Life

Montessori teaching method gives children freedom to learn

By Wang Wei and Wang Chao (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-03-23 08:08

Kindergarten staff and parents from across the country attend a Montessori teaching seminar in January in Beijing. Provided to China Daily

Song Jinzhi says her three-year-old son is outstanding.

"Compared with other kids at a similar age, he is more outgoing, articulate, and considerate," Song said in reference to the benefits of the Montessori teaching method.

"He is very brave to express his feelings and knows sharing is a very important virtue."

International practices are increasingly popular with early education centers in China and Song is owner of Oriental Cambridge Kindergarten in Qingdao city, Shandong province, which uses the Montessori teaching method.

The Montessori method is an educational approach for children based on the research and experiences of Italian physician and educator Maria Montessori. It advocates giving children freedom in an environment prepared with materials designed for self-learning activities.

Song comes to Beijing at least once a year to attend training courses and seminars at the International Montessori Teaching Institute (IMTI).

Many early childhood teachers from both international and local schools apply for the program, since it is an important qualification and provides essential teaching skills, said Danny Ho, executive director of IMTI.

Related readings:
Montessori teaching method gives children freedom to learn Third culture kids bright, but different

During a typical IMTI seminar, participants get their hands on the Montessori modules, which are designed to help children develop the different senses. In one instance, colored paper in different shapes was provided and participants had to form different patterns from these shapes. An exercise the teachers will then use in class.

"You can't imagine the fancy patterns our little students can make," said Shi Yantao, a teacher from the kindergarten affiliated to Beijing Normal University who participated in the seminar. "If you give the students their freedom they will develop amazing results."

Song said she has been focusing on her boy's emotional education and given him some simple courses emphasizing physiological growth.

Her son - a single child - learned how to share toys with his peers and to say "thank you" if his friends gave him their toys to play. "I am very pleased that he knows how to pay his respects in return when people treated him well."

The International Montessori Teaching Institute's 12-month program-the English program costs 49,000 yuan and Chinese one 39,000 yuan, provides three months of academic training and nine months of internship.