SEGi College Penang recently had the opportunity to invite Aderline Loh, Head of Academics from Learning Kingdom Education as the trainer for the Montessori Hands-on Workshop organised for final-semester students of SEGi’s Diploma in Early Childhood Education.
Montessori methods are used worldwide, and many kindergartens have integrated these approaches into young children’s learning. Specific to these approaches, preschool teachers play the role of directors to guide and facilitate children’s learning. To create more exposure and insight on Montessori approaches, collaboration with the Learning Kingdom Education provides valuable practical knowledge to SEGi students.
Much of the Montessori philosophy stems from a deep respect for children. This involves respecting every child’s uniqueness and freedom to choose, move and correct their own mistakes. Montessori education is focused on nurturing each child’s potential by providing learning experiences that support their intellectual, physical, emotional, and social development. In addition to language and mathematics, the Montessori curriculum also covers practical life, the senses, and culture.
The Montessori method gives children the surroundings, resources, and direction they need to learn how to act and think independently. Children are innately curious and eager to learn when given the correct stimuli, and the Montessori method holds that knowledge is its reward. There are no stars to recognise children’s learning in a Montessori classroom. Instead, they feel accomplished when they finish a task and figure out how to complete it by themselves.
Montessori’s theory states that the first six years of life are crucial in a child’s development. Children rapidly understand their culture and world and construct the foundations of their intelligence and personality. Dr Maria Montessori coined the term ‘absorbent mind’ as the child’s capacity to absorb information from their environment. On children’s development, she identified characteristics of sensitive periods, which include intense focus, repetition, commitment to a task, and greatly extended periods of concentration.
Loh and her team engaged the students in various activities in accordance with Montessori approaches, including role-play based on different themes and situations. The two-day workshop ended with presenting certificates of participation to all the final-year DECE students by Dr Lee, CEO of Learning Kingdom Education.