Montessori Child Development Center. What are the key features of Montessori kindergartens?

Everyone knows Montessori method created and proposed by the Italian doctor and later philosopher Maria Montessori, who lived in the first half of the last century. At first it was applicable for the early and rapid development of children. Over time the method Montessori moved to a pedagogical system based on the ideas of free education. An important place in this process is given to the development of the senses through didactic classes.

This method turned out to be very effective.

This was proven during a knowledge test, which showed that children studying according to the individual Montessori method are superior to their peers in writing, counting and reading skills. The result of the audit was to raise the question of the ineffectiveness of the traditional method of teaching healthy children. Later, children with developmental disabilities, now called disabled people or children with disabilities (disabilities), were introduced to this method.

What is the Montessori method?

The essence The Montessori method consists in revealing its main postulate, which says “Help me do it myself.” Based on this, we can formulate the main postulate of the Montessori method as follows: “performing a child’s actions with minimal help from an adult”, in other words, developing independence.

The Montessori method is recognized as an alternative to traditional pedagogy. It is used in working with children from 3 to 6 years old when they attend classes on their own, that is, parents are not present. From 8 months to one and a half to two years, children come to class with their parents. It may seem that the Montessori method is a completely unorganized system. But this is only at first glance.

The main idea of ​​the Montessori method is a wonderful example of practical pedagogy in the implementation of ideas in the free education of children from the very beginning. early age, promoting their independent development.

Five principles of working with materials proposed by Maria Montessori

Basic materials necessary for organizing the training of a brilliant teacher are in our environment.

  • fruits for counting,
  • clay, salty dough and plasticine for modeling.

Distinctive features of children raised according to the Montessori system are:

  • curiosity,
  • desire to know the world.
  • freethinking,
  • independence.

It is these qualities that allow them to find their place in society while remaining individual.

Every baby learns to communicate through the natural desire, characteristic of all children, to touch, smell, and taste everything. Following the opinion of the pillars of Russian psychology, “... the path to a child’s intelligence leads not through abstraction, but through the senses.”

Five principles proposed by M. Montessori

  1. Active child. The adult acts as an assistant, his role is secondary. The child needs to be interested, and he will develop himself. Classes take place in a specially prepared environment.
  2. The child is his own teacher. He has full freedom of action and choice. Children teach each other according to the principle from older to younger, which allows them to learn to care for others;
  3. Child's independence in decision making;
  4. Full self-development- this is a consequence of freedom in actions, thinking, feelings. A child becomes himself when we follow the instructions of nature, and do not go against them.
  5. Respect for children- absence of prohibitions, criticism and instructions. A child has the right to make mistakes and figure everything out on his own.

In order to understand what the Montessori method is, it is enough to follow its theory and agree with the belief that any child is a normal person, capable of discovering himself in active work

Organization of kindergartens according to the Maria Montessori program

Unlike kindergartens working according to traditional methods, which treat children as irrational beings who are not yet at all capable of independent action, specialists in child care institutions working according to the Montessori method treat any child as a unique, inimitable personality, with his own own development plan, in our own ways and the timing of the development of the surrounding world. This is because the main idea that the Montessori method “carries” is to stimulate the child to self-development. Having placed the child in a prepared environment that has a clear logic of construction and corresponds to his specific psychological needs, the specialist in every possible way pushes him to make his own decisions in order to realize all those desires that he has according to his age.

In other words, the task of the educator, or mentor, as he is called in the Montessori system, is to help any child organize his activities in this environment, follow his own, unique path, and realize his creative potential.

It should be noted that the principles of the Montessori system are now agree with the provisions of the Federal State Educational Standard:

  1. The person-centered model of education implies that the Montessori teacher controls and corrects the mental, physical and psychological development each pupil individually. Adjusting if necessary;
  2. Raising a comprehensively developed personality: in a Montessori kindergarten, a child learns about the world in all its diversity;
  3. Following target guidelines: developing initiative and independence in various types activities, development of imagination;
  4. Organization of a developing subject-spatial environment: appropriate Montessori materials are selected for each content area of ​​education.

