Cherubs Montessori

The Role of Montessori Education in Raising Responsible Global Citizens

cherubs — Wed, 05 Jul 2023 05:46:50 +0000

Education for global citizenship “means embracing a more holistic view of what kind of skills and attitudes are needed in our world today. While skills for jobs are important, so are skills for living together”.The purpose of this part is to clarify the meaning of global citizenship education by understanding its goals and its core conceptual dimensions.

Goals of global citizenship education: The aim of global citizenship education is to enable students to participate and have active roles locally and globally. Also, it supports the learners with skills that help them to face and solve global challenges and become active contributors to the sustainable world. Moreover, global citizenship education provides students with the capability to understand their rights and responsibilities to promote a better future.

Core conceptual dimensions of global citizenship education: Global citizenship education provides the learners with the capability of gaining knowledge about specific global issues and appreciating key general values like human rights, diversity and democracy. The core conceptual dimensions can be divided into the following: Cognitive, socioemotional and behavioral, which are explained below:

Cognitive: To acquire knowledge, understanding and critical thinking about global, regional, national and local issues and the interconnectedness and interdependency of different countries and populations.

Socio-emotional: To have a sense of belonging to common humanity, sharing values and responsibilities, empathy, solidarity and respect for differences and diversity.

Behavioral: To act effectively and responsibly at local, national and global levels for a more peaceful and sustainable world.

The concept of global citizenship education in this study is the education that provides the students with cognitive skills that help them to be creative, innovative, problem solvers and decision makers, and non-cognitive skills like openness to experiences and interacting with people of different origins and backgrounds. Also, it encourages the learners to engage in proactive actions.

Montessori’s methods help in an indirect way in reinforcing teaching global citizenship education through living out the values by fostering critical and independent thoughts that provide a manner of awareness and developing imagination by allowing children to go for their curiosity that contributes in solving the common problems.

Education plays a significant role in the growth of a child. Therefore, parents should focus on providing high quality education to their children for ensuring a bright career. Montessori education involves unique approaches that help to improve the skills of a child. It provides methods for nourishing the abilities naturally to witness major changes. This system creates opportunities for a child to learn on his/her own with freedom of choice. Besides education, children will be allowed to motivate themselves with a variety of materials for gaining more benefits.

Anyone who wants to improve the talents of their child can choose it for reaching next levels in life. It also shows ways for developing leadership, decision making and other skills to become a responsible citizen in the society. A child can be able to increase self-confidence and self-esteem levels in this education for knowing the responsibilities. Another advantage is that it makes feasible ways for augmenting intellectual, physical and cultural abilities to a greater extent. Montessori education emphasizes more on respecting others, tolerance, concern for others and working with the communities.

21st century skills

The 21st century skills are the skills that are needed for the students to compete in the work field. Due to the change in the economy, technology and job types, there has been a shift in the essential skills that are needed for the work field. They moved from manufacturing skills to information and knowledge skills. Education is considered the main tool that provides people with the skills that help them in meeting these challenges. The 21st century skills are divided into learning skills and career skills. The learning skills are defined as the ability of communicate, collaborate, critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity and innovation. Career skills are defined as the ability of individuals to work effectively with different teams, and social and cross-culture skills. The methods that facilitate providing the students with these skills are the following: project-based learning, problem-based learning, and design-based learning. Unfortunately, these skills are not recognized by traditional educational assessments that are based on memorization. While 21st century skills are important in improving economic competitiveness.

The 21st century skills include the skills that this study is looking for, which are critical thinking, problem-solving, global and local citizenship, decision making and personal and local responsibilities. These skills are the skills that this study is investigating and which Montessori education is providing children with and education for sustainable development and global citizenship education are calling for.

The 21st Century skills and Montessori Education

The 21st century skills include critical thinking, problem solving, global and local citizenship, decision making and personal and local responsibilities. These skills are related in Montessori Schools in Bangalore Education. Looking at the skills that Montessori education develops at an early age, it can be seen that critical thinking is one of them. The child through exposure to new materials and trying to learn how to use them develop critical thinking skills. Problem solving skills are also achieved when the child tries to use the materials within the Montessori method. Global and local citizenship, as discussed earlier in the global citizenship education system, is related to Montessori education. Decision making is a cornerstone of the Montessori method because, as presented earlier, the child is left to do his own things and this helps in developing decision-making skills in deciding what, how and when to do things. Having personal and local responsibilities is the tying point between 21st century skills, ESD and Montessori. A child who learns to take care of the environment and think in a sustainable manner, will have personal and local responsibility. To sum, the 21st century skills are part of the Montessori education, ESD and GCED.

