Wednesday, 16 September 2020

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

Monday, 24 August 2020

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.

Sunday, 16 August 2020

Understanding the Basics of Montessori Infant Program

 If you are getting trained from a reputed Montessori teacher education center, 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 program 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.

Wednesday, 22 July 2020

Find Out the Benefits of Distance Montessori Education

There is a constant growth in the technological component of learning. It means more and more classes are turning online and with the pandemic in place, the trend is here to stay. Rather than using a classroom, the substitute is using laptop or any internet based device that can provide the classroom based approach. It often allows students to engage in a more motivating experience.

For many people, advancing or changing their career is often based on a certain step ahead in their existing skill set. This is why distance learning has come a long way where anyone will continue doing what they are doing and simultaneously learn and develop the new skills. Virtual learning environment with networking technologies has made this dynamic scope than ever. If you are looking for Montessori distance education programs, there are institutes which offer comprehensive and complete education to its students all across the world. But did you ever wonder why the online courses are gaining so much popularity? This is because of the following benefits that you can get in online courses-

First and foremost that comes to mind is the independence of location. As long as you have an internet connection, you can learn any course from any part of the world. Irrespective of you moving to a city or town has no impact on your learning process. It is understandable how people want to start their career in education but are not able to take up the regular forces because of the work and family responsibilities, attending online courses for them seems to be the only option.


When you are looking for professional distance education programs, for example, a Montessori course, you will be brought together in front of a diverse group of students. This means, the exposure to cultural approaches will be more than what you could have got in a traditional setup. The participants from the respective fields or even freshers can bring in a wealth of experience. The guides and mentors will also be generally of international teams. Overall, a distance learning course will definitely be a more open and diverse platform than what you would have received in conventional education environment.

A follow on effect of distance professional courses is that it provides a wider networking opportunity than any other student would normally expect. For instance, when you pass out from MKU training institute, you can expect your placement in any Montessori teaching class anywhere in the globe. This helps to progress your career and create a more valuable network for lifetime.

Online courses are mostly cost-effective and if you are looking for one in exploring the Montessori training programs, MKU training institute is the perfect choice. It is a cost effective Montessori teacher training program that is supported by a global network of schools. To find out more, visit https://mkutraining.com

Friday, 10 July 2020

What to Know About Cultural Curriculum in Montessori Teacher Training

When you enter a Montessori classroom, the environment is likely to be where kids are working independently or with their peers, the teachers imparting advices on certain lessons or small groups of students moving freely for some activity. When you look closely at the activities, you can see a similar sight where the students are using various materials. Those studying items help to develop some skill or the other. While one student might be looking at a puzzled map of Asia, the other student can be counting the math bead.


This is what is called the cultural curriculum.

Inside a Montessori classroom, the study methodology is divided into three primary areas - math, language and culture.

The cultural curriculum is an integrated study which has biology, history, geography and physical science. While math and language are definitely essential to learn while growing up, unlike the traditional classrooms the Montessori trained kids understand the importance of cultural studies as well. This means, a student of same age passing from a Montessori and the non Montessori background will have different expertise on subjects.

The Montessori teacher certification allows education givers to learn about comprehensive syllabus that features all these subjects. The trained teachers in Montessori syllabus help in imparting the students various cultural skills and lessons with a responsive attitude. This helps in developing 'the curiosity of the absorbent mind.'


Introducing the lessons such as earth science or political geography can be very interesting at a young age. For instance, in the early childhood cultural curriculum which encompasses subjects like zoology, botany, geography, physical science and history the kids are introduced to a different world all together. The teacher uses two globes - the first one represents the water and land areas and the second one introduces the kids to the seven different continents which are marked in seven distinct colors so that children can learn the name and location of each continent. So, in the next step of growing up, they can understand the map and the puzzles. Similarly, physical science teaching kids are exposed to different types of shells, rocks and other earthly elements. They can view it with a magnifying glass or can conduct simple experiments such as 'magnetic and non-magnetic', 'sink and float', 'solid, liquid & gas', or 'transparent and opaque'. Upon growing, they will learn about volcanoes, solar system, weather and more.

Cultural curriculum in Montessori teacher certification has a special place because that portion of the syllabus will help the kids introduced to the physical world of plants and animals, different races, various parts of the world and some unique cultural environment. Unconsciously, when taught with the right guidance, they will grow skills in sequencing, observation, prediction, questioning, categorizing, comparing, organising and contrasting. They will develop the habit of critical thinking right from the elementary level. Elementary students have an inherent imagination and curiosity which must be used to invoke their potential. Let them discover the inner workings of the cosmos by themselves. You as a teacher can design some activities that can create the spark in the student's interest automatically.

