Find out the steps in Montessori Infant Program

If you are getting trained from any of the reputed online Montessori teacher training programs, you will learn about how to nurture a Montessori environment specifically designed to meet the developmental needs and interests of children. It is designed for those between the age of six weeks to 24 months for the infant program.

The Montessori teacher training programs is separated into three key stages - 0-9 months, 9-15 months, and 15-24 months. For any layman these stages and ages doesn't really much of difference, but only a trained teacher in Montessori education will understand how each of these stages reflect the phenomenal physical, intellectual as well as emotional development of the child. This is the age when they absorb all aspects of language, environment, and culture.

As with any Montessori environment, the infant room activities are carefully set out where the child can discover and explore his/her surroundings. The teacher takes out the materials at the appropriate time based on their observations of the kids' individual development.

The Montessori infant materials are made such that the children can use them with minimal assistance. The idea is to help them learn about how to complete and repeat tasks without interruption and interference. Eventually, they can grow their confidence, analytical skills, independence, as well as concentration span. The holistic approach is unique for every child and with proper learning opportunities, they can form their intelligence and personality.

 

0-9 Months

The first stage of the Infant Program is all about developing a broad range of skills that foster concentration and other sensory awareness. The primary focus is to provide them with opportunities that can help build positive relationships with their teachers and peers. The main materials used in this portion of the program includes grasping and reaching rattles, sound bottles, mobiles, sensory boards, treasure baskets, and the shapes board.

9-15 Months

From 9-15 months, you can clearly see the development in the various features of the infant and this is when they start growing control over how they think, communicate, and move. The materials are carefully introduced to this age group that assist children in developing the psychomotor skills, muscular strength, hand-eye coordination, social and language skills, and visual and sensory capabilities. Typical Montessori materials would include objects such as permanence boxes, shape sorting, color sorting, discs on a dowel, imbucare boxes, counting activities, nesting cups, language cards, matching activities, stacking blocks, and puzzles.

 

15-24 Months

The third and final stage of the Infant Program Montessori teacher education is a transitory phase that creates a prepared environment for the children to participate in the structured Montessori Toddler and Preschool Programs. They learn through various activities about the practical life activities, such as pouring or spooning and provide students with various scopes to explore in the earlier programs.

The idea for these kinds of programs is to help them develop a concept of order, develop their vocabulary, and aid them in rising their ability to communicate, concentrate, work independently, and understand straightforward sequences.

To find out more about the program and how to enroll, visit https://mkutraining.com

What are the sensitive periods, according to Montessori theory?

There are several words used in Montessori education. Sensitive period is one of those Montessori words that can be perplexing to parents. Maria Montessori used a term coined by a Dutch biologist, Hugo de Vries (Mutation theory - 1902) to refer to key developmental stages in children. If parents are looking for Montessori training near me, they are basically looking for rightly trained teachers who can provide wholesome education to their kids. The sensitive periods are vital for growing and let’s have a better look here –

In the Secret of Childhood, Maria Montessori said-

“A sensitive period refers to a special sensitivity which a creature acquires in its infantile state, while it is still in a process of evolution. It is a transient disposition and limited to the acquisition of a particular trait. Once this trait, or characteristic, has been acquired, this special sensitivity disappears.”

The child is intensely interested in a particular topic during sensitive period. As a result, acquiring those skills related to this interest is extremely simple for the boy. The child is enthralled by the prospect of repeating those acts. This repetition will result in the development of a new ability.

Sensitive periods don't happen in a straight line and might collide. When the sensitive time ends, the overwhelming desire to learn is gone, as is the ability to learn extensively and easily. It does not imply that all is lost! It is better for a child to learn a second language during his early years, for example. If the child did not have the opportunity, learning a new language would necessitate conscious effort.

Sensitive periods, also known as window of opportunity, are a term used in neuropsychology to describe a time during which language acquisition, motion development, and cognitive perception occur. Our modern understanding of the brain suggests that there is a particular period for language acquisition, and cognitive perception. Both definitions of the term responsive period are based on the premise that children learn in a particular way in their early years and that learning should take place within a specific time frame.

Why is it crucial to understand the Sensitive Periods?

Maria Montessori urged adults to track children's behavior and actions to determine when they are in sensitive periods. Adults should protect the child's interests by observing them and providing experiences that are appropriate for their current sensitive times. Maria Montessori's sensitive periods can be used as a framework for observing the child in order to provide them with as many resources as possible. It's important to note that each child is unique, and while Maria Montessori said that some sensitive times are universal, we, as parents, might not be able to recognize them all.