Organization of space in Montessori gardens (zoning system)

The total space is divided into 6 zones:

  1. Zone Everyday life – a child, while in it, acquires vital social and everyday skills. Montessori toys in this case, not props, but real everyday objects.

Advice for parents: following the Montessori method, it is recommended to introduce the child, in a playful way, to everyday affairs: self-care, caring for animals and plants, acquiring one of the most important elements of social skills - a block of communication skills;

  1. Sensory/fine motor development– the main materials are Montessori games, such as the Pink Tower pyramid, red bars, color ladder and signs ( to determine color and size), cylinder blocks. To develop tactile perception, materials of everyday life are used, such as rough fabrics, natural resources: clay, sand, earth and food grains, as well as salt dough, thermomosaic. For hearing development (noise cylinders, bells). This zone contains objects for developing the sense of smell and taste. The purpose of work in this zone is the development of the senses: touch, smell, training in primary skills, self-regulation of the emotional state of relaxation, as well as preparation for schooling.
  2. Math zone should be built taking into account the sensorimotor needs of the child, which shows a close connection with the sensory area. Building a system for learning mathematics according to Montessori assumes naturalness.

The instruments are:

  • for counting within 10 (barbells, spindles, chips);
  • to get acquainted with the decimal system (“golden” material);
  • for counting up to 100 (beads, Sagan boards, colored chains);
  • to become familiar with arithmetic operations (marks, dot games, addition, subtraction, multiplication and division tables);
  • to get acquainted with fractions;
  • to get acquainted with the basics of geometry (geometric chest of drawers, constructive triangles).
  1. Language development– is based on the principle of tactility. The goals of work in this zone are to expand vocabulary, teach writing and reading.

Advice for parents. In the first case, cards depicting objects are used.
In the second - a movable alphabet, rough letters, frames for shading, boxes with figures for the first intuitive reading, captions for environmental objects, simple books;

  1. Natural science/space development e. Work in this zone is aimed at preparing for the study of school subjects such as biology, history, geography, physics and chemistry;
  2. Play area- gym. Development of gross motor skills (motor development).

Advice for parents: the material offered for study to the child is recommended to be placed no higher than one meter from the floor. According to psychologists, this distance is optimal for the child to perceive as a call to action and begin to study on his own.

Advantages and disadvantages

Despite all the effectiveness and positivity of the methods under consideration, it is impossible to ignore it. negative points .

  1. Almost no attention is paid to the development of creative abilities, that is, creative creative thinking;
  2. Doesn't take into account role-playing games, promoting children's development social roles. For this reason, difficulties may arise in interpersonal and family relationships, because not everyone is taught the Montessori method.
  3. Maria Montessori's system is suitable only for moderately calm children. If a child is hyperactive or prone to autism, and also has clearly expressed creative abilities, then the use of the Montessori system can cause psychological trauma or become the basis of mental deviation.

The advantages of this system include :

  1. It can be taught in different cultures, since its main support is the basic needs of any child.
  2. Children who have completed at least one level of Montessori training become students and students of the most prestigious educational institutions.

An example of this can be the founders of two great companies Steve Jobs and Bill Gates, Prince William, writer Gabriel Garcia Marquez, 42nd US President Bill Clinton, Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin.

Children trained in the Montessori system have good attention span, observation skills, are disciplined and independent.

Montessori toys

The Montessori system should be introduced to a child in stages (for example, the age from 1 to 3 years is called a Montessori toddler):

  • from 1 to 2 months, paper figures, rattle toys in the shape of geometric bodies;
  • From 3 months it is recommended to stimulate movement. At this age, experts give preference to wooden figures of bed flowers, hung with special elastic bands. An example could be: a wooden ring or bell that makes a sound with every touch of the baby.

The main toys for a child up to one year old remain objects of everyday life.

Advice for parents: do not interfere with the opening and closing of drawers, as well as with the manipulation of things not intended for play. It is recommended to store all dangerous and valuable items out of the reach of children. And in one (two) drawers that are accessible to the child’s height, store items from everyday life, with which he will not harm himself when playing.

