if needed. By providing support and encouragement, the child will gain self-confidence and master skills according to their own time frame.

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A Preschool Curriculum Is Essential To Your Child's Early Childhood Development

Early involvement in preschool can have a huge impact on a child's development. It can help your child with anything from academics to social and physical success. As a result, a preschool curriculum that incorporates all aspects of early childhood development may be the greatest gift a parent can give a child.

Academics

Most people recognize the importance of a preschool curriculum that fosters language and literacy. In fact, those students who enter kindergarten with such skills are more likely to experience long-term success. However, the preschool curriculum must take into account early childhood development and make sure these skills are acquired through play and not drills.

Emotional Intelligence

Among the other necessary skills for a preschool-age child is the development of emotional intelligence. Children must learn to understand their emotions, to interpret the emotions of others, and to demonstrate empathy. This is critical to a child's ability to express him or herself appropriately. This could have serious implications later in life if not mastered in the early years.

Socialization

Another critical component of early childhood development is the mastery of socialization skills. As a result, a preschool curriculum must include exposure to group activities that help a child learn to negotiate, to compromise, and to share. Because schools require these skills, students are at risk of struggling later on, if they do not master them before the age of six.

Expectations for Student Behaviors

Children do not automatically know how to behave as students and need a preschool program that helps foster these skills. The curriculum should include learning to become self-motivated and to control one's actions. Simple things such as practicing raising hands, taking turns with each other, or even sharing the attention of the teacher can really prepare children to be successful students.

Physical

Most parents do not consider the nurturing of physical skills to be a necessary part of a preschool curriculum, but it is. First, children are becoming more inactive today, thus, encouragement to be physically active at a young age could have a lasting impact. Secondly, children do not automatically learn some motor skills, so teaching them how to skip or hop can help a child succeed in sports later.

Finding a preschool program that understands early childhood development maybe the best thing a parent can do for a child. The curriculum should incorporate the learning of academic skills, emotional and social skills, and even physical skills. However, above all else, make sure that it fosters a love of learning through play and exploration, as this will set the stage for the rest of your child's life.

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