Montessori and Parent-Child Relationships: Building Strong Bonds with Your Child

cherubs — Mon, 03 Jul 2023 04:37:52 +0000

Montessori parenting, based on the beliefs and studies of Maria Montessori, encourages children to learn through play and experience and can be an all-encompassing lifestyle.

What is Montessori Parenting?

Montessori-style parenting is an approach that allows children to learn through free playing and exploring. Children can do what they want (to an extent) and follow their inclinations to gain a sense of self-worth at an early age.

Montessori parenting encourages parents to spend quality time with their children and includes them in their day-to-day home life activities (called practical life) because this is their children’s main desire. Parents should focus on creating a safe environment where children can come, go, and play freely without harm.

Instead of what you think of as traditional discipline, Maria Montessori encourages parents to set boundaries. This becomes the focus instead of consequences and punishments. Overall, Montessori parents will think of and respect the child as the person they are and who they are becoming by encouraging freedom in their environment and ithe child’s self-discovery.

Montessori is Attachment Parenting ?

Attachment parenting and Montessori parenting are similar in some ways but not the same. Attachment parenting encourages relationship building through maximum time together. It makes it seem like you have to be attached to your child physically, often through babywearing, co-sleeping, and never letting your child be away from you. This parenting style has become popular but is a gross misinterpretation of attachment theory.

Montessori parenting doesn’t focus on this intensive “closeness” to your child at all times. Instead, it’s grounded in parental responsiveness, empathy, respect for the child, and a child’s ability to be independent when securely attached to their primary caregivers (which mostly happens naturally with a responsive caregiver).

Why A Montessori Home ?

Because the Montessori parenting method focuses on developing the child as a whole, it becomes more than a parenting method and can become an entire lifestyle.

Montessori-inspired parenting can help eliminate behavior problems in your home. It will allow children to explore in a safe space. It also provides more family time, as it causes parents to be more intentional in spending time with their children.

In a Montessori home, parents allow their children to complete tasks independently rather than stepping in and helping (which usually turns into doing it for them), leading to them doing daily tasks independently. This can mean putting on their clothes, making their bowl of cereal, or any other simple daily tasks.

“We must help the child to act for himself, will for himself, think for himself,this is the art of those who aspire to serve the spirit” Maria Montessori.

Blog Author - Ms. Triveni

Montessori and Conflict Resolution: Teaching Kids to Communicate Effectively and Respectfully.

cherubs — Fri, 30 Jun 2023 04:24:54 +0000

Montessori education provides a holistic view to children’s development as it was envisaged by Maria Montessori. A key element of development is effectively communicating one’s ideas and thought processes. Communication is both listening actively and telling fearlessly what is on one’s mind. This process entails many challenges-namely how do we communicate our differences respectfully? How do we deal with conflicts in our environment? From these standpoints, Montessori education emphasizes the importance of teaching children conflict resolution skills and promoting effective and respectful communication.

“Once the child can speak, he/she can express himself/herself and no longer depends on others to guess his needs. A Child finds himself/herself in touch with human society, for people can only communicate through language.”
Dr. Maria Montessori

Some notable strategies that we educators impact in our daily classroom activities, as well as lesson plans, are listed below.

Respectful Communication as a daily habit: As an educator, model respectful communication is needed while interacting with children. Children learn by observing, so educator expulsion is required.

Inclusive environment: Inclusive Montessori school provides an enriched environment in which children are inspired to reach their highest potential. There are generally six aspects to the prepared Montessori environment i.e. Freedom, Structure, Order, Beauty, Nature, Social environment and Intellectual environment. The Montessori philosophy fosters a strong sense of community and respect for self and environment, building a strong academic foundation for a lifetime of learning.

Teacher-student connections: One of the most special things about Montessori education is the relationship between the teacher and the student. Although Montessori students have the freedom to pursue their academic progress, a teacher provides the tools for learning and the pathway to information and discovery. Teachers act as guides for their students. They work with students in a group. Since the teacher becomes familiar with the student’s likes and dislikes, they can better guide the students through their journey of learning.

Relationship with peer group: Peer relationships provide a unique context in which children learn a range of critical social-emotional skills, such as empathy, cooperation, and problem-solving strategies.

Class celebrations: In the Montessori environment, birthdays are celebrated differently. Montessori ritual of inviting the child to carry a globe of the Earth and walk around the symbol of the sun, one revolution for each year of the child’s life.

Parents involvement: Students whose parents stay involved in school have better attendance and behavior, get better grades, demonstrate better social; skills, and adapt better to school. Parental involvement also more securely sets these students up to develop a lifelong love of learning, which researchers say is key to long-term success.

