Early childhood education is the key to the betterment of society.

Early Childhood Education, The Key To The Betterment Of Society

Maria said, "Free the child's potential and transform him for better". She also said that if you have solved the problem of controlling the attention of your child just like anchoring of the ship then you have solved the entire problems of the child's education.

Montessori is a child's centered education approach given by Maria based on Maria's scientific observations of children. Maria was a first Italian doctor, in early 20th century developed Montessori methods. These methods support children in learning throughout the  early childhood period to middle and so on. The first school was stablished in 1906 in Rome, Italy.

 

Maria used her training as a scientist and a doctor to carefully observe the children and designed the environment that would appeal the children for the resemblance to their home environment where a child is not bound to limitations that happens normally in a traditional system. Maria knew well, being a psychologist that in a fight or flight mode, a child could never learn.

 What is the meaning of "fight" here?

Fight refers to a different meaning here as we gets it usually. For example, in a traditional system a teacher gives stress to a child to keep himself controlled in seats why not he/she let him move and play as he wishes like in a controlled environment. Naturally, the child fights to himself by keeping himself bound. Sometimes he makes troubles to stay in classroom and finds some way to move out (flight).

Guidance and responsibilities of a 'Directress'

Directress is the pivot and shaft personality who deals children with care and affection. She directs the children how to cope with anger and resolve their conflicts without getting violent and aggressive. Directress is a guide as she leads the children to the path of self awareness and maturity. She not only provides them academic knowledge but also gives them a broad spectrum of ethics. They also learn to mold and adjust themselves in real world according to situation, effectively. Montessori Directress is an efficient observer who allows the child to develop his own ideas instead of inferring that proves to be very beneficial for him and as well for society.

Spiritual, Scientific and Technical training:

•  Spiritually, a Directress takes analysis of her behavior. It is essential for a directress to deal with her own drawbacks before interacting the children as the children can easily identify these negative characteristics.
• The directress observes the environment scientifically. By scientific observation the a Directress would better understand the state of  mind and makes it easier to deal with him.
• Technically a directress have the full knowledge of the developmental stages of a child. So that she can fully understand the needs of a child efficiently.
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Prepared Montessori Classrooms:

Montessori classrooms are designed to meet the needs of children in specific range of age. Montessori classrooms for 2.5 or 3 to 6 years old children are often called "children's houses". Maria discovered that experiential learning in this type of environment led to a deeper understanding  of language, mathematics, science, music, social interactions and much more. Every material in a classroom supports an aspect of child's development creating a match between natural interests and the available activities. Children can learn through their own experiences and pace. Children respond to natural curiosities that exist specially much more than adults and build a strong foundation for life long learning. Classroom has the strength of 20 -30 children in mixed-age groups observed by a trained Directress and an her assistant. 

Classrooms are usually outfitted with child-sized tables and chairs and materials are arranged on child-sized height shelves throughout the room. 

Activities are initially presented by the Directress then followed by children.  

Classroom activities are performed for engaging them in EPL i.e. washing tables, pouring beans or water, sweeping, sponging, folding and unfolding of mats, etc. 

Tactile materials are also placed aside to teach concepts. Children traced the sand paper letters with their two fingers. Beads chain and number rods are to give them the concept of numbers. 

In short if we are new to Montessori education and think " What makes Montessori different? The answer to this question is gigantic. In Montessori Environment children learn in prepared (scientifically, spiritually, technically) environment with their own pace that is based on child's individual needs.