Principles of the Montessori Method

                                                    

Maria Montessori – A Pioneer in Education

Principles of the Montessori Approach:Designed to support the natural development of children in a well-prepared environment.

Respect for the Child:

n  cornerstone upon which all principles rest

n  help children do things independently

n  children learn through choices

The Absorbent Mind:

n  children are receptive and capable of learning

n  children learn unconsciously by taking in information directly from the environment

n  what children learn depends greatly on their teachers, experiences, and environments

Sensitive Periods:

n  children are more susceptible to certain behaviors and can learn specific skills more easily

n  encompass a relatively brief time period

n  teachers must learn to recognize and detect them, and then capitalize on them

n  sequence and timing varies for each child    

Prepared Environment:

n  a place that encourages children’s independence

n  learning materials and experiences are  available in an orderly format

n  children are free to explore materials of their own choosing

Auto-Education:

n  children are capable of teaching themselves if appropriate materials and activities are provided

n  actively involved children exercise freedom of choice in the prepared environment

The Teacher’s Role:

n  make children the center of learning

n  encourage children to learn

n  observe children

n  prepare the learning environment

n  respect each child

n  introduce learning materials

Montessori’s Basic Areas of Child Involvement

Practical life or motor education:

n  care of the person

n  care of the environment

n  social relations

n  analysis and control of movement

Sensory materials for training the senses:

n  control of error

n  isolation of a single quality

n  active involvement

n  attractiveness

Academic materials for writing, reading, and mathematics:

n  reading is an outgrowth of writing

n  manipulatives that teach such as:

                   geometric forms and colored pencils

                   sandpaper letters

                   movable alphabet

                   command cards

All these are taught according to a prescribed procedure. 

Montessori Education

http://www.fms.org/curriculum/EducationalPhilosophy.html

http://www.montessori-ami.org/montessori/approach.htm

http://www.arborviewmontessori.com/montessori-education/early-childhood-education.html

http://www.absorbentminds.co.uk/acatalog/What_is_Montessori_.html

It is all about fostering creativity, isn't it? Einstein was right! Generation knows little of. They only use their visual perception and less creativity. I think Fairy Tales allows one to use her/his imagination.

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-02-23/parenting/29810073_1_creativity-stories-child

Are you an ECE teacher?Here are  5  websites for you:


http://www.teachpreschool.org/

http://teacher.scholastic.com/products/ect/

http://mindsonmusic.kindermusik.com/

http://www.nea.org/

http://arc.missouri.edu/

I hope they were useful...JJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJ

I believe as a future teacher, I should create a supportive , challenging and respectful environments for my students. That is to say:

1-Supportive Environments:

n  Time for interaction with children, encourage them and help them

n  Developmentally based curricula

2-Challenging Environments:

n  Ensuring active involvement

n  Laying the foundation for school readiness

n  Providing materials and activities

n  THE CAREGIVERS!!

3-Respectful Environments:

n  listening., observing, being aware of children’s verbal and nonverbal communications

n  Culturally appropriate practices

For more info:
http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/ProfPrepStandards09.pdf

http://www.devstu.org/research-articles-and-papers-the-role-of-supportive-school-environments-in-promoting-academic-success

Brain Research: Implications for Early Childhood Professionals

Brain Research: Implications for Early Childhood Professionals

1. Babies are born to learn.
2. Brain development and lifelong learning of children  rely on interplay of nature and nurture.
3. Early life experiences have a long-lasting influence on how children develop and learn.
4. Sensitive periods influence learning both positively and negatively.
5. The human brain is quite "plastic." 
6. Prevention and early intervention are more beneficial than later remediation.
7. The brain undergoes physiological changes in response to experiences.
8. An enriched environment positively influences brain development.

http://www.southernearlychildhood.org/upload/pdf/Brain_Research__Its_Implications.pdf

Play and Digital Media

We all know that nowadays play is affected by computers and digital toys.Moreover, research indicates that when computer software targeted at children is problem -solving oriented ad open-ended,children tend to engage in creative play and interact with peers in a positive manner.On the other hand,drill-and-practice programs can be quite boring and limit children's initiative and decision-making.

Digital toys with computer chips installed that make toys talk or act in certain ways also appear to have a mixed impact on play.Digital toys ca serve as a catalysts for new forms of play and can have a positive influence on the content of more traditional forms of play.Other contend that children's development can be negatively influence by playing with digital toys,because they do not encourage creative play.Technological advances in toy manufacture bring significant opportunities and challenges to early childhood education.

Parents and teachers need to know how to use technology to promote learning and to enrich children's play and to protect children from possible negative influences.

What Is Assessment?

“Teaching without assessment is like driving a car without headlights.”Teaching in the dark does not benefit you or your children. Assessments   spreads  light on what children know and can do. It is an invaluable tool to guide your teaching and your students’   learning.

Assessing  the Head & the Hands 

          Your children’s lives, both in and out of school are influenced by your assessment and the assessment of others. As an early childhood professional, assessment influences your professional life and is a vital part of your professional practice. Effective assessment is one of your most important responsibilities.

       Assessment is the ongoing, continuous process of collecting, gathering, and documenting information about children’s development. Learning, health, behavior, academic progress, need for special services and achievement in order to make decisions about how to best educate them. Teachers and early childhood programs are informed by ongoing systematic, formal, and informal assessment approaches to provide information on children’s learning and development. These assessments occur within the context of reciprocal communication with families and sensitivity with cultural contexts in which children develop. Assessment results are used to benefit children by informing sound decisions about children, teaching, and program improvement.

http://www.getreadytoread.org/screening-tools/supportive-materials-for-elors/assessment-in-early-childhood

Individual Differences in Children

A  factor to consider in relation to development is the concept of individual differences. Children develop at different rates. This, in turn, creates variations among individuals (i.e., individual differences). Again, these differences can be either qualitative or quantitative. For children in any preschool classroom setting, the differences in temperament, personality, intelligence, achievement, and physical factors such as height and weight, are noteworthy and reflect a wide range of normal variation. Some children grow rapidly and others grow more slowly. There also are racial and gender developmental variations. During the fetal stage, for example, females mature faster than males do. Further, at birth, the skeletal development of females is about 4 weeks ahead of that of males, and African American children show more rapid skeletal maturation than white children do (Puckett & Black, 2004; Russell et al., 2001; Tanner, 1990).

It is important to understand that the concept of individual differences is the basis upon which one child is compared to another. Also, the existence of these differences constitutes the fundamental premise underlying the development of standardized educational and psychological tests. An understanding of individual differences provides the foundation for recognizing normal variations as well as extreme differences among children and, thus, for identifying those who may have special needs. In general, understanding of the various developmental levels is enhanced by familiarity with the concept of individual differences. 

 We must remember this on the tough days...

Play...

Here is a picture  I would like to share it with you...

Who Is An Early Childhood Professional?

        

It is a fact that ,you(as an early childhood education  teacher) are preparing to be a highly qualified and effective childhood professional ,who teaches children from birth to age eight. You are going to work with families and the community to bring high quality education and services to all children. How would you explain the term early childhood professional to others? What does professional mean?

Preparation is key for the professional preschool teacher!

A high quality early childhood professional has the professional characteristics, knowledge   and skills necessary to teach and conduct programs so that all children learn and the ability to inform the public about children’s and families’ issues . Early childhood professionals are those who promote high standards for themselves, their colleagues,, and their students-they are continually improving and expanding their skills and knowledge.

So, professionals also think about and reflect on their teaching and collaborations with colleagues and families. Being a reflective practitioner is an important part of being a professional. A last piece of advice, go more in depth of your role as a reflective professional.