Preschool/Kindergarten Diploma Program

Summary on the Introduction to Practical Life

A Montessori classroom is setup with different areas, each one targeting a unique purpose. Typical areas are Math, Sensorial, Language Arts, Culture and Science and Practical Life. The classroom is very appealing to children as everything is adapted to their level allowing for everything to be seen and touched by the child. The child has no social or physical restrictions in the classroom, which promotes self-exploring, independence and self-esteem. All of the activities engage the children in a way that uses all of their senses. This satisfies the child’s need to learn through the senses. In addition, each exercise has a “control of error”, in other words, they are self-correcting which allows the learning to be child led with the teacher serving as a guide. The control of error helps to reduce any feelings of frustration on the child’s part and nurture one’s self-confidence.

At this young age, even though a Montessori classroom environment is appealing to children, they can still have a hard time adjusting to “school”. The Practical Life area of the classroom is full of activities that can help ease the child and serve as a bond between home and school. Per Montessori, from very early in a child’s development it is clear that learning to be an adult is far more important to a child than playing with toys. This is a very important and crucial time and if at this stage in a child’s life he or she is not only allowed but encouraged to do adult activities the child learns pride in one’s self, a sense of accomplishment in a task well done, builds self-esteem, self discipline, good work ethic, independence as well as laying the foundation for sense of community. In the Practical Life area the child will recognize and perform some of the same activities as the adults at home, which can help make him or her feel comfortable and adjust to “school”.

It is at this stage that a child develops an attitude that adult activities, though labeled “work” are actually pleasing and gratifying. For this reason, all activities in a Montessori classroom are deemed as “work”. It is vital that the adults at home and at school work together to display a delight in their work along with a neat and pleasing surrounding. A child absorbs far more from watching than from verbal instructions.

The activities in the Practical Life area should be demonstrated with a minimal amount of words or in silence and with precise movement throughout all phases reiterating the fact that children absorb more from watching than verbal instruction. It is up to the teacher to decide which method of demonstration they wish to use when introducing an activity. The three methods are collective (given to all children at one time), Group (given to a small group of children) and Individual (given to one child at a time).

The Practical Life activities should be appealing, encouraging and consistent. For example, color coordinating the materials to the tray, using the same type of bottles for mixing etc. The Practical Life area should be neatly spaced and setup with definite order. The activities should be placed left to right, top to bottom and ranging in difficulty from very simple to intermediate. This is because a person reads left to right and top to bottom.

The direct aim of the Practical Life area is to help develop a child’s independence, concentration, coordination, order and control. This assists in the indirect aim, which is laying the foundations for all future learning. A child develops these abilities through such activities as sweeping, buttoning, washing tables, and pouring water from a pitcher into a cup. They are learning to meet their own needs as well as the needs of others around them and at the same time developing their fine motor skills. This sets them up for success whether it is in decision making, obtaining goals or simply supporting themselves or others and taking pride in their community. Simply put, the Practical Life area is the most important area in a Montessori Classroom.