Education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel. - Socrates
I never teach my pupils; I only attempt to provide the conditions in which they can learn. - Einstein
For ordinary schools, education is same as literacy, but Maria
Montessori calls it as “an aid to life", making the Montessori system, a
highly successful learning concept that has been acclaimed the world
over.
A Montessori school is equipped with more than 100 different types of Montessori Apparatus, classified into Sensorial Material, Language Material, Arithmetic Material, and so on. Practical Life Exercises, through the use of Sensorial Material, instil care for themselves, for others and the environment. Using this material, children learn to grade and classify impressions. They do this by touching, seeing; smelling, tasting, listening and exploring the physical properties of their environment, through these specially designed materials. The teacher's role is to provide the right environment for the child and make sure that the child can work at his own development in peace and freedom. The adult should understand that it is the child who has to achieve his goals. The adult cannot do it for him. Therefore, the adult should learn not think, “I have to mold my child. I have to make him a doctor, engineer etc." The role of building the child is that of nature and the child himself.
Teaching method - "Teach by teaching, not by correcting"
There are no papers turned back with red marks and corrections. Instead the child's effort and work is respected as it is. The teacher, through extensive observation and record-keeping, plans individual projects to enable each child to learn what he needs in order to improve. The Montessori teacher spends a lot of time during teacher training practicing the many lessons with materials in all areas. She must pass a written and oral exam on these lessons in order to be certified. She is trained to recognize a child's readiness according to age, ability, and interest in a specific lesson, and is prepared to guide individual progress.
Areas of study
All subjects are interwoven, not taught in isolation, the teacher modelling a "Renaissance" person of broad interests for the children. A child can work on any material he understands at any time.
Good Montessori teachers come from varied backgrounds, from artists to scientists, mountain climbers and dancers, to grandmothers! What qualities are needed to become a Montessori Directress/Director?
Commitments to the full development of the child -- to helping the child’s personality unfold. Someone who therefore seeks tirelessly to gain the interest of each child -- ready to enthuse him but also able to stand back and take a supporting role when the child has become engaged in his own work. Also patience, a sense of humour, and a wide variety of interests which will help to bring perspective to their work and enhance the children's lives. The role of a teacher has changed from an authoritarian to a friendly guide, a manager, a facilitator, a psychologist and a judge simultaneously. The curriculum is no longer an exercise for memory but it leads the students to reflect deeply and is activity-based. It is designed , nowadays, in such a way that an overall development of individuals is brought about by catering for their physical, emotional, intellectual, social, aesthetic and spiritual development. This makes the job of a teacher more demanding. Thus the teacher needs to be well equipped with all the skills to do justice to the children.
http://www.nurseryteachertraining.co.in/
