Dear Parents
Little Saplings Preschool at Ravet operates the school based on guiding principle of Dr Maria Montessori and technical know how from Kreedology Bangalore.
Let us understand what is Experiential learning and normal preschool.
Children of the age group 2 to 6 years are constantly trying to learn the surrounding environment, socializing with people but all this is happening on their own terms and their own comfort. We as grown ups need to guide them and not go on teaching them
The above photo shows how a preschool should be planned. You can see the study material racks, the height of which is fully comfortable for the child. The child can pick up the material which he/she likes. We encourage child to take the material from the rack and take to their place of working. This helps the child to develop balancing skills, hand eye coordination. We guide the child to take on their won the seating mat. Unroll and roll back after the activity is completed. This helps children to develop discipline. (take things and keep it back in their own place)
The child starts experimenting with the material and the care giver (teacher) introduces the material how to remove and how to accomplish the task of the toy. Name of the toy such as cylinder, various shapes etc are introduced. This helps child to develop vocabulary while playing.
other children may be working with other toy, care giver introduces that toy which child has taken , if the child has picked up number game, care giver introduces that toy to that child
Children are always in excited mood and hence will be looking out for new toys every now and then.
It is their natural urge to experiment with new things, colors, shapes, sizes etc. Care giver can introduce and show the similarity of the same in social life as well.
Do not expect the child to repeat the things which you have told then and there and neither expect the child to repeat this when you want it. Trust the child remembers it well and may repeat when the child wants to repeat.
Simple acts like introduction of shadow etc can be done live early in morning when sunlight is coming. teacher can show her shadow and show to child their shadow as well. This is experiential learning.
In normal way of schooling teacher makes group of students based on age/class and keeps on teaching the children what is planned for the day. Students are expected to follow children and repeat what has been taught.
The parents also ask the children "Aaj Kya Sikha" what have you learned today? The results need to be immediate. This is expectation from elders but this not how the preschool children learn.
They learn on their pace and as per their liking. Freedom they get at this age. Most of us have learned driving of bicycle in practical way. Someone showed us how to drive and then we have learned on our own with the help of our physique and muscle at that young age. This learning of bicycle was purely an example of experiential learning. Which is not forgotten even with grown up age.
Therefore children must be cared, given guidance and NOT taught. Give them every opportunity to experiment, as grown up if you find they are going to get injured, explain them nicely they will listen but you need to give another option to them of doing some other activity. Making children quite and calm is not right as it not their nature.
Learning thru experiments is of great importance and this learning lasts for the whole life. Children develop as confident persons as at early child hood they experience joy of accomplishing the task.
In case if you need to have further discussion and under standing you can plan to visit our preschool, we eagerly await your arrival.
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