Six main sensitive periods

Sensitive period to language

Maria Montessori used to say that Montessori said that “the only language men will ever speak perfectly is the one they learn in babyhood, when no one can teach them anything. This sensitive period lasts from birth (even in utero) to the age of six. The presence of a language-sensitive time has been confirmed by modern science. The window of opportunity for language learning starts to close about the age of five, according to neuroscience.

Sensitive period to movement

It lasts from birth to 5 years old. First phase – from birth to 2.5 years of age and Second phase – from 2.5 to 4.5 years of age. This coordination is acquired through repetition of purposeful motor activity by the infant. Visits to the park and other outdoor areas on a regular basis are likely to help during this sensitive period.

Sensitive period to order

From the age of one to three years old, the infant goes through a sensitive time. About the age of 18 months, it reaches its height. The child is arranging his mental schema of the world during this period. When the child's world is in order, he may organize his thoughts and orient himself.

Sensitive period to refinement of the senses

This sensitive period lasts from birth (even in utero) to the age of four years.

The brain's sensory development can last up to four years. Sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch are the five senses by which a child learns.

Sensitive period to small details and small objects

This stage lasts from one to three years. Paying close attention to details can seem to be a waste of time for our adult minds. When the child is exploring her environment during this critical time, she will become fascinated with small objects. This is when she will begin to establish her pincer grip, which involves gripping between the thumb and index fingers.

Sensitive period to social behavior or to manner and courtesy

This sensitive period lasts between the ages of two and a half and six. During this time, the child realizes that he is a member of a community.

It's time to make some new friends! Until then, the kids are playing together. They don't have a lot of interaction. The child is now increasingly learning to play cooperatively. Children must learn how to act in our society. We are our children as adults.

The Mixed-Age Classroom and its Benefits

 The demand for Montessori education has seen a huge rise amongst the millennial parents. The reason is simple; traditional schooling helps any kid to get through the academic courses but with Montessori Training it is possible to learn about the various aspects of not just education but other interests that can help them grow into a better human being. So, one of the many elements which actually make Montessori education different than the rest is the mixed age classroom approach. Rather than having children in a classroom based on their chronological age, the classroom environment has children spanning various ages. When you are taking up Montessori Training program, you will be taught how to encourage and mix with the kids across various ages and still keep up with the education.

Why have mixed age classroom?

There are some key points which actually show that having a setup where you have students of the close ages can be beneficial for both the younger and the older kid. Let's have a look how that helps -

Leaders and models

When you have children of various ages in a single room, all of whom are working towards a said goal, the younger children will be in an environment where they can find their own models. It is often been seen that children learn the best from another children. For instance a 6 year old can learn better from an eight-year-old than his or her mentor or parent. Similarly, the older children in the class can have opportunities where they can grow in leadership roles. They can also cultivate this skill which can even surely help them become more independent in their community.

Skill progression fluidity

One of the most important lessons that you will get from online Montessori teacher training programs is that no learning is linear and this is not limited for the younger children. For any age, the learning procedure does not follow a linear curve. There are periods of rapid growth and also some phases when there will be a plateau in the progress. This is a very normal symptom and can vary according to the subjects that the individual children are taking up. It is strongly believed in Montessori curriculum. While some of them will find too much interest in learning the science others can have interest in finding out the various scopes in language and literature. These lines of division can be blurred when you do not have to rely on any typical grade level.

Stronger relationship

When a kid is there in a class for three years, the mentor really gets to know him or her rather than a traditional teacher. So the person is not just a class teacher but is more of a guide. The deeper level of understanding helps to cultivate the strength and weaknesses of the child which eventually helps the kid to grow better.

Social opportunities

Diversity is extremely important in our lives. It is important to be able to open up to different kinds of ideas, people and situation. When they are spending time with people of various ages, they are also mixing with children of all sorts of skills as well as nature. The interaction has a very positive impact on all of them and can help to grow qualities like patience, empathy and open-mindedness.

Reflection for real life

When these kids will grow up, there will be hardly any situation when they will find themselves surrounded by people who are all of their age; which is why, if they are open to multi age classrooms right from the beginning, there will be better scopes of approximation and will also benefit them right through their early experiences.