Thursday, 2 July 2020

A Brief Understanding of Homeschooling and Its Benefits

The concept behind homeschooling is quite simple at its core. Parents take over the entire responsibility for the education of their children in place of any institution such as public or private schools.

Simply said, the home becomes the center of a child's education which is otherwise school for any child. Parents, who have profound interest in their children's education even take homeschool Montessori training so they can become the primary educators for their children. Homeschool parents are understandably much more compassionate towards guiding their children and can put in a wholesome thought in their mental, emotional, and physical development. This is, in a away helpful because, parents choose an educational path for their children depending on their child's personality and interests. It is not possible in any traditional schooling set up to follow specific choices like in a homeschooling one.

One of the primary goal of any child's education is to help them grow into a better person. When the education is designed specially for the kids, understandably, the focus will be more.

Homeschooling is mostly about academic excellence. When you get an education designed just for the child, there will be many chances to explore the potential. Additionally, as the child can learn in his / her own pace, there is no hurrying of learning. This way, the child the excellence can be maximized and accelerated. The entire focus goes into learning and nothing else.

That being said, there is a common belief that homeschooling is about isolating children at home. This is not the truth. Parent get outside classes, tutors, arrange regular field trips, society service works, various sports, and other means to add a large variety of learning opportunities. The experiences add to the child's education. The reality is that homeschoolers can partake in some experiences and activities that seems impossible to conduct for children in a public or private school. These limitations are integral to those institutions and have its own virtues.

To make the homeschooling experience best for the kids, many parents look for Montessori training near me. Should it be difficult to make for classes after taking care of kids and family, parents can opt for online training as well. These experiences enhance the potential of the parents to improve the academic elements in homeschool and to maximize the child's intellectual development.

Homeschooling helps to form close and loving bonds between parents and children as well as amongst siblings. The parents become the primary influence for the children rather than a group of peers with same or less maturity level than the child. It helps the kid to form close relationships with people of various ages, and not just the classmates who are same or a year younger/older to him/her.

Parents encouraging homeschool believes in intellectual development. Rather than letting the kid grow in a largely unsupervised setting, they plan for the development of a child's moral character and personality all by themselves. Forming close and meaningful relationships that last over time is what any homeschooler will be learning.

Thursday, 11 June 2020

Why Observation Is So Important In Montessori

Maria Montessori was medical doctor as well as scientist and was trained in making careful observations. She developed the course which is now globally accepted as Montessori programs. The course involves a lot of observation and the Montessori classrooms rely heavily on it. You can see that in the classrooms kids are given an opportunity of action which is welcomed and encouraged. The guide of the mentor is supposed to sit in a corner and observe how these kids are doing.


In Montessori teacher training programs, the enrollees are taught not only the educational curriculum but also how to observe the children. The training helps to gain insight about the various developmental phases that the kids go through. In a proper Montessori classroom setting, the mentor is in charge of decision making and assesses the children's mastery of skills. These skills are very basic and can involve everything including studying, playing or other daily activities.

Why planning appropriate lessons are important?

The Montessori educators, after passing the online Montessori Training are equipped to create extensive tasks for the children. They have the knowledge about the various developmental phases of the children and looks at them growing which is much different than what and how things are done in traditional education program. The guides are aware of how to take into consideration the various seemingly insignificant occurrences as a step towards the new plane of development for the kid. The guides are trained to respond well to every situation that occurs in the classroom and help them understand their growth.

Environment plays an important role in kids' development. While the guide is responsible for understanding and noting down the behavioral changes in the kids, environment plays an even bigger role. The kids in the classroom need to feel inspired and foster a sense of independence while being comforted and being safe. For instance, when a guide observes a piece of furniture hindering the flow of the kids' movements, it will be moved before the next class starts. If the kids in the classroom are comfortable sitting on the floor and working, the guide or the mentor will arrange for rugs instead of chairs and tables. The idea is to observe and understand what makes the kids comfortable and to introduce them to a space where they love coming down.


Keeping these ideas in mind, there are two types of observations listed down by Montessori - formal observations and informal observations.

In formal observations, the guide will look around in the classroom for about 15 to 30 minutes and the method might vary from one guide to another. Some like to sit in a corner with the clipboard and note down everything about the children; while for some it is easier to intervene and mix with the kids to understand and observe what they are doing. Basically, the idea is to involve making a lot of notes that is strictly observational. Any form of judgment or inferences will be done some point later.

Informal observations are when guides will make notes at any moment of the work period - while walking across the room and suddenly retrieving a point from a child. It can also come when speaking to a kid about a certain task. The guide will gather and record all these notes that can help the children educational experience smoother and fruitful.

If you have interest in kids and want to improve your career in education MKU training institute is here to offer an authentic Montessori learning environment.

Visit https://mkutraining.com to find out more.