Teaching styles have evolved across the globe with the findings of behaviour studies. From the time when teaching was believed to be a teacher centric process, we have entered an era where it has completely become a student centric process. Learning is a journey that every student sets on as he enters the school and the teacher plays the role of a guide, at times even a supporter, helper, partner or just a friend. Every student sets on a different journey of cultivating experiences based on their individual learning styles and grasping capabilities. This paradigm shift in teaching can be attributed to Dr. Maria Montessori’s method developed in the early 1900s. She emphasised on making teaching a child-led process and ensuring that each child is given enough independence to choose what and how of the learning process.
International schools in Malaysia have understood the importance of making learning a child centric process and have become home to many Montessori Schools. These schools let the students choose what they want to learn and their classrooms are quite different from the regular classrooms.
Changes that Montessori method has brought to our classrooms are:
â—Ź A non traditional grading system
â—Ź Focuses on social, emotional, intellectual and physical development of the students and not just academic achievement or ability to cram
â—Ź Placing various activity stations across the classrooms which provides students a pool of activities to choose from while in the class
â—Ź Teachers do not stand at one place and lecture the class rather they move around and participate with every group to help them learn better
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Features of Montessori Method of Education in International Schools in Malaysia
1. Encourages hands-on independent learning
Children are given the freedom to choose the activity they want to be involved in. They are also given the freedom to spend as much time as they like in exploring that activity. This freedom is given to inculcate the sense of self- discipline, as well as creativity. It is believed to develop problem solving skills in children along with lifelong appreciation for learning.
2. Child friendly classroom designs
The classrooms are designed in a way that it catches the attention of students, while also being safe. Whether it is the furniture or the activity areas, everything is made keeping the diversity of the classroom in mind, such that it engages and accommodates all the students comfortably. Aesthetic details are designed to give every student easy access to activity areas, ensuring enjoyment and convenience.
3. Multiple activity areas
 The multiple activity areas give the option of choosing activities that interests a child most. Teachers are there to merely facilitate the movement of chosen activity for the students. You are most likely to find some students indulging in maths exercise and others in a story telling only in a montessori classroom.
4. Observant teachers
Montessori teachers are specially trained “observers” guiding children as they pursue activities independently. Each child is at the center of the Montessori classroom. The teacher’s role is only to facilitate the learning process and experience for each child. They are nothing like traditional teachers standing at one place and giving directions. This is a result of a change in teaching style from earlier being teacher centred to now being student centred.
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5. Multi-age classmates
 You are most likely to find children from different age groups in a montessori classroom. This encourages younger students to learn from the elders, while older students are likely to imbibe a sense of responsibility in their character by taking care of younger ones. It also teaches them skills such as relationship building, trust and mutually beneficial learning experiences.
6. Caring and compassionate environment
Montessori classrooms are all about giving each student a supportive environment, teaching them to be compassionate towards fellow students. This leads to development of emotional intelligence in students from an early age, where they learn to develop the skill of relationship management. It also teaches them kindness and respect for other students.
7. Purposeful work
One of their unique ways of teaching is through purposeful work. They involve students in organising the activity areas by putting away toys and books in their original positions. This inculcates in students a sense of personal responsibility. Some schools engage students in charity, which teaches them about sharing while others involve students in gardening or cleaning to teach them how to live in harmony.
8. Appreciation of Environment
A Montessori classroom is often designed with plants and objects of nature to help children gain an awareness and appreciation of the environment. Montessori was a proponent of experiential learning and respect for all living things. Exploring nature provides opportunities for sensorial experiences.
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9. Peaceful conflict resolution
Children are taught to be respectful and practise empathy for each other. By listening to one another and taking time out when problems occur. In such an atmosphere students learn to find solutions and resolve conflicts more readily.
Montessori schools are focused on developing life skills in young students that will help them in achieving success in the future. Research has shown that Montessori students have outperformed those who have received traditional education. As overall development is more important to these schools as compared to high grades that were valued by schools following traditional methods of teaching.
If you are a young parent who would like to give an atmosphere of holistic development to their child then you can look for Montessori schools near you.
