APR 14
Did you know that children begin learning from their surroundings as early as infancy? It’s this period of growth where the OBMC Casa Academic Program is particularly crucial. This is also what makes it different from other preschool or kindergarten school programs.
Have you ever seen your child reaching for random objects, only for you to scold them? Believe it or not, you may be doing them more harm than good.
This act of reaching for things and touching them is all part of their desire to learn about the world around them. This is why OBMC’s Casa Program has a special “Prepared Environment” where that desire to learn and be independent can be guided.
OB Montessori’s Casa program differs from a traditional preschool or kindergarten program in one crucial aspect. Where other schools have a direct teacher-student relationship, OBMC students are conditioned to work and learn independently within this prepared environment.
The preschool or kindergarten teacher in this environment only guides the students as they interact and learn from specially designed materials.
Dr. Maria Montessori, founder of the Montessori system, discovered that everyday activities that are part of our practical life can best aid the growing child’s development. And it was around this principle that the “Montessori Materials” were designed.
There are 3 aspects of learning in a Montessori environment: the scientifically-designed Montessori materials, its self-correcting features, and how to use them properly. The self-correcting feature of each Montessori material helps and enables the child to correct himself and to work independently.
One such material involves pouring water from a pitcher into a glass. A child is taught the specific procedure for handling this material. In this case, lifting the pitcher with both hands, aiming at the center of the glass, and then pouring until the water reaches a certain level. This “level” alerts the child to stop and avoid spillage. If spillage happens, a sponge is part of the material that the child can use without the help of an adult.
While seemingly simple and trivial, this lesson teaches children to follow specific steps and not fear committing mistakes and getting scolded. This is because the means to correct errors and learn from them are built in the material.
Therefore, the child learns about self-management, develops independence, and gains confidence.
Because Montessori students are trained to follow procedures and account for mistakes at an early age, these make them more responsible and independent, yet open to learning from their parents or adults around them.
Provided parents are willing to guide children to learn by themselves and not scold them, children can learn to be more methodical and open to constructive criticism and improvement. They can also have a sense of cleanliness and order since these Montessori materials encourage them, at an early age no less, to complete their work from start to finish.
It’s these lessons that go beyond simple “one-plus-one-equals-two” notes that make the O.B. Montessori Casa program stand above other preschool or kindergarten programs.
