School Curricula Guides

Montessori

Montessori education is an educational approach developed by Italian physician and educator Maria Montessori based on her extensive research with "phrenasthenic" or "special needs" children.
Montessori
Country of Origin: Italy
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A Montessori education refers to an approach developed by Italian physician and educator Maria Montessori based on extensive research with "phrenasthenic" or "special needs" children. It is characterized by an emphasis on independence, freedom within limits, and respect for a child’s natural psychological, physical, and social development.

A Montessori classroom should be composed of the following:

  • Mixed ages of pupil. Classrooms for children ages 2½ to 6 years old should not be considered unusual
  • Student choice of activity from within a prescribed range of options
  • Uninterrupted blocks of work time, ideally three hours
  • A "discovery" model, where students learn concepts from working with materials, rather than by direct instruction
  • Freedom of movement within the classroom
  • A trained Montessori teacher 

The framework is based on a few main premises:

Respect for the child: Montessori believed that adults seldom truly respect children. Adults expect children to be disciplined and force information on them from above. The Montessori approach allows children choices, thus preparing them to become independent learners. Children discover the world around them through a hands on approach, rather than the information being landed upon them from above. This promotes enthusiasm and curiosity driven learning.

The Absorbent Mind: Children are constantly learning in an inherent process of their everyday life. What the child absorbs depends largely on what types of information and experiences cross their paths[2]. Montessori classrooms allow free exploration and learning in uninterrupted blocks of time, in order to get the most out of their learning experiences.

Sensitive periods: Children become ripe to learn different types of skills at specific points in their development]. The age at which each sensitive period occurs varies from one child to another. Teachers must be acutely aware of when the right time is to introduce concepts to each individual child.

The prepared environment: A major factor which sets apart Montessori classrooms are their physical organization. Montessori believed that classrooms should be filled with readily available and well organized learning materials. The environment should be aesthetically pleasing, and only include things that the teacher wants the child to experience. This environment should contain materials that children from different ages, characteristics, and interests could all engage in.

Autoeducation: Montessori believed that children should educate themselves, thus developing skills necessary for life. This can occur once the teachers has prepared an appropriate learning environment and gives choices. Autoeducation can be seen as the goal of this method. Children often learn in multi-age groups, thus able to assist each other in their learning processes.

 

Planes of development

In Montessori there are four key stages, or "planes". In practice Montessori really focuses on the first of these, and perhaps influences the second.

Infancy (birth-6 years) During the first three years of life infants learn through their senses, in what is called an unconscious Absorbent Mind. During the second three years children learn consciously through active hands on experience. Learning will take place when they are allowed to do things on their own.

Childhood (6-12 years) This stage is characterized by stability, having acquired most of the basic skills he will need. Children grow out of their Absorbent Mind, and learn through cognitive reasoning and imagination.

Adolescence (12-18 years) At this point, adolescents present a decline in energy, and do not want to be bombarded with learning information. Thus, learning should be connected to every-day living skills.

Transition to adulthood (18-24 years) This stage is characterized by career exploration and beginnings stages of careers.

 

Montessori teachers

The teacher is there to be an aid in the child’s independent learning process. The teacher decides which learning materials will be available and how they will be organized. She is also n active observer, assessing when children have reached sensitive periods where new concepts may be introduced.

 

 

44 UAE Schools offering Montessori

School name Community City
Al Dana Nursery Abu Dhabi City Abu Dhabi
Al Saad Indian School Al Ain Al Ghadeer Al Ain
Ambassador Kindergarten Dubai Mankhool Dubai
Babilou Downtown Downtown Dubai Dubai
Bright Kids Nursery Al Najda Abu Dhabi
Butterfly Montessori Nursery Khalidiyah Abu Dhabi
Credence High School Al Quoz Dubai
Crystal Valley Nursery Al Mizhar Dubai
De La Salle Montessori Nursery Al Mankhool Dubai
Deira Montessori Nursery Al Qusais Dubai
Delta English School Al Muwaila Sharjah
Educare Nursery Khalidiyah Abu Dhabi
Emirates English Nursery Al Fayah Sharjah
First Steps Nursery Montessori Umm Suqeim 3 Dubai
Fujairah Montessori Nursery Al Faseel Fujairah
GEMS World Academy Dubai Al Barsha Dubai
Global English School Manaseer Al Ain
Global Indian International School Abu Dhabi Baniyas East Abu Dhabi
Global Indian International School Dubai Al Quoz Dubai
Grassland Daycare and Nursery Dubai International Financial Centre Dubai
Gulf Asian English School Muweilah Sharjah
Gulf Montessori Nursery Garhoud Dubai
Hope Montessori Nursery Bur Dubai Dubai
India International School Sharjah Muweilah Sharjah
International Montessori Nursery Al Maqtaa Abu Dhabi
Kids Paradise Nursery Al Fayah Sharjah
Kids World Creative Learning Centre Jumeirah Lakes Towers Dubai
Kids World Nursery Dubai International City Dubai
Kids World Nursery Sharjah Samnan Sharjah
Ladybird Early Learning Centre JVC Jumeirah Village Circle Dubai
Ladybird Nursery Al Wasl Dubai
Ladybird Nursery Al Barsha Al Barsha Dubai
Little Land Nursery Umm Suqeim Dubai
Mon Ecole Nursery, Jumeirah Jumeirah 1 Dubai
Mon Ecole Nursery, Umm Suqeim Umm Suqeim Dubai
Mulberry Tree Montessori Nursery Jumeirah 3 Dubai
New Indian Model School Dubai Garhoud Dubai
Redwood Montessori Nursery Al Bateen Al Bateen Abu Dhabi
Redwood Montessori Nursery Khalifa City A Khalifa City A Abu Dhabi
Redwood Montessori Nursery Mushrif Al Mushrif Abu Dhabi
Redwood Montessori Nursery Palm Palm Jumeirah Dubai
Redwood Montessori Nursery Saadiyat Island Saadiyat Island Abu Dhabi
Redwood Nursery Al Garhoud Garhoud Dubai
WISE Indian Academy Ajman Rumailah Ajman

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