本帖最後由 jolalee 於 14-9-23 08:01 編輯
回覆 happyhealthymin 的帖子
[sorry about the previous large font size; just switched to a new phone. no idea why it did it...]
You have some good insights in comparing the systems. Here's my take on the points you made above:
1) yes, Montessori has more individual 'work' time, much like how most grown ups work (at least used to work before we are so connected)
2) Montessori KG students has up to 3 hours of uninterrupted work slots. They take their own snack break as the child see fit, and continue to work afterwards. Montessori research has shown that students would experience a long period of constructive concentration thereafter, and learn a lot in the process. The teacher would go around the class and direct the students in accordance to what benefits the individual child.
3) Montessori emphasizes independence, self motivation, life long learner. The IB program pursuit similar missions, using methods based on the latest research on child development.
4) every education system uses slightly different methods: Montessori has more physically constructed materials/tools catered for early childhood, UK and traditional mainstream schools rely more on textbooks whereas IB do away with text book and has a much more fluid (and often hard to track) approach. In the end, all IS produce independent open-minded kids.
5) "for a normally developing child attention does not need special training". I must disagree with you on that. What children do on a regular basis does effect their neural & habitual development, otherwise the American pediatric society would not recommend kids under age2 should have 0hour of daily screen time, and that experts advise limited TV exposure for children under age 5. Part of the reason for such warnings are due to young kids who watch a lot of TV does have a lower concentration span (amongst other things). Children who are allowed to work without interruptions every 1/2 hour would probably learn to solve problems on their own, stay focused, amongst other benefits.
6) "In Montessori pretend play is not encouraged". I think this is true, and played an interesting role when I picked Montessori education for my boy. Like me, my son turned out to be quite a creative kid with a huge imagination. What Montessori lacked we more than made up after class with our crazy pretend plays & wacky inventions. After I switched him over to a through-train school, which happens to be full-IB, he was likes fish in water. I miss the stronger discipline & serious learning back then though (in Montessori he learned words like "primary & secondary colors", now in IB he learned "jolly & groovy". sigh!)
7) "IMS the most established Montessori school in HK offers very limited after school activities." This is probably due to the lack of space IMS previously experienced. With their new Stanley campus I am sure this will change.
Although many families like mine and yours end up going mainstream after a short stay at Montessori, we must not undermine its effectiveness and uniqueness in early childhood development. It is no coincidence that the Montessori method withstood the test of time and continues to thrive for over a century ;) There are methods and ideals that Montessori held onto which cannot be replaced in mainstream schools, even IB. In certain ways i find IB & Montessori are similar, esp in philosophy, but in execution they are the complete opposite.
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發表於 14-9-19 09:33
