Montessori
Montessori Education
1. What is Montessori Education?
Montessori education is a method developed by Maria Montessori, a Christian, aimed at fostering "child independence." Originally a physician who became an educator, Montessori placed the utmost importance on recognizing each child's unique life. The core of education is the child, acknowledging their existence and discovering their growth and learning from them.
Therefore, Montessori education is a natural and unforced approach for children, allowing each child's abilities and individuality to be freely expressed. Known for its deep and comprehensive approach, Montessori education spans from basic life skills to sensory development, language, mathematics, and cultural education. Today, Montessori education is adopted and highly valued worldwide.
2. Purpose of Montessori Education
The core principle of Montessori education is that children have the innate ability to grow and develop independently. Adults should support and facilitate this by understanding their needs and encouraging their free and spontaneous activities. The goal is to nurture self-sufficient, capable, responsible, and compassionate individuals who have a lifelong love of learning. Montessori education aims to draw out each child's unique potential and abilities, fostering holistic growth and development.
3. The Effects of Montessori Education
Montessori education has been adopted in countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom for many years, and it has received high praise for producing numerous prominent individuals who have made significant impacts worldwide. Many of these individuals possess rich creativity and originality, influencing the world in various ways.
Notable figures who are said to have received Montessori education include:
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Larry Page and Sergey Brin, co-founders of Google
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Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon
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Peter Drucker, renowned management scholar known as the "father of management"
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Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook
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Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft
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Prince William and Prince Harry
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Yo-Yo Ma, world-renowned cellist
4. Made Possible by OLIVE's Mixed-Age, Small Group Class System
In today's world, children have fewer opportunities to interact, learn, and love each other at home. In Montessori education, children learn from interacting with peers of different ages, avoiding the competition common in same-age groups. Older children care for and help younger ones, who in turn learn by observing the older ones. This multi-age classroom approach fosters individual focus on chosen activities and encourages friendships across ages and genders. Studies show that the benefits of Montessori education become especially evident in later elementary school years.
5. Engaging in the Five Areas in a Well-Prepared Environment
In Montessori education, children engage in activities (referred to as "work") that they are personally interested in and want to try. Rather than having a curriculum imposed upon them by teachers, children have the freedom to choose and fully immerse themselves in their chosen activities. As a result, children who select and engage in activities to their satisfaction gain a sense of accomplishment and confidence, which motivates them to tackle further activities with enthusiasm. They develop into individuals who think, judge, and act independently. Teachers are not in the position of simply teaching but instead are responsible for understanding each child's state and creating an environment that supports and enhances the child's inherent abilities. The core of Montessori education is the "child."
1. Practicing Practical Life Skills
Subjects that form the foundation of Montessori education. By utilizing the sensitive periods, we teach orderly movements and body coordination, helping children develop bodies that move according to their own will. Engaging in activities stimulates both the mind and body simultaneously, sparking motivation. By concentrating and achieving tasks, children experience a sense of satisfaction, which fosters a sense of independence and self-reliance, enabling them to do things on their own.
2. Sensorial Education
We refine children's innate five senses (sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch). Activities like distinguishing colors, shapes, and sizes, as well as sorting and comparing, lead to intellectual education. This awakens their intellect and helps them acquire abstract concepts, fostering critical thinking skills. From birth to age three, when the right brain is dominant, sensory education that stimulates the five senses is crucial.
3. Language Education
Using teaching materials such as picture cards and letter cards tailored to each developmental stage, we enrich vocabulary through activities involving "speaking, reading, and writing." Ultimately, we advance to grammar and sentence structure, fostering the ability to express emotions and intentions. From early childhood, children learn correct grammar and acquire polite and solid Japanese language skills. They also work on hiragana, katakana, and kanji, developing Japanese language skills at a level exceeding early elementary school.
6. What Montessori Education Can Achieve
★ Unlike group care, where everyone is forced to participate in the same activities, children are free to choose the materials they want to work with and can engage in activities (work) as much as they like.
★ The materials used in Montessori education are not just cute or interesting. They are designed to nurture specific developmental needs, with beautiful colors and shapes, and all are made of real materials for authentic work.
★ While children are free to start their activities, they also learn to follow promises and rules, such as returning materials to their original place, not disrupting their friends' activities, and sharing and waiting for their turn with a single material.
★ Since each activity is different, teachers keep track of each child's growth, interests, and condition, preparing and providing tailored care plans every day.
(This type of care is possible due to the small class capacity.)