Advice to parents. The best exercises for children from 1 to 2 years old - natural natural environment. At this age, the child begins to realize that water is perfectly poured into the bucket to the brim. But you can’t pour sand like that. It can be poured. You can start collecting leaves from trees with your child or feeding birds on the street, you can also hang a feeder outside the window.

Toy library for a child from 2 to 3 years old – The main toy at this age is participation in everyday life. Helping parents peel boiled eggs and potatoes (boiled in their jackets), kneading dough, and cleaning.

Film about Maria Montessori

The film tells about the life and work of the Italian doctor and teacher Maria Montessori. It covers the whole life of this interesting woman. In order to get acquainted with her methodology and personality, just watch it.

All more parents decide to send their children to kindergarten according to the Montessori system . Maria Montessori - Italian Doctor of Science. This legendary woman devoted her entire life to observing children and creating techniques early development and creating conditions for their implementation. The success of her technique is a long-proven fact.

Many outstanding personalities of the 21st century (founders of Google, Wikipedia, Nobel Prize laureates, British princes) studied with early years according to the Montessori system. In this review we will talk about the features of early development using this method, consider best gardens Moscow.

What are the key features of Montessori kindergartens?

Maria Montessori was confident that the process of child development can be significantly accelerated by creating a suitable atmosphere for him. Classes are conducted in a playful way, children enjoy learning and try to see and correct their mistakes for themselves.

Various types of pressure, pushing, criticism and coercion, punishment and encouragement are strictly prohibited. The children decide for themselves what they want to do and determine the pace of their studies themselves. The role of the teacher is to understand what is interesting to the child, arouse interest, provide the necessary environment for classes and easily teach how to use this environment. In addition, Maria focuses on group exercises. They help you gain communication skills and adapt. Montessori groups in which children interact with each other are more effective than individual lessons with a teacher.

The environment and materials are the most important elements of the technique. The rooms in which children study are divided into several areas:

  • The area of ​​practical life.
  • Sensory development.
  • Areas of mental development (mathematics, geography, language, etc.).
  • Creative zones (dance, art, music, etc.).

Maria Montessori introduced the term Montessori materials in early childhood development methods. These are educational games, manuals, and other educational items. Maria developed all teaching materials experimentally. Carefully checking the children's reactions, she rejected those items that did not arouse children's interest. Real gardens working according to the Montessori system use original teaching materials, without them it is impossible to achieve desired effect will not work.

When choosing a Montessori garden, it is important to ensure that it is genuine. Teachers must have a suitable education; the surrounding environment tells a lot about the institution. Let's take a closer look at the 5 best Moscow Montessori gardens.

Montessori studio on Molodezhnaya

Address: Moscow, st. Elninskaya, 15/3

Montessori studio on Molodezhnaya was founded in 2009. It is among the schools recommended by the Montessori Foundation, the official representative of AMI (International Montessori Association). Training is conducted in two languages ​​(Russian/English).

The school’s mission is to lay the foundations for a child’s holistic, harmonious personality, capable of making independent, thoughtful decisions, becoming independent, free, disciplined and making a unique contribution to the world community.

Today, the school offers education for children from 0 to 12 years old, which meets the international standards of Montessori schools around the world.

Groups

  • Child-Parent Class/Parent-Infant Community— a program for parents with children from 2 to 14 months. Classes twice a week for two hours. It is possible to choose a convenient schedule. Cost 16000 rub. per month.
  • Toddler class/Toddler Community— program for children from 14 months to 3 years. Classes 5 days a week. Cost from 47,000 rub. up to 63800 rub. per month depending on the chosen program.
  • Class 3-6/Casa dei Bambini— program for children from 3 to 6 years old. Classes 5 days a week. Cost from 50,000 rub. up to 70,000 rub. per month depending on the chosen program.
  • Grade 6-12/Elementary— program for children from 6 to 12 years old. Classes 5 days a week. Cost 60,000 rub.

