Meraki Montessori International
The Montessori concept was meticulously crafted by Dr. Maria Montessori – the first Italian woman to attain a medical degree. She started out as a physician and went on to develop expertise in paediatric care and anthropology, and also pursued psychiatry.
Her keen observation of young children combined with inter-disciplinary knowledge and experiments to enable greater learning and growth outcomes, culminated in the development of a curriculum that fosters holistic child development.
As the foundation of human personality takes root during the period from birth to age six, it’s crucial to provide children with the right educational framework and nurturing environment during this phase. For this reason, the Montessori approach is centered around cultivating independence, decision-making ability, willpower, patience, and enhanced concentration, and has developed different methods and materials to attain these goals.
Some of these include a mixed-age group setting—spanning from 14 months to 3 years in the Toddler Class, and 2 years 4 months to 6 years in the Primary Class— allowing younger children to learn from older peers and older children to reinforce their knowledge by helping younger ones. Mirroring real-world social dynamics, it promotes cooperation and empathy.
Also integral to Montessori education are practical life activities such as cooking, cleaning, and caring for the environment. Seamlessly woven into the curriculum, they equip children with skills relevant to daily life, inculcating in them a sense of dignity and pride in all forms of work.
Tangible materials, which kids can see, touch, feel, sometimes even smell and hear, called Concrete Materials (maps, land and water forms, etc.) used by us facilitate hands-on, experimental learning in language, mathematics and culture. They thereby aid easy retention of concepts through interactive enjoyment.
The Montessori philosophy staunchly eschews competition. Moreover, rather than promoting rivalry, it focuses on personal progress and mastery, alleviating stress and undue pressure among students. Rather than appreciation and criticism, or fear and desire to impress others, the Montessori ethos guides children by encouraging and nurturing their intrinsic motivation.
While the philosophy’s principal goal is to sculpt well-rounded personalities, Montessori students naturally excel academically.
Age Criteria – 14 months to 3 years
Our specialized toddler program is designed to cater to the unique developmental needs of children aged between 14 months and 3 years. As this crucial stage of early childhood is a time of rapid growth, exploration, and discovery, our toddler program is carefully crafted to support and nurture each child’s individual journey.
Toddlers are naturally curious and eager to explore the world around them. Therefore, to fuel their natural inclination further we’ve prepared safe and stimulating environments to support learning through hands-on experiences in particularly these four areas:
– Manipulatives: Cognitive, Physical, and Sensorial Exploration
– Practical Life: Fostering Independence and Essential Skills
– Language: Nurturing Communication and Expression
– Art: Self-Expression and Exploring Creativity
Practical activities ranging from pouring to spooning and tools we employ from storytelling to conversation develop their essential life skills, promote language acquisition, refine motor skills, enhance concentration and nurture social-emotional growth.
Overall, thoughtfully designed with age-appropriate materials and activities, the program supports cognitive, physical, and sensorial exploration and offers opportunities for problem-solving too. Toddlers are given the freedom to choose their own work, cultivating independence, decision-making power, and a sense of responsibility.
At MMI, we believe each child is unique and has his/her own pace of development in different areas. Embracing their individuality, our toddler program provides a nurturing and supportive environment where each child can thrive.
By encouraging and honing a love for learning and independence, we build in them a strong foundation and set them up for a lifelong journey of growth.
Age Criteria – 2 years 4 months to 6 years
At the MMI primary program, we provide a nurturing environment where young minds thrive and develop a lifelong passion for learning.
Our curriculum is guided by the Montessori philosophy, promoting independence, critical thinking, and hands-on experiences. Our program offers:
Practical Life Skills: Children engage in tasks such as pouring, sweeping, buttoning, etc. that develop fine motor skills as well as independent thinking and decision-making.
Sensorial Materials: Activities that involve exploring shapes, colours and sounds with our sensorial materials aid in developing the child’s senses and enhancing perception and cognition.
Language Development: We cultivate children’s language skills through phonetic awareness, writing activities and reading in a manner that they’re able to express themselves confidently.
Mathematics: Our materials help children grasp mathematical concepts through hands-on experiences, and promote problem-solving and logical thinking.
Cultural Studies: We introduce children to diverse cultures, geography, history, and the natural world, opening them up to a global perspective and appreciation for our world’s richness.
Creative Arts: Children explore various artistic mediums such as painting, yoga/gymnastics, and music to unleash their creativity.
Social and Emotional Development: Our program emphasises grace, courtesy, conflict resolution and teamwork, nurturing in children empathy and respect, and positive social interactions.
Age Criteria – 3 years to 6 years
In the Montessori Maths and Language after-school class students engage in activities designed to develop a deeper understanding and love for both subjects. With the guidance of trained Montessori educators, children explore basic mathematical concepts such as the decimal system, different operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication and division), and more, through concrete (or solid) materials, before they graduate to abstract calculations, application of mathematical concepts and advance maths.
Simultaneously, language skills are honed through interactive exercises including storytelling, vocabulary building and games such as I-Spy and others for sound, phonetic and grammar exploration – ultimately preparing children for further reading and writing.
The holistic approach of this class gives them a solid mathematical and linguistic foundation, while also nurturing their curiosity, intellect and ability to communicate effectively.
This class is open to children from other schools, including traditional ones, especially former Montessorians who moved to traditional schools but still see the benefit in continuing to learn and practice these subjects the Montessori way.