Teaching the Montessori way

Montessori realized the first 3 years of a child life as the unconscious creation of the mind. She called this as the psychic embryo, since so much mental development occurs after birth. At this phase the child absorbs it’s surrounding unconsciously. The second phase of life is a conscious development that is from 3 to 6 years. She believed that ‘the most important period of life is not the age of university studies, but the first one, the period from birth to the age of six. For that is the time when man's intelligence itself, his greatest implement, is being formed.”
Montessori said the child from birth to six years has an “absorbent mind”. At this period the mind absorbs knowledge effortlessly almost anything from it’s surrounding. Thatis why it is important to provide a calm, peaceful uncluttered surrounding that is aesthetically appealing to the senses. Also children need to gain information about everything around them. Rules for social adaptation clearly set, consistently and firmly followed.

Very young children are sensitively attracted to certain activities and keep on repeating it for a certain period of time with concentrated attention. This period is well known to a Montessorian as the sensitive period since so much mental development occurs after birth. For example, children in a sensitive period for order will be drawn to activities that involve ordering. They are motivated to act this way in order to satisfy a psychological hunger necessary for its inner development. Any interruption at this period will end this developmental phase prematuredly

People whom the little child comes into contact with, need to keep this in mind and must be sensitive to their inner needs and assist the child in taking full advantage of this period and aiding to unfold his/her natural inner capabilities to optimum capacity .By the age of 3, the child has already laid down the foundations of his personality The child has enormous creative enegy. Early childhood education helps the child utilize it to his/her best.

Every Montessori activity helps the child to auto educate with inbuilt control of error. This puts the control in the hands of the learner and protects the young child’s self-esteem and self-motivation. Their muscular co-ordination improves. Because of this developmental need, children are drawn to activities that involve movement and especially to pastimes that demand a certain level of challenge

.The sensorial materials were created to help children in the process of creating and organizing their intelligence. The materials worked upon should not be too easy or too frustrating. Then only it will encourage repetition. Each scientifically designed material isolates a quality found in the world such as color, size, shape, etc. and this isolation focuses the attention on this one aspect. The child, through repeated manipulation of these objects, comes to form clear ideas on abstractions. What could not be explained by words,[abstract facts ] for e.g. dimensions,  the child learns by experience, working with the sensorial materials The child is presented materials and activities in a way that it does not distract from the purpose. Given freedom and time, they choose purposeful activities over frivolous ones

In our school the child is provided a prepared environment: where everything necessary for his/her development is included in a safe atmosphere. These include order reality, beauty and simplicity. She/he is given opportunity, to experiment, and experience with the senses

In Montessori’s view all humans are intuitively inclined to
 Exploration
 Orientation
 Order
 Abstraction
 Work
 Self-perfection
 Communication
 A spiritual life

Montessori did not believe in reward or punishment. Disciplining by external control does not withstand. The child learns to discipline itself by developing its inner control and by the development of the will

Children love to do things for themselves and in Montessori schools they are encouraged to be self-dependent. Making their own choices is the first step towards independence. An understanding Montessori educator encourages this. Willpower or self-control develops from making and executing ones choice.

In Little Folks the children are provided with lot of interesting books. They are told stories .Conversation is aimed at developing the grasp of English language and knowledge of the world around them. Phonetics and both upper and lowercase alphabets are taught. Teaching maths and language are through simple and fun activities.Lot, of experience in classifying. gradation, memory games. Comparison, matching and contrast simple geometry, graph, and set theory exercises are given so that in later years it will be easier for them to accept these concepts

SLOKAMS

Prayer slokams




1. Gajananam bhutha ghanaditha sevitham kabitha jambu palasara patchitam

umasutham sokavinasa karana Namami Sri vigneshwara pada pankajam

2. Saraswati namasthubhyam varade kamarupin Vidhyarambam karishyami

Sidhir bavathu me sadha

3. Guru. Brahma Guru Vishnu Guru devo Maheshwaraha

Guru sakshath Parabrahma thasmisri Guruve namaha

4. Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

Jai jai Ram Janaki Ram Jai jai Ram Sita Ram

Rama Rama Rama Rama Rama Rama Ra m Rama Rama Rama Rama Rama Sita Ram

5. Aum Nama sivaya sivaya Nama Aum[repeat twice]

Hara Hara sankara jaya jaya sankara Hara Hara sankara jaya jaya sankara

6. God bless mummy God bless daddy

God bless others God bless me.

7 Patriotic song

I love India , I love India India is my country I love Little Folks I love Little Folks L.F is my school

Mera Bharath Mahan Vande Matharam Vande Matharam

8.Meals time

Om sahana bunathu Sahaviryam karavavahai Tejasvina madi tamastu ma midvi savahai

Om Shanti Shanti Shantihi

9Annapurne sadha purne Sankara rana vallabe

Gnana vairakyam siddartham Biksham dehi cha Parvati

Separation Anxiety

Children experience seperation anxiety upto 5 years because they do not have an idea of object permanency. when you leave them for the first time in school they think that you have abandoned them

Prepare your child ahead of time. Much earlier before your child start school talk of all good things about school.Also tell them you cannot be present with your child in school and that you will lways return to pick them up.You can also add that it is important for his growth as a person and that you also miss him too. But you allow this situation since you believe that he needs to grow into a greater person

Do not linger in school premises for a long time.I you have to talk to the teacher you can either do it over the phone or when you come to pick up your child

Be very cool about leaving your child . Otherwise your child/s anxiety will only increase. Understand that this is necessary for your child and he has to outgrow this phase of dependency .Your child will react to your body language ,and  you cannot satisfy him with superficial words.So be really cool.

Promise to come back soon before leaving and always keep up your promise. the child will learn to value your words, If you cannot keep up your promise due to unavoidable circumstances always make it a habit to sjncerely apologize.

Let the child take to school something thatwill comfort him like a toy or your scarf or kerchief with your perfume , that can reminded him of your presence when you are not around. in a comfort bag.. The infant is able to soothe herself with memories of being with her mother and the knowledge that her mother will return
 
Give the child experiences of separation for short spans of time. much before the school starts.. Doing this in increments is good.Also let him play by himself independently. You just be around and not involve yourself in his play.


Do not sneak out without his knowledge Sneaking out when your child is distracted with something could make separation anxiety worse, he will think that you have abandoned him, disappearing without saying goodbye will intensify the fear.He will also be angry with you for taking him for a ride.It will be a  real task to make him trust you after that.

Your child should be physically fit before you leave. Well fed and after nice sleep. With no fever or cold

Be understanding Do not mock or criticize

Do not bribe

Be Positive   Do not talk wayawardly about the school in front of your child. Let your child know that you trust the people in school take good care of him.

Be firm--. Say a warm good-bye and leave

In the first few months of schooling ,take care not to go too early to leave your child or too late to recieve him.Go just at the starting time ,not 10 mts earlier or 15 mts later I mean do not be the first person to leave or the last person to recieve,for your child will feel lonely and left out..I would not be surprised if it will be difficult for you to  convince him to go to school after that experience.