A Montessori learning environment

Anna and I have had a pleasant outing to a conference where Montessori form of education for children was presented live.

We watched children from four to six years engaged in exploratory activities for personal learning, some engaged on their own and others in groups of two or three. The class room was largely child centred with teachers moving around to give guidance and direction for children to encourage them in their learning exploration. There was an atmosphere of tranquil and ease which was unlike some other class rooms where forty or more children sit in desks and one teacher strives to get their attention. 

This form of child initiated learning is of great value for children because they are encouraged to bring in their personal flavour to their learning experience and not inhibited to conform to what is planned for an average child. The movement from activity to the other, self planning, doing what enthuses the child at that given time, co-learning with others experientially, making a personal curriculum of learning within the time frame, etc. are some of the valuable advantages of this process of learning. 

I wish, this would become even more popular as a creative learning plan for early schoolers. Montessori learning has a history of over seventy-five years of experience in india. 

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)