what is montessori preschool?

Answer 1

The teacher’s role in a Montessori school is to observe in order to connect the child with the suitable materials. We determine the needs of the child and find activities or “work” for them that help develop these needs. We focus on helping the child develop a sense of order, coordination, concentration, a love of learning, and self-esteem,
What Are Montessori’s Main Components?
Social
•The link between family and school is important.
•Most Montessori classrooms have multiple age groups, which is intended to give children more opportunity to learn from each other.
•Montessori advocated that children learn best by doing.
•In order to help children focus, the teacher silently demonstrates the use of learning materials to them. Children may then choose to practice on any material they have had a “lesson” about.
•Once children are given the lesson with the material, they may work on it independently, often on a mat that designates their space.

Curriculum

•There is a belief in sensory learning; children learn more by touching, seeing, smelling, tasting, and exploring than by just listening.
•The child’s work as a purposeful, ordered activity toward a determined end is highly valued. This applies both to exercises for practical life and language.
•The main materials in the classroom are “didactic.” These are materials that involve sensory experiences and are self-correcting. Montessori materials are designed to be aesthetically pleasing, yet sturdy and were developed by Maria Montessori to help children develop organization.
•Evans (1971) summarized the preschool curriculum in a Montessori program as consisting “…of three broad phases: exercises for practical life, sensory education, and language activities (reading and writing).” (p. 59)

Environmental Set-Up

•Montessori believed that the environment should be prepared by matching the child to the corresponding didactic material.
•The environment should be comfortable for children (e.g., child-sized chairs that are lightweight).
•The environment should be homelike, so child can learn practical life issues. For example, there should be a place for children to practice proper self-help skills, such as hand washing.
•Since Montessori believed beauty helped with concentration, the setting is aesthetically pleasing.
•In the setting, each child is provided a place to keep her own belongings.
What Is Unique About the Program?
The environment is prepared with self-correcting materials for work, not play. The Montessori method seeks to support the child in organization, thus pretend play and opportunities to learn creatively from errors are less likely to be seen in a Montessori classroom. Chattin-McNichols (1992) clarifies how Piaget, often called the “father of constructivism,” and Montessori both agreed that children learn from errors, yet the set-up in which errors may occur is controlled differently in the Montessori classroom. The didactic, self-correcting materials assist controlling error versus an adult correcting the child.
How Can One Tell If a School Is Truly Following the Montessori Method?
The first step to ensure whether a school truly practices the Montessori method is making sure that its teachers are AMI or AMS credentialed. Not every Montessori school has teachers with Montessori training.

Although Montessori schools are sometimes thought of as being elitist institutions for wealthy families, this is not true. There are many charter and public Montessori schools. Nor, despite the fact that Montessori began her work with poor special needs children in Rome, are Montessori schools reserved for low -income children with disabilities.
Here are some comparisons between Montessori and traditional education http://www.montessori-namta.org/NAMTA/geninfo/compar.html

Answer 2

I read one very good article on "Preschool For Child Rights" regarding developing Montessori Curriculum etc its titled - Montessori Curriculum versus Montessori philosophy. What i suggest is to go to "Preschool For Child Rights" and using their search function look for - Montessori Curriculum versus Montessori philosophy. - http://www.preschoolforchildrights.com/home/preschool-kindergarten-articles-curriculum-development/montessori-curriculum-or-montessori-philosophy/

Many things regarding Montessori , Preschool etc is also explained in this video –

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKgNSDBs_YQ

Answer 3

My son went to one and I loved it. They teach at a pace that each kid in the class can go with and not be left behind or held back. Also, the teachers (at least at my son's school) have all obtained their teaching degree. My son went into kindergarten already knowing his colors, numbers, letters, how to count by 5s and 10s, etc. They also prepare the kids for school. They help them adjust to being around lots of kids they've never met and having a schedule to go by instead of doing whatever they want whenever they want. My son is now 11 and in gifted and talented classes and ahead in math by 2 grades. I accredit all of this to the Montessori preschool. A girl who was in his class is the same way. I'm not trying to boast or brag, just giving examples of what I think is a wonderful thing for kids these days. One downside is that they can get pretty pricy depending on your location. His was $150 a week.

Answer 4

Montessori schools can be a good choice, they do emphasize hands on learning, and learning at your own pace. The only thing I would have against it, is they encourage individual play. Which leaves less interaction with peers, and adults. I think those things can be very important, and we should always encourage kids to keep that state of mind when they always ask "why?" and let them talk it out with eachother.

Answer 5

It is expensive but well worth it. It starts as early as 3 years old and on up. I want my daughter to go to one for preschool but we just can't afford it. They go to school all day from 9-4, i don't know if that's how all of them do it as early as 3 and 4 years old but we live oversees in Japan and the Japanses take education very seriously, so I know my daughter would really benefit from it.

Answer 6

the children learn and progress at their own pace instead of it being every kid in the class doing the same thing at the same time... i went to montessori school through 6th grade and it was probably the best thing my parents did for me...

Answer 7

Check below, it explains in more detail.

Answer 8

thanks for asking this question i was wondering the same thing