Conflict Resolution: “Language is used to communicate needs and desires as well as for self-expression of their feelings and emotions.”

We empower children to communicate effectively and resolve conflicts, respectively. This helps develop strong character and personal skills.

Blog Author – Archana Nayak

The Montessori Curriculum: Learning Through Hands-On Experiences

cherubs — Fri, 09 Jun 2023 09:48:40 +0000

In the Montessori Classroom

Dr Maria Montessori was a scientist who spent time observing children. In doing so, she realized that children wanted real-world, hands-on applications for learning. Not only did they want it, but they also experienced joy in using their hands.

Through experimentation and careful calculation, Montessori developed materials for children to use. These lessons intentionally foster self-discovery and serve learning goals. Over 100 years later, the observations she made then still hold. Children enjoy and benefit from using their hands to learn regardless of the subject matter.

In a Montessori classroom, you will see hands-on learning everywhere! A child washing a table is learning about their environment while also preparing their hand muscles for similar movements in writing. Placing cubes on top of one another in the pink tower allows children to learn precision of movement while also allowing their body to experience, physically, the difference in 1 cubic centimetre ten times over! Not only this, but it is also teaching the basics of the mathematics base ten systems. Rarely is a lesson in a Montessori classroom taught for one purpose only, and usually, with time, the hands-on learning leads to multiple objectives.

What are Montessori hands-on experiences?

These activities allow students to use their hands to discover the world around them, keeping them captivated and focused on the subject. A few examples of hands-on activities include pouring and scooping, washing the window, and glueing paper.

What is the purpose of hands-on experience?

It helps you build connections in the environment. Through hands-on experience in the community or classroom, students develop not only the key transferable competencies and skills necessary for the workplace.

What is a hands-on experience for child development?

Hands-on learning encourages multi-tasking through listening, speaking, touching and using the senses to explore the environment. Hands-on learning engages children in problem-solving strategies. It allows young children to interact with the learning materials and make mistakes as they learn practically.

The Importance of Hands-on Learning in Early Childhood

Hands-on learning is vital to childhood because it’s how young children start learning skills informally before entering formal learning.

Little ones begin to use their hands from an early age. It is through handling things in a practical way that they begin to experience the world around them.

What is Hands-On Learning?

Hands-on learning is simply learning by doing. The process of learning this way takes place through action. The brain is stimulated in multiple areas through practical learning experiences.

Through hands-on activities, children are encouraged to learn through exploration. Hands-on learning develops thinking skills. The senses are engaged through physical participation in learning. Through their seven senses, children develop an understanding of their world and engage with different learning styles.

Hands-on learning promotes fine motor skills and allows children to learn through their mistakes. It provides real opportunities for children to experiment and learn about the world through play.

Examples of Hands-On Learning Activities

Here are a few examples of activities that encourage a hands-on approach.

Playdough
Building blocks
Sand or sensory trays
Water play

Kinesthetic Learning

The Kinesthetic learner loves to be involved. Physical interaction is an important part of this learning style.

Touching, feeling and working with things by manipulating them are important to a child with a Kinesthetic learning style.

These learners like to try things out and be directly involved in what they learn. They need the stimulation of being a physical part of their learning, trying new things and interacting through a hands-on approach.

The Benefits of Hands-On Learning in Early Childhood

Hands-on learning stimulates the growth of the brain. The right side is stimulated through visual stimuli, creativity and using the imagination; the left side is through problem-solving, spatial awareness, sorting and organizing.
Hands-on learning encourages multi-tasking through listening, speaking, touching and using the senses to explore the environment.
Hands-on learning engages children in problem-solving strategies.
It allows young children to interact with the learning materials and make mistakes as they learn practically. Valuable learning takes place through making mistakes.
Hands-on learning is more realistic and less abstract for young learners.

It helps to develop critical thinking skills and create learning opportunities to use all seven senses. It is a practical approach to learning.

Conclusion

Hands-on learning combines the use of the senses and the important concept of learning through play. The wonderful positive factor of hands-on learning is it lends itself to all three learning styles. It promotes the early development of both sides of the brain, increases neural pathways, and begins developing young minds at the very early stage of learning. Hands-on learning is the ideal learning tool for children.

The Montessori Method: Developing Fine Motor Skills through Practical Life Activities

cherubs — Wed, 07 Jun 2023 05:54:20 +0000

Montessori Method:

The Montessori Method is an approach that focuses on independence, freedom within limits, and respect for a child’s natural development. It involves mixed-age classrooms, a prepared environment with hands-on materials, individualized learning, and a teacher as a guide. It promotes critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity, and a love for learning. The Montessori environment is divided into several areas:

Practical Life (everyday skills)
Sensorial (sensory development)
Language (oral and written communication)
Mathematics (mathematical concepts)
Cultural Studies (geography, history, science, and art)

These areas cater to a child’s development and provide a well-rounded learning experience.

