The foundations of the Montessori methodology
Teach sequentially
When the child really understands, he knows the sequence of facts that demonstrate the truth of a given idea – as against just citing a book under a teacher’s authority. We want children to understand the world so they can act in it; memorized chains of words or symbols are not knowledge, and undercut motivation. Example: Mathematics: In Montessori, children learn concrete, simple number concepts with specialised tangible equipment which provide a context for how number values relate to each other before introducing numbers in an abstract form (pen and paper).
A personal touch
At Dandelions Montessori, the child’s choice to learn is central to our approach: real learning (as opposed to memorizing, or engaging in “hands-on projects” without further meaning) has to be built on sincere interest of the child. To engage the child’s interest, we take his full context into account: his background knowledge, his skill level, his values and interests. This is done in 2 ways. Firstly, we provide children with choice in terms of the work which they engage in during the Montessori work cycle. Secondly, we provide dedicated one- on-one teaching periods which gives children undisturbed time with their teacher in order to ensure all areas of the curriculum are covered and all questions are answered.
Apply through 'work'
To keep knowledge meaningful and fun, we create real application opportunities in each subject. Throughout, we create applications that engage the children’s minds on the topic they are learning: they think about the content we want them to remember, and thus make the knowledge their own.
Prepared environment
At Dandelions Montessori we create an environment that facilitates a child's choice to work. From the child-sized furniture, to the self-correcting materials; to his choice of mats or table and work partners; from the plants and animals in the classroom, to the type of teachers we hire: everything is tailored to help the child choose to learn and to concentrate on productive work and personal development.
THE BIG Differences between Montessori and Traditional Education
1. Spontaneous joy
2. Help to life-education
3. Absorbent mind
4. Sensitive periods
5. Individual differences
6. Prepared environment
7. Freedom of choice
8. Liberty and discipline
Multi-age, family like communities.
Most play-based programs segregate children by age into the 2's, 3’s and 4’s, and so on. Montessori preschools instead group 3- to 6-year-olds into one class. A child stays with the same teacher for three years. This builds a strong, family-like community, with lasting relationships between child and teacher, and friendships between children of different ages. Young children look up to and learn from older ones; while the 5--year-olds gain confidence as they become classroom leaders and mentors for their younger peers.
Uninterrupted “work periods.”
Most preschools follow tight, adult-led schedules, with a new group activity every 15-30 minutes. In contrast, authentic Montessori preschools offer long, uninterrupted work periods that allow children to fully engage in tasks that they have chosen for themselves, under the careful, individual guidance of their teacher. Montessori children thus have repeated opportunities to get really engrossed in their activities, and experience regular states of concentrated focus. Visit a good Montessori preschool, and you may see a 3-year-old spending 30 minutes carefully arranging colour tablets in a rainbow pattern, or a 4-year-old tracing, colouring and labelling a map of the world. As adults, we can’t focus when we know we’ll be interrupted soon; neither can children. Unstructured, child-led time is key in building concentration skills at the foundation of all learning.
A carefully sequenced, activity-based curriculum that engages hand and mind
While most play-based preschools have the same type of toys you already have at home— think Legos, dress-up corners, colouring pages, trains and blocks—Montessori preschools offer something different to your child. Displayed beautifully on low shelves, you’ll find dozens of scientifically designed learning materials: a Pink Tower, Colour Tablets, pouring activities, a Movable Alphabet, math materials that teach the decimal system and arithmetic into the thousands, and so much more. Each activity has been selected because children at hundreds of Montessori preschools chose it freely, repeatedly. Each one teaches multiple skills and enables the preschool child to problem solve, to use his hands and all his senses, to repeat an activity and achieve mastery. By progressing at his own pace through these activities, a Montessori preschool child joyfully refines his gross and fine motor skills, and, ultimately, progresses to reading, writing and arithmetic into the thousands, all while in preschool.
DISCIPLINE:
Dandelions Montessori discipline is a positive factor aimed to assist the developing child to reach the goal of self-discipline.
No corporal punishment is ever administrated. It is demeaning and unconstitutional.
If there is a continuous discipline problem of any kind, the issue will be addressed with the parents by the appropriate educator and principal.