The concept of Dr. Montessori

The mixed age classroom has been very well defined by Maria Montessori. She believed that her way of schooling have shown how kids of different ages can help each other; where the younger one asks all sorts of questions and the older one explains. This is in general a very useful way of teaching because the younger one understands in a language which is closer to them while the older one can explain what they actually understood, and as a guide one can observe and correct in case there is any error. Also otherwise, it creates a harmony and communication between both them and there is a natural mental osmosis which works in favour of both the kids. There can be different planes of development however, the classrooms in a Montessori setting generally have 3 year age spans ranging from-

• Infant/Toddler
• Primary/Early Childhood
• Elementary
• Adolescent

If you are looking for a nationally acclaimed Montessori Training Center, visit https://mkutraining.com

What makes a prepared environment in Montessori training?

 The “prepared environment” is Dr. Maria Montessori’s concept for education defines an environment that is structured in such as way that it facilitates maximum independent learning and exploration by the child. There is a variety of activity, movement and understanding in the prepared environment. When you pass out from Montessori teacher training programs, you will be both the as the preparer and communicator of the environment to the child. You will also be responsible for maintaining the entire ambience of the classroom and be in charge to create the prepared environment. It will be done in a way where every child will get the freedom to completely develop their unique potential through appropriate sensorial materials. These study and learning materials range from simple to complex, concrete to abstract, and will be age appropriate for each kid.

In the Montessori classrooms, matching the developmental needs and interests of each individual child, you will find be assigning lessons, activities, and tools which match. What makes the Montessori training interesting is that not every child will be interested in every available lesson. This is why, as the mentor, you have to understand who will gravitate towards what kind of lesson naturally.

Many parents find themselves wondering what sets Montessori childcare unique from your the others such as an average daycare center or preschool. Possibly the most striking difference is any traditional childcare center is lively, loud, and messy while a Montessori classroom is peaceful, quiet, and orderly. What makes the difference is the prepared environment as prescribed by Dr. Maria Montessori.

What is the Prepared Environment?

In her book, The Secret of Childhood, Dr. Montessori described the goal of the prepared environment as follows: “The first aim of the prepared environment is, as far as it is possible, to render the growing child independent of the adult.” It is one of the core components of the Montessori philosophy and right the learning environment is everything you should provide to foster independent learning and exploration.

Key components of the Prepared Environment

Freedom – One of the key goals of a Montessori prepared environment is freedom of choice. The online Montessori teacher training programs helps you understand what and why is child's freedom to exploration, freedom of movement, freedom to interact socially important. It also provides a space which is free from the interference from others.

Beauty – In a prepared environment, there should be invitation for learning. The atmosphere, thus, must be prepared beautifully and simplistically, which can evoke tranquility, peace, and harmony. It should be well-maintained and uncluttered.

Structure and Order – The idea behind this principle is to help the kids understand the structure and order of the universe, and that in turn will help the child to internalize the order of his surroundings. In the long run, it will start making sense of everything world around him.

Nature and Reality – Dr. Montessori believed that nature can inspire children. That’s why Montessori teachers should regularly use natural learning materials in the prepared environment. These can be wood, bamboo, metal, cotton, and glass, instead of synthetics or plastics. The materials must be made to scale that fits the child-size.

Social Environment – The prepared environment must also support social development and constantly encourage interaction with the peers. Montessori classrooms foster the development of a sense of empathy and compassion for others and make them more socially aware.

Intellectual Environment – Once all of the above principles are fulfilled, Montessori educators will help them understand the importance of the right intellectual environment that helps develop the whole personality and intellect of the child.

“Obstacles must be reduced to a minimum and surrounding should provide the necessary means for the exercise of those activities which develop a child’s energies” – Maria Montessori.

How Montessori Teachers Play an Important Role

Understanding the role of a Montessori teacher is best explained through the online Montessori teacher training programs. There has been a high demand for trained Montessori teachers as the millennial parents want their kids to start with the right base from the beginning. The basic difference between the traditional and the Montessori teacher is that the later is more of a gentle guide. It is not exactly the job to impart them with information as much as it is to guide them towards the right direction with the proper instructions.

According to Dr. Maria Montessori, “the greatest sign of success for a teacher is to be able to say the children should be able to work as if the teacher does not exist”

Cultivating independence

One of the vital forces that you will find in a Montessori classroom is when a teacher works with individual kid or in small groups; the entire lesson is done very quietly. This means, when the guide or the teacher is helping a particular child or a group of them, the rest of them are free to spend their time on what they want to do. A large part of Montessori teaching is to intentionally prepare a setting in the classroom that can be appropriate in the development of the child’s, cognitive, social, physical and mental well being. The environment keeps on changing in tiny little ways and the teacher’s job is to notice how the students are evolving with the change.