Peculiarities

All program directors have international AMI diplomas in working with children of the appropriate age.

Open from July to August summer camp with a variety of programs led by Montessori teachers.

Interior

The school is located in the Western Administrative District of Moscow on the territory of a modern residential complex with its own walking areas. Spacious, bright classrooms are equipped with comfortable children's furniture and high-quality Montessori materials. The complex maintains a strict access control regime and provides 24-hour security of the territory.

You can get acquainted with all Montessori kindergartens in Moscow on the pages of our catalog:

Kindergarten based on the Montessori system “School of Cooperation”

Address: Maly Poluyaroslavsky lane, 1/8 building 2. The kindergarten is located in an ecologically clean area of ​​Moscow, surrounded by beautiful architectural complexes.

Operating hours, cost

The School of Cooperation garden is open from Monday to Friday from 8.00 to 19.00. The cost of stay is from 98 to 128 thousand rubles monthly. It includes a full range of services, including 5 meals a day and medical care.

Interior, security

The interior resembles a large theater, where all the rooms and corridors are cities fairy-tale heroes. On the territory of the establishment there are gazebos, exercise equipment, a swimming pool, an observatory and laboratory, playgrounds and sports grounds. Great attention is paid to safety:

  • water and air purification systems are installed in the garden,
  • furniture, equipment, finishing materials comply with SanPin standards,
  • The territory is under 24-hour security and a video surveillance system is installed.

The educational focus of the institution is studying in English. A language environment has been created here, native English speakers work here. A separate development program is created for each child; psychologists and teachers regularly monitor the dynamics and adjust this program together with parents.

Each group has:

  • a room for communication between a child and his parents, group activities for children with their parents;
  • stage and theater area;
  • Montessori zones.

Distinctive features

The Cooperation School pays great attention not only to the development and education of children, but also to health. A separate daily routine is developed for each child, additional classes and the choice of circles, the load is distributed depending on the psychophysiological state. Qualified specialists have developed basic programs recovery. To implement them, massage and physiotherapy rooms, a salt room, and an office were equipped on the territory of the kindergarten. physical therapy. All children regularly receive an oxygen cocktail. The basic training programs include individual and group sessions with a speech therapist.

The School of Cooperation pays special attention to healthy eating. The menu was developed by nutritionists of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, taking into account the age of the children, the calorie content of the dishes and includes only healthy dishes from fresh, high-quality products. The diet includes first and second courses, cereals, fruits, baked goods, meat and dairy products, and fish. For students with certain health problems (for example, food allergies), specialists create an individual menu.

Montessori Kindergarten Montessori Kid

Address: Michurinsky Prospekt, 39. The spacious three-meter windows of the building offer magnificent views of the 50th Anniversary of October Park and the Moscow State University clock tower on the other side.

Interior, security

The interior of the kindergarten was created by the joint efforts of talented designers, doctors and psychologists. Thus, individual lockers in the locker room are made in the shape of a house. All furniture is made of solid pine and complies with SanPin standards. Desks and chairs are height adjustable to suit the individual parameters of each child. In the rooms, under the laminate and tiles, a “warm floor” system is installed. Thanks to this, children can be creative and play on the floor even in the cold season. The building has a fire alarm system and 24-hour security.

There are seven zones in the groups: zone sensory development, creativity, physical development, mathematics, practical life, language learning and science. In the physical development area there are gladiator and Swedish walls, ropes, horizontal bars, a climbing wall, and the floors are covered with soft mats. All sports equipment is safe and has quality certificates.

The Montessori Toddler group operates for children aged 1.5 to 3 years. The goal of the program is to develop children’s independence and teach them all the necessary skills (changing clothes, maintaining cleanliness, cleaning up after themselves). In addition, teachers pay attention to the development of fine motor skills of the hands, coordination of movements, and sensory skills. The group’s working hours are from 8.30 to 12.00, cost – 29,500 rubles. The trial lesson is free.

