Optimizing education from preschool onwards is critical for children’s developmental and economic future.

The challenge for educators is staying relevant in a fast-paced world and finding ways to blend traditional and modern resources to offer children the best possible learning outcomes. Employing a school management system for your school or institution has many advantages for both students and teachers. Read more on why you should have a school management system for your school: Top 7 Reasons Schools Should Use a School Management System

5 Ways Montessori Special Education Can Maximize Students’ Unique Abilities

Traditional Learning is in Crisis

American schooling often relies on the outdated “factory model” system and the “blank slate” model of learning.

Schools are overcrowded, leading to a lack of oversight, and there is a need for innovation in teacher education.

The National Council on Teacher Quality– responsible for evaluating teacher preparation programs – found that three-fourths of the programs they rated did not meet the “current professional standards, practices and reform efforts” required for teacher training.

So it’s no surprise that more and more involved parents are turning to other solutions to educate, motivate and stimulate their children.

Montessori schools aim to meet the children where they are and take advantage of their own skills and inclinations to support advancement – at the best pace for each child.

The tried-and-true principles developed by Dr Montessori are still used in Montessori schools.

And adapting these principles to the modern age of technology is becoming an essential concern for many educators.

Gamification helps students focus and retain information than the traditional style of learning, read more about gamification and how to integrate it into your teaching process: Gamification in Education: Theory and Practice

The Five Principles of Montessori Learning

Forward-thinking educators are seeking a fusion of accessible technological advances with the evidence-based practices developed by Montessori schools over decades.

Helping children to achieve their greatest learning potential and preparing them for the world beyond the school gates has never been more critical.

A harmony of tried and tested Montessori principles and current technological advances can helpachieve that goal.

1.Respect

Respect between adults and children is the first Montessori principle and is the building block for embracing a child’s singular capabilities and needs.

Respect allows children to develop autonomy and pace their own learning under proper guidance and oversight.

Children flourish when allowed to concentrate and offered choices and freedoms within a carefully prepared environment. Mutual respect is applied in all aspects of Montessori Special education, encouraging love of learning.

And life-long learners are the very best educators. Educators who regularly collaborate and take advantage of modern contributions can constantly refresh their skills and continue to offer creative, fascinating choices to the children they are guiding and supporting.

2. The Absorbent Mind

Young minds are eager to learn, and children constantly interpret and absorb new information from their environment.

Educators trained and skilled in allowing children to explore with guidance support students todevelop a crucial understanding of themselves and the world.

So educators who regularly seek out new skills and learning methods can help keep children’s minds engaged with a fusion of new and traditional learning materials.

3. Sensitive Periods

Montessori schools are aware that during sensitive periods children are capable of heightened learning; sensitive periods reflect essential milestones in the learning process.

Educator strained to be aware of those periods can ensure children are provided with the right resources and opportunities at just the right time to maximize learning potential.

Educators can take some of the hard work out of monitoring children’s progress by taking advantage of technological progress. Quality education software can help track critical milestones and essential information during sensitive periods, allowing educators to be better prepared to offer input and guidance at crucial times.

4. The Prepared Environment

In Montessori Special Education

Children learn best in a properly prepared environment. Montessori classrooms are designed to optimize learning and are prepared with activities and materials that will encourage children’s exploration, offering them a level of independent learning.

But classrooms don’t magically prepare themselves, and the task of ensuring you have the right materials and content requires crucial planning and management behind the scenes. So it’s vital that educators have access to customized systems encouraging whole school communication and making management of everyday administrative necessities easier for schools.
Read this article on how to increase student performance: 3 Ways to Improve Student Performance.

5. Auto education

Also known as self-education, this principle means that children can teach themselves through active exploration.

Educators provide guidance, oversight, inspiration, and prepare the environment and available resources. The children can then learn independently with ease.

The Montessori educator understands that work and play are simultaneous for children, and that learning through play and active exploration is essential for children to maximize their education.

So it’s crucial that educators continue to offer fresh stimulation for enquiring young minds. But staying inspired with fresh solutions can be a daunting task.

However, there’s a world of creativity and exploration available in education software tools. Using available technology can help educators gain insight and fresh ideas and continue to innovate regularly so the environment stays stimulating and inspiring for children throughout their education.

But the world we live in also requires children to be technologically skillful. Any child incapable of navigating new technology is at a distinct disadvantage in all aspects of modern life.

Fortunately, technological tools can make creativity and learning fun, and still harmonize with the Montessori principles.

Quality education software allows children autonomy, independence and safe active exploration in the digital world while still enjoying the advantages of hands-on physical interaction. A school management system is a software for managing your school or student information, it helps you, as a principle, to make your management efficient, and decreases the workload of day-to-day tasks on you. A school management software also help students and parents to track their own progress. Check SHAMS Edu school management system, the ultimate school management system that provides you will all what you need to efficiently manage and run your school.

The Montessori Difference

It’s safe to say that Montessori educators are different.

No matter the education system, most teachers care deeply about student outcomes. But the standard public school system of teacher-centric factory model learning often encourages simply handing over the materials and following the curriculum, with little possibility for innovation or improvement.

The same materials can be recycled for years, for the practice of learning by rote the information required to pass set exams.

It’s fair to say that some schools encourage uniformity in teaching methods within a set curriculum and don’t allow for much individual tailoring of materials by teachers.

A Virtual Necessity

But Montessori educators see things differently and are always seeking the next innovative resource.

Montessori educators are guides, observers, and experts in child development. They must be prepared to give individual or small group lessons regularly as they move around the classroom. In fact, a lot of preparation and planning is involved in being a Montessori educator.

No school functions without management oversight and carrying out necessary and often frustrating administrative tasks. Such tasks can be laborious and reduce available time for the educators love – guiding and supporting young minds to reach their full potential.

Educators also benefit from drawing on a vast pool of inspiration from many sources for fresh ideas, insights and vision.

Using technological advances in education software can support educators to:

• Remove stress from routine tasks of management and administration
• Inspire creativity with technological tools
• Make materials more enriching for children
• Keep in touch with parents regularly to discuss their child’s unique needs and progress

Schools were once restricted to the tools and materials around them, but the digital education revolution means they have a whole world of inspiration available in a digital toolbox.

Great Teachers Motivate and Stimulate

In Montessori Special Education

Students need engaged, enthusiastic, progressive teachers.

The best educators never stop seeking fresh resources to educate, motivate and stimulate the children they guide.

Educators who remain innovative and blend the best technology has to offer with proven, progressive methods are those who guide and inspire children to the best possible outcomes.

Use the best tools and resources available.

Continue to collaborate, motivate, stimulate and educate and help your students soar.