January is traditionally school hunting month in Kenya. If you're racking your brain on where you can find a good school for your kids, you can start looking here and here. If your quest for a great education for your child is more discerning, have you considered Montessori education?
The Montessori method of education was developed by Italian physician Maria Montessori. Emphasizing independence, it views children as naturally eager for knowledge and capable of initiating learning in a sufficiently supportive and well-prepared learning environment.
It discourages some conventional measures of achievement such as grades and tests. Montessori developed her theories in the early 1900s through scientific experimentation with her students; the method has since been used in many parts of the world, in public and private schools alike.
Here's why you should consider getting your kid(s) a Montessori education:
Centered around Key Development Stages: The Montessori core curriculum is centered around the key developmental milestones in children ranging from the ages of three to five-years-old. Three-year olds focus on sharpening large muscle and language skills, while four -year-old's fine-tune their motor skills and complete everyday activities, such as cooking and arts and crafts. Five-year olds typically broaden their learning experience to their communities, through field trips and special events.
Teachers assist in the learning process: Teachers in the Montessori classroom act as "guides" that are there to assist in the learning experience, rather than determine what the experience will be. Teachers will develop the curriculum based on the children in the classroom. Teachers will not determine the pace of the learning as that is left up to individual students. Montessori teachers attempt to be as unobtrusive as possible.
Promotes cooperative play: Children in a Montessori classroom environment learn how to share and cooperate with one another. The children determine what the activities in the classroom will be throughout the day, and this tends to build a sense of community. This in turn encourages children to share and work courteously with one another to explore the various stations in the Montessori classroom.
Curriculum concentrates on hands-on learning: Hands-on learning is one of the biggest benefits of the Montessori method. The emphasis is on concrete learning as opposed to abstract learning, which means that students will work on activities that teach language, math, culture and practical life lessons. Teachers promote students to focus on tasks, and discourage students from disturbing and interrupting one another. This methodology allows students to concentrate on activities until the concepts are properly grasped.
Montessori Method is highly individualized to each student: Students are encouraged to explore activities and concepts at their own pace. This naturally inspires children to try more challenging activities, which hastens their learning experience. Learning occurs at a comfortable tempo for each student, instead of imposing the same pace on every student.
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Here are Montessori schools in Nairobi you can consider:
Montessori Learning Center
The Montessori Learning Centre located along Grevillea Grove, off Brookside Drive Westlands, Nairobi is a welcoming well-equipped Montessori School, which offers a 5 year Montessori programme between the ages of 11/2-6 plus years.
Imani Montessori
Located along Mbabane Road, off James Gichuru Road, Imani Montessori school is guided by Montessori-credentialed teachers. They use a full complement of Montessori materials in a classroom designed to offer choice for hands-on exploration following each child's interests, learning style, and pace.
Admission is from age 2-6 and kids are placed in different classes based on their age and abilities.
DukesBridge
DukesBridge along Gigiri road is guided by the Australian approach to education. Dukesbridge combines elements from the Montessori method - such as the child-centered pedagogy of learning through play - with the Waldorf Steiner educational philosophy of nurturing a child's intellectual, artistic and practical skills in an integrated and holistic manner. Dukesbridge admits kids from age 3-9.
Nairobi Montessori School
Nairobi Montessori School located in Karen offers a holistic Montessori education to children from the ages of 15 months to 9 years.
Montessori House School
Located in the quiet suburb of Brookside (Westlands), within easy access of Waiyaki Way and Lower Kabete Road.
Brookside Montessori Center is housed in a converted bungalow with a leafy and serene compound. The environment serves as an ideal transition point between home and school, since it emulates what they've been used to at home. They taken in Children from ages 2-8.
Montessori Plus Center
Montessori Plus Center (MPC) is an International Montessori school nestled in a green and secure campus in the heart of Gigiri, Nairobi, Kenya.
*Image: DukesBridge
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Mon. 13th May, 2019 at 8:29AM