Children aged 3 to 6 years study in the Casa dei Bambini group with a psychologist and speech therapist; under the strict guidance of experienced teachers, they learn music, engage in creativity, and receive development in new disciplines: mathematics, history, languages, geography, natural history. The acquired skills will help you better master complex and advanced school subjects in the future. You can send your child to the Casa dei Bambini group for the whole day (from 8.30 to 17.00, the cost is 35 thousand rubles), or for a half day (from 8.30 to 14.00, the cost is 29,500 rubles). For beginners, an adaptation program is provided for a period of one month. Its cost is 25 thousand rubles, the trial lesson is free.

Distinctive features

Every kindergarten student has a Montessori Kid diary. This is a special electronic application that allows parents to track all the baby’s progress. It updates photos daily, videos are posted, there is communication with teachers, administration and much more.

Montessori kindergarten HappyBee

Address: Ostrovnoy proezd, 12 k. 1. This is a beautiful and quiet place, without the bustle of the city. The territory of the kindergarten is well guarded.

Interior, security

In the center there are large rooms with high ceilings and spacious windows. The furniture is made of high-quality wood and corresponds to the height of the child. All teaching materials are safe, original, and have appropriate certificates.

Working hours, groups

HappyBee has 2 Montessori groups :

  • Toddler (age 18 months – 3 years). It is open daily from 9.00 to 17.00, 3 meals a day are provided;
  • Primary (age 2.5-6 years). Opening hours from 9.00 to 19.00, 4 meals a day.

Peculiarities

HappyBee employs certified teachers and pays great attention to learning English. For this purpose, native English speakers were invited to join the center's team. Every month, the kindergarten administration holds family events and trainings, and parents regularly receive photo reports on their children’s successes.

Montessori groups at the Rainbow Magic School

Rainbow Gardens are located at 50 Izmailovsky Boulevard (Casa De Bambini) and 61 3rd Parkovaya Street (Toddler Class). These are the only centers in the Eastern District of Moscow.

Groups, operating hours, cost

"Rainbow" enrolls children in 2 groups, depending on age:

  • Toddler class (from 1.2 to 3 years);
  • Garden “Casa De Bambini” (from 3–7 years).

In addition to the main classes, children can be enrolled in a temporary group (visiting three times a week from 8.00 to 13.30 or twice a week from 14.00 to 19.00), or a weekend group. Also, the Rainbow school separately conducts developmental programs, the duration of which is from 1 to 1.5 hours.

The cost of staying in the kindergarten depends on the chosen program, the schedule of visits and starts from 12 thousand rubles per month. Discounts are provided for large and low-income families. The price includes meals and excursions.

Raduga employs accredited teachers, the organization is part of the First International Montessori Union in the Russian Federation, and in 2012 it was recognized as the best Montessori institution in the Russian Federation.

Peculiarities

By attending the Rainbow kindergarten, your child will receive a varied education. The room has many separate areas for studying music, ballroom dancing, mathematics, English with immersion in an English-speaking environment, and exploring the artistic world. The center houses an art studio, culinary and pottery workshops, and an equestrian club. Twice a week children engage in therapeutic physical training.

Montessori kindergarten Montessori Bambini

Address: st. Geroev Panfilovtsev, house 11, building 2.

Website www.bambinimoscow.ru

Tel.: 89166331062

Interior, security

Without exception, all groups are equipped in accordance with the recommendations of the great scientist and are divided into five main zones (practical, sensory development, space, mathematical and language corners), original didactic materials are used. The classrooms have created an environment that allows children to learn in a safe and psychologically comfortable atmosphere.

Groups, operating hours, cost

Groups are formed in accordance with sensitive periods.

  • from 7:00 to 19:00 the cost is 30,000 rubles.
  • from 7:00 to 12:00 Todller group cost 18,000 rubles.
  • from 7:00 to 13:00 group 3-6 years old

Peculiarities

The center has an integration group that accepts children with Down syndrome. The kindergarten administration regularly conducts training seminars for parents on raising children. Topics for the seminar are suggested by the participants.