Montessori
The Montessori @ Harvest International School
Exploring An Innovative Educational Pathway
At Harvest International School, we proudly embrace the Montessori approach – A pedagogical philosophy that presents a comprehensive outlook on education as a catalyst for holistic development.. Our Montessori curriculum is thoughtfully crafted to accompany children on their journey of self-construction from childhood to adolescence. This approach boasts inherent flexibility, effortlessly accommodating the diverse needs of each individual student, irrespective of their aptitude, learning preferences, or social maturity.
In our Montessori classrooms, we cultivate an environment meticulously prepared to resonate with children’s innate drives for exploration and learning. Under the gentle guidance of skilled educators, students are encouraged to delve into spontaneous and meaningful activities, nurturing their inherent passion for learning. Through such engagements, young learners naturally develop traits of concentration, motivation, persistence, and discipline. Within this structured yet adaptable framework, students progress at their unique pace and rhythm, aligned with their distinct developmental trajectories.
Guiding the Path: The Role of a Montessori Teacher
At the heart of the Montessori philosophy lies the role of the teacher as a guide and observer. Our educators are dedicated to fostering an atmosphere of serenity, order, and delight within the classroom. This nurturing ambiance propels students to embrace challenges with confidence and instills in them a sense of self-discipline. As students evolve, our teachers gradually lessen their intervention, allowing the child’s autonomy to flourish. This symbiotic relationship between student and teacher is an essential facet of Montessori education, honed through rigorous training at esteemed centers worldwide.
"We must support as much as possible the child's desires for activity; not wait on him, but educate him to be independent."
Unleashing Curiosity and Growth
A cornerstone of the Montessori approach is its emphasis on fostering growth through experiential exploration. At Harvest International School, we have curated classrooms referred to as “prepared environments,” nurturing a genuine zest for learning in our students. These environments offer a spectrum of purposeful activities, enticing students to engage in choices under the nurturing guidance of our adept educators.
Central to this method is the recognition of a child’s intrinsic need to learn by actively participating. Our approach deeply respects the unique personalities of each child, enabling educators to tailor instruction to the specific needs of individual students. This individualized attention fosters an atmosphere where students navigate their education at their own pace, with the freedom to explore, collaborate, and learn either independently or in small groups.
Crafting a Holistic Learning Space
The Montessori classroom at our school comprises various distinct learning zones: Practical Life, Sensorial Activities, Language, Arithmetic, and Culture. Within this diverse environment, children aged between two and a half and six years interact, learn from one another, and collectively form a supportive community.
This multi-age structure facilitates comprehensive learning and the development of crucial life skills. Students are empowered to take charge of their learning, thus fostering a heightened sense of self-direction and autonomy that surpasses the traditional classroom setting.
Shaping the Complete Individual
At Harvest International School, the Montessori Method is not just about intellectual growth; it’s about cultivating well-rounded individuals with a profound sense of self-discipline and direction. Our methodical approach nurtures skills that span beyond academia and encompass practical life skills, emotional intelligence, and social aptitude.
Diving into Key Learning Areas
- Exercises of Practical Life:
These purposeful activities aid in developing motor coordination, environmental awareness, self-care, and grace and courtesy. A most important need of the young child is to develop his muscles and coordinate his movements to become independent in his day-to-day activities. These activities also lay a firm foundation for the integrated personality – Intelligence willpower in coordination with voluntary movements.
- Sensorial Activities:
The sensorial materials provided in our classrooms serve as a gateway for children to explore their perceptions and impressions of the world. These materials enable students to differentiate, categorize, and relate new information to their existing knowledge, thus enhancing their understanding of the world around them.
- Language:
Language development unfolds naturally in our Montessori environment. We empower students to absorb oral language from their surroundings, while our educators gently introduce the written form. Language becomes an integral part of emotional expression, social interaction, and cognitive development. Our approach seamlessly integrates linguistic development with other core areas like Practical Life, Sensorial Activities, Mathematics, and Cultural Science.
- Activities of circle time:
Three-period lessons, Storytelling, Picture conversation, Audio-visual activities, Thematic activities, etc are some of the activities which aid to enhance communication skills.
- Storytelling: It helps in the imagination of the sequence of the story. It enriches the vocabulary.
- Circle time: Vocabulary created to themes and expressions of one’s ideas and suggestions and opinions are also done. During circle time, each one is allowed to speak on a given topic.
- Show and tell: It helps in developing the thinking power and expressiveness of the child.
- Audio visual aids: Audio Visual aids help in listening skills which in turn helps in communication indirectly.
- Mathematics:
Mathematics in the Montessori classroom can be separated into a few major categories: Beginning counting, the decimal system, rational numbers (fractions), and the operations of addition, multiplication, subtraction, and Division. Concepts are presented in a very concrete way so that children not only can count but skip count, square numbers, and work with numbers in the thousands.
- Culture:
The Culture materials present certain aspects of this world, in such a way that the child can observe, experiment, demonstrate and record what he has learned. The topic of culture studies integrates and emphasizes a region or population, geography, History, Music, Art, etc. The children study different areas of the world and experience concrete examples of that area Language, Literature, dress, Food, Artwork, and Music both past and present.
Exercises of Practical Life
Sensorial Activities
Language
Mathematics
Culture
Activities of Circle Time
Cultivating Independent Thinkers
At Harvest International School, we cherish the Montessori approach as a powerful tool for nurturing the intellectual, emotional, and social growth of our students. Rooted in a profound respect for each child’s individuality, this approach paves the way for a lifetime of independent learning, critical thinking, and self-discovery. As a beacon of education, we proudly champion the Montessori philosophy to mold tomorrow’s leaders, innovators, and independent thinkers.
Harvest International School, renowned for its commitment to holistic education, proudly stands among the top schools in Bangalore. Embracing the Montessori approach, we provide a transformative learning environment that empowers students to flourish academically, socially, and emotionally. Our distinguished educators, coupled with our comprehensive curriculum, create a nurturing space for students to thrive and emerge as well-rounded individuals prepared for the challenges of the future.
