While self-directed learning is the cornerstone of the Montessori philosophy, small group learning is also an important part of a child’s education. Montessori’s multi-age classrooms enable collaborative learning by allowing older and younger children to experience new material together, with older students acting as mentors to younger students. Teachers often present lessons to small groups, which allow the lesson to be targeted to the skill levels of individual children in the group. At Montessori Preschool Chatsworth, we use small group learning in the following areas to enhance the educational experience for our preschoolers. Practical Life
The goals of the Practical Life lessons are to help children develop the skills to take care of themselves and to contribute to the class. This includes a focus on independence and fine and gross motor skills. Examples of activities might be learning how to clean a table, preparing and serving snacks, or using a dropper to transfer water. Another portion of the Practical Life lessons is called Grace and Courtesy, which focuses on social skills such as how to wait for your turn, how to invite someone to play, and how to say “please” and “thank you.” Small groups work well for teaching these skills because children can role-play to reinforce the concepts. Sensorial Exercises in this lesson are designed to engage all of the child’s senses and focus attention on attributes such as color, size, and sound. Examples of materials used in these exercises include knobbed cylinders, smelling jars, and color boxes. As they use their senses to explore the world, students also gain the ability to describe and categorize their experiences. Language The focus of this area is reading and writing. Dr. Maria Montessori, the creator of the program, believed that the preschool years are the ideal time to learn to read and write. Some examples of what children learn in these early lessons are how to hold a pencil, repeat new vocabulary, and to trace sandpaper letters with their fingers as a teacher says the corresponding sound. Students also have opportunities to read the classroom’s books, and more advanced readers can read aloud to their peers. Mathematics Montessori mathematics lessons go beyond counting and encourage children to think logically and increase their reasoning ability. Materials such as number rods and sandpaper numbers are used to master the numbers and counting before the decimal system and the four basic operations of arithmetic (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division) are taught. The aim is to develop students’ confidence in their math skills so that they are prepared to tackle more difficult problems later in their educational program. Following the Montessori method, teachers will introduce a new concept and guide students through small group learning, while allowing them to investigate the topic on their own or with a friend when they have grasped the basics. Research on Montessori teaching methods shows that teachers reported that small group learning offers valuable benefits, such as children learn more vocabulary, group work teaches patience and cooperation, and that students develop their social skills by improving their ability to communicate. Comments are closed.
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