Practical Life :

In Montessori education, practical life activities are crucial in developing a child’s fine motor skills. These activities promote independence, coordination, concentration, and attention to detail. Here are some ways in which practical life activities help in the development of fine motor skills:

Fine Motor Skills: Fine motor skills in the Montessori Method are vital for a child’s overall development and independence. These skills involve coordinating and controlling small muscles in the hands and fingers, allowing children to perform precise and delicate tasks. In the Montessori environment, numerous activities are specifically designed to promote the refinement of fine motor skills. The Practical Life area focuses on everyday activities that require hand-eye coordination, concentration, and precision.

Pouring and Transferring: Activities that involve pouring liquids from one container to another or transferring objects with tweezers or tongs help children refine their hand-eye coordination and develop precise control of their hand movements.

Spooning and Scooping: Using spoons or small scoops to transfer materials such as rice or beans from one container to another requires careful hand movements, promoting dexterity and the pincer grasp.

Buttoning and Fastening: Manipulating buttons, zippers, snaps, and buckles on clothing or dressing frames helps children develop their finger muscles and hand-eye coordination.

Lacing and Threading: Lacing cards or threading beads onto strings or shoelaces requires children to use their fine motor skills to hold, manipulate, and guide the lace or string through small holes or beads.

Cutting and Tracing: Using child-sized scissors to cut the paper along lines or shapes and tracing patterns or shapes with a pencil help children develop hand strength, hand-eye coordination, and precision in their movements.

Sorting and Grading: Sorting objects based on different attributes such as colour, shape, size, or texture allows children to practice their fine motor skills as they pick up and manipulate objects with their fingers.

Care of the Environment: Activities like sweeping, dusting, and polishing promote the development of fine motor skills by requiring children to grasp and manipulate cleaning tools and perform repetitive movements.

Care of Self: Engaging in activities such as buttoning clothes, tying shoelaces, brushing teeth, or washing hands and face helps children refine their fine motor skills and gain independence in self-care routines.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Montessori Method recognizes the importance of developing fine motor skills in children and integrates practical life activities to support their refinement. These activities, such as pouring, spooning, buttoning, zipping, and tying shoelaces, engage children in purposeful tasks that require coordinated hand movements and finger dexterity. By participating in these activities, children acquire essential life skills and enhance their independence, concentration, hand-eye coordination, and manual dexterity. The Montessori approach nurtures the development of fine motor skills as a foundation for future academic tasks and promotes children’s overall growth and self-confidence.

Flexible Hours – The Need To Know

cherubs — Sat, 05 Oct 2019 04:19:10 +0000

The key to maximising your child’s experiences within an early learning centre is effective communication. When families and educators are on the same page with the child’s progress, the child flourishes. Consequently, it helps to ease the transition between home and care, building a sense of confidence and belonging in young children.

What kind of information should I share with the centre?

The educators at the centre are your child’s primary caretakers and influencers when you aren’t around. Therefore, to best understand and cater to the needs of your child, it’s important for them to be aware of:

Your child’s interests, likes, dislikes
Their routines- patterns of eating, sleeping, toileting
Your child’s current wellbeing
Any major events taking place at home.

By providing this type of information with the centre, it helps the educator’s and in-centre staff to meet your child’s individual needs. As a result, you can help make most of your child’s time in care.

What information should the staff share with me?

Communication between you and the centre must never be one-way. Just as it is important for you to share information about behaviours at home, it is vital for educators to share what happens in-centre. The staff should share with you:

The staff should share with you:

Your child’s eating, sleeping and toileting habits in-centre
Their daily experiences – incursions, excursions, art, sporting or music activities
Your child’s mood and behaviour – if they have been extra grumpy or sad
Their relationships with other children and educators
Any health issues, accidents or injuries relating to your child

Fortunately, at ChildIt centre, we use a wonderful communication app called KindyChild, where you can stay up-to-date with your child’s progress in real time.

Flexible Hours – The Need To Know

cherubs — Sat, 05 Oct 2019 04:13:59 +0000

What kind of information should I share with the centre?

Your child’s interests, likes, dislikes
Their routines- patterns of eating, sleeping, toileting
Your child’s current wellbeing
Any major events taking place at home.

What information should the staff share with me?

The staff should share with you:

Your child’s eating, sleeping and toileting habits in-centre
Their daily experiences – incursions, excursions, art, sporting or music activities
Your child’s mood and behaviour – if they have been extra grumpy or sad
Their relationships with other children and educators
Any health issues, accidents or injuries relating to your child

Fortunately, at ChildIt centre, we use a wonderful communication app called KindyChild, where you can stay up-to-date with your child’s progress in real time.

Communication – Why It’s Important

cherubs — Sun, 29 Sep 2019 03:39:09 +0000

What kind of information should I share with the centre?

Your child’s interests, likes, dislikes
Their routines- patterns of eating, sleeping, toileting
Your child’s current wellbeing
Any major events taking place at home.

What information should the staff share with me?

The staff should share with you:

Your child’s eating, sleeping and toileting habits in-centre
Their daily experiences – incursions, excursions, art, sporting or music activities
Your child’s mood and behaviour – if they have been extra grumpy or sad
Their relationships with other children and educators
Any health issues, accidents or injuries relating to your child

Fortunately, at ChildIt centre, we use a wonderful communication app called KindyChild, where you can stay up-to-date with your child’s progress in real time.

Communication – Why It’s Important

cherubs — Sun, 29 Sep 2019 03:27:14 +0000

What kind of information should I share with the centre?

Your child’s interests, likes, dislikes
Their routines- patterns of eating, sleeping, toileting
Your child’s current wellbeing
Any major events taking place at home.

What information should the staff share with me?

The staff should share with you:

Your child’s eating, sleeping and toileting habits in-centre
Their daily experiences – incursions, excursions, art, sporting or music activities
Your child’s mood and behaviour – if they have been extra grumpy or sad
Their relationships with other children and educators
Any health issues, accidents or injuries relating to your child

Fortunately, at ChildIt centre, we use a wonderful communication app called KindyChild, where you can stay up-to-date with your child’s progress in real time.

The Preschool Money

cherubs — Wed, 25 Sep 2019 09:39:32 +0000

What kind of information should I share with the centre?

Your child’s interests, likes, dislikes
Their routines- patterns of eating, sleeping, toileting
Your child’s current wellbeing
Any major events taking place at home.

What information should the staff share with me?

The staff should share with you:

Your child’s eating, sleeping and toileting habits in-centre
Their daily experiences – incursions, excursions, art, sporting or music activities
Your child’s mood and behaviour – if they have been extra grumpy or sad
Their relationships with other children and educators
Any health issues, accidents or injuries relating to your child

Fortunately, at ChildIt centre, we use a wonderful communication app called KindyChild, where you can stay up-to-date with your child’s progress in real time.

Cherubs Montessori

The Role of Montessori Education in Raising Responsible Global Citizens

The 21st Century skills and Montessori Education

Montessori and Parent-Child Relationships: Building Strong Bonds with Your Child

Montessori parenting, based on the beliefs and studies of Maria Montessori, encourages children to learn through play and experience and can be an all-encompassing lifestyle.

What is Montessori Parenting?

Montessori is Attachment Parenting ?

Why A Montessori Home ?

Blog Author - Ms. Triveni

Montessori and Conflict Resolution: Teaching Kids to Communicate Effectively and Respectfully.

“Once the child can speak, he/she can express himself/herself and no longer depends on others to guess his needs. A Child finds himself/herself in touch with human society, for people can only communicate through language.” Dr. Maria Montessori

Blog Author – Archana Nayak

The Montessori Curriculum: Learning Through Hands-On Experiences

In the Montessori Classroom

What are Montessori hands-on experiences?

What is the purpose of hands-on experience?

What is a hands-on experience for child development?

The Importance of Hands-on Learning in Early Childhood

What is Hands-On Learning?

Examples of Hands-On Learning Activities

Kinesthetic Learning

The Benefits of Hands-On Learning in Early Childhood

The Montessori Method: Developing Fine Motor Skills through Practical Life Activities

Montessori Method:

Practical Life :

Flexible Hours – The Need To Know

What kind of information should I share with the centre?

What information should the staff share with me?

Flexible Hours – The Need To Know

What kind of information should I share with the centre?

What information should the staff share with me?

Communication – Why It’s Important

What kind of information should I share with the centre?

What information should the staff share with me?

Communication – Why It’s Important

What kind of information should I share with the centre?

What information should the staff share with me?

The Preschool Money

What kind of information should I share with the centre?

What information should the staff share with me?

“Once the child can speak, he/she can express himself/herself and no longer depends on others to guess his needs. A Child finds himself/herself in touch with human society, for people can only communicate through language.”
Dr. Maria Montessori