The Academic Process

           Many of you are often curious and excited for your little ones to begin to read and work with numbers.  During our Silent Journey, you will get a chance to understand the reasoning behind the miraculous work of the Montessori Education.  We all chose the Montessori Education for a reason and being a Directress, I can reassure you that it works when we put faith in it and truly follow the child.  There's no doubt that a young child is capable of learning his letters and numbers as we already know how his brain functions just like a sponge, sucking in all the information given to him.  Perhaps we want him to advance and not be left behind in comparison to his peers.  However, we must also realize that there is a vital process that a young child goes through in his developmental stages, and to meet each stage comes preparation.  Preparation of the child, preparation of the environment, and preparation of the adult.  

          To be able to learn and comprehend language and math, a child must have some level of maturity.  Meaning being able to focus, listen, sit still and understand.  He has to be ready both physically and mentally.  You can force a young child to learn his letters and numbers through memorization which more likely would work but is it effective?  A child may be able to point a number symbol to you or recite his ABC's yet does this help him understand what the number is or the importance of the letters in words.  Perhaps, you may then think, 'well my child cannot focus, is incapable of sitting still and his attention span is so short that his listening skills lack.'  Should you worry and feel that he will be behind compared to the other children?  Certainly, not.  Unless the child specifically needs extra help and support beyond what we can offer, he will progress.  

          Our classrooms are well equipped and prepared to support the child in his developmental needs.  Behind each lesson, you see in your child's classroom is a goal for your child to succeed.  These lessons are designed to be beautiful, attracting your child's attention.  They also challenge him, teach him independence and give him the ability to explore.  Furthermore, these materials provide him the opportunity to strengthen his ability to concentrate and most importantly, create within him the joy and love of learning.  My trainer told me once that whatever you bring into the environment to share with the children you must first question its purpose.  If it doesn't have a meaningful purpose for a child then it doesn't belong in their environment.  There is always a space to grow in our classroom if it's meaningful and serves a purpose to the child. 

           Lastly, to bring forth all crucial factors there must be a prepared adult.  An adult who is trained to understand the importance of the prepared environment.  Who is also trained to observe the child know him as an individual and be aware of the developmental stage he is at.  An adult who will serve the child and follow him, so that he may develop to reach his full potential instead of pushing him to achieve it.  Maria Montessori knew it well as she said, "We teachers can only help the work going on, as servants wait upon a master."

            Let us focus our energy on the child's growth and support him.  Believe that he will achieve the skills we would like for him to receive but allow him to do this in his readiness and interest.  A child who is hungry for knowledge can reach a higher goal than what we set for him.  "Free the child's potential, and you will transform him into the world" – Dr. Maria Montessori.

-Ms. Vicki, Bumblebee Teacher