Teachers are trained to think like the scientists

Montessori teacher Education Center has courses which makes the aspirant highly trained when you pass from a recognized Montessori Training Center. You will have credentials along with your existing degrees this certification program is not just demanding but also very intensive. So, the parents should understand that these teachers have gone through extensive course work and is completely aware of how to take care of a child’s development based on Montessori’s philosophy. Various assessments that are found are very typical Montessori features as they do not base it on standardized tests. They have extreme power of observation that is mastered only after one completes the course.

 

The teachers can think long term

As Montessori education is a 3 year cycle, the role and impact of the teacher changes because after every set comes a new batch and the same teacher or a new additional teacher comes into the classroom. So, it is the teacher who has the unique ability who allows the children to learn at their own pace yet not fall back. They help in growing the natural tendency of these kids in learning and understanding.

Not teachers but guides

There is an abundance of choices in terms of educational pursuits in a Montessori classroom setting. It is called ‘freedom within limits’. It is the role of the teacher to carefully craft these items and their limits. As and how a child gets comfortable and safe with a certain item or at a certain place in the classroom, they are gradually shifted to take more risks by trying new things. However, that comes with a set of boundaries.

Montessori teachers instill a sense of self reliance, independence and give them intrinsic motivation MKUTI is an affordable Montessori online training program. If you are interested in venturing into the education sector for your career, you can learn more about them at https://mkutraining.com

Chaos to Calm - What is Normalization in Montessori Training

“The role of education is to interest the child profoundly in an external activity to which he will give all his potential"

– Maria Montessori

For those who are new with the concept of Montessori, may slightly be alarmed with the term ‘normalization’. In Montessori education, ‘normalization’ describes a unique process in child development, where every kid is counted as one of the contributing members of their community.

Normalization refers to a child’s ability to work and concentrate freely in the Montessori environment. In Montessori training online, you will learn about how to use the Montessori materials that can keep the kids engaged in their interests, and exercising self-discipline.

They following four characteristics are commonly associated with normalization:

• Love of work: The faculty to select work freely and find joy in everyday activities
• Concentration: The capacity to work continuously along with an increasing sense of interest
• Self-discipline: To focus energies and mental capabilities in the pursuit of self proficiency
• Sociability: To be able to have sense of respect and sympathy for others

According to Dr. Maria Montessori, normalization is defined as “The most important single result of our whole work.” (The Absorbent Mind, 1949.)

Progressing through the three stages of normalization, children effectively complete the work cycle. Each stage is built on the one before it, and gradually, they master the skills of concentration, self-discipline, joy of work, and sociability.

The three-period work cycle that helps building the foundations of character and personality consists of-

• Preparation for work: Collecting the Montessori materials, and constructing the mind
• Work: Complete concentration on the activity or material
• Rest: Attaining satisfaction after successful completion of work

Stage One

For those under the age of three are in the first stage of normalization. In online Montessori teacher training programs, you will learn how children can be introduced to the various curriculum areas. The activities are designed such that they give results of work quickly, and encourage children have a sense of accomplishment after successfully completing the task.

In the early stage of normalization, the kids learn about simple choices, and slowly absorb the skills of concentration and self-motivation. Understandably, they are not yet ready for the responsibility of full freedom even within the Montessori environment from such an early age.

Stage Two

In this, kids gradually experience more freedom. They learn how to move quickly from one activity to another, and choosing various activities during the work cycle. In this stage, they seldom repeat an activity, and are also not deeply engaged in the materials. This is a key feature that proves the child has not yet developed deep concretion or self-discipline. They are benefitted by frequent Montessori lessons, instructions and presentations.

Stage Three

Children who typically attend a Montessori preschool three or more days per week can attain this stage of normalization. They are now between the ages of five to six years and can focus intently on one activity, and consciously move onto the next one. Also, they require minimal supervision as they are now more self-directed, and self-sufficient. The responsibility of the teacher is to observe and guide children’s interests and activities.

Through the Montessori materials, appropriate interactions with their environment, and continuous guidance from the teachers, children will gradually acquire the skills that can help them reach normalization in their own time.

To find out more, visit https://mkutraining.com who offers affordable and a wholesome Montessori training.