Kaylin Goes To A Montessori School

The purpose of this assignment is to closely observe the development of a child through an interview and apply the theories and concept of child development in his particular cultural and educational context. I selected the child who lives in my neighborhood for the interview and began with seeking the permission from his parents. The child’s name is ‘Abdullah’ and he is seven years old. He lives with his family in Terre Haute and his family consists of parents and two sisters. Abdullah goes to Sugar Grove Elementary School in the Terre Haute city along with his two sisters and he is in grade 2. The interview was conducted at his home and I ensured his convenience. He was cooperative and provided insightful responses to the questions and he provided significant detail in the interview. I was able to track his development stages and connect it to different theories of Developmental Psychology including psychoanalytical perspectives and Piaget’s stages of development. In the following paragraphs, I will explain my observations about Abdullah’s development in the light of developmental theories with special focus on cognitive, social, linguistic, and emotional development followed by making connections between his socioeconomic and cultural background and development. Lastly, I will conclude paper by highlighting that the observations during the interview can facilitate my future practice as a teacher.

How a physical process develops and how organs adjust to outside influences is determined by a child’s biology. For example, gender can affect development in various ways. Whether a child is a boy or girl can affect how they develop and learn. Research shows that boys have lower levels of school readiness than girls because boys tend to learn and develop differently from girls. Another determining factor on how gender affects development include stereotyping or abuse within the family. If those two factors are present, the experiences of a child could vary. Philosophers Piaget and Vygotsky discuss the importance of a developing child’s experience in their cognitive growth. For example, a girl born into a family that believes a woman’s only role is to be a housewife and raise children, may not be given the

In a social context, it can be observed that children will follow the direction of other children (Harris) and will learn how to act in a society (Harris). They also tend to stay within the same peer group and that is why moving a lot can cause problems in different aspects (Harris). Theses example help Judith prove her point that peers have a much larger influence on a child’s development then

Montessori’s teaching approach aims to develop all aspects of the child mentally and socially (Pound, 2012). Montessori cautioned teachers to remember that children need to be allowed to do basic tasks to learn for themselves (Mooney, 2000, p.28). The role of the teacher in a Montessori setting is mainly observation of the child, encouragement, preparation of the environment, leadership, fostering the child’s independence (Mooney, 2000, p.29), and keeping a complex and delicate balance between each role. (Miller, 2010, p.79). Both theorists acknowledged that children learn best by doing and through repetition of tasks (Mooney, 2000, p.29). Large blocks of time for free work and play, should be scheduled as this was part of the Montessori legacy, this can also be seen in Steiner settings. (Pound, 2012). The teacher should also give children responsibility for keeping the setting space clean and tidy and allow the children to structure their own play. (Mooney, 2000, p.29). Steiner’s role of the teacher is comparable. Steiner wanted to create an education which gave children ‘clarity of thought, sensitivity of feeling and strength of will’ (Pound 2012, p28). Like Montessori the role of the teacher is all about observation, the teacher needs to be both interested and