Thursday, August 8, 2013

How To Select The Best Mississauga Montessori For Your Child

By Andrea Davidson


Choosing the best Mississauga Montessori school for one's child is an important step in making sure that he or she will start out in an environment which places an emphasis on learning and growth. Not every school puts the key principles of this learning system which was developed by Dr. Maria Montessori into practice however. There are certain qualities parents should look for in a genuine Montessori school.

A classroom is made up of children of different ages, who all learn in the same setting and have the same teachers. The good thing about a mixed age group is that the older children have the chance to help the younger ones who in turn will be able to learn from them. Children work independently instead of learning in group lessons.

Specially designed classroom materials have been made in a way to spark children's curiosity and stimulate their five senses, they can be colorful, special textures, and produce sounds etc. The teacher helps the child as needed until he or she has fully mastered the learning activity. Most often each child works alone, or sometimes they will work as a small group.

There is an emphasis placed on helping and showing respect to others in the classroom. The reward for learning here is not a good report card as is seen in standard schools, but instead a sense of accomplishment, capability, and confidence. The child rewards himself or herself for successful learning in a sense, instead of waiting for others' approval.

There is not an air of competition as is common in standard learning environments. There are no standard "tests" given to the students, eliminating the need to compete against each other. Instead, there is normally a spirit of consideration and caring amongst these pupils, with bullying being very rare. Children are also taught to respect people of all ethnic backgrounds and religions, through learning more about them.

The importance of cooperation is stressed as is developing the rational thinking necessary to make choices which will be beneficial both socially and academically. There is an understanding that children have been found to learn better when they can do so without being forced, and have greater sense of control when it comes to choosing what they will study at a given time. Self-esteem develops as the child becomes more aware of his or her own capabilities.

The teachers are called "directors or directresses" and they need to have graduated from a training program at an approved facility. Each instructor is specifically qualified to teach children of a particular age group, either preschool or elementary. If touring the school, the children should look happy and engaged in activity, with the teachers offering encouragement and assistance when needed.

It's also advisable to confirm that the Mississauga Montessori selected has been accredited by the AMI-Association Montessori Internationale. This implies that strict standards must be adhered to in terms of teaching, classroom organization, and learning materials and the original underpinnings of this form of learning will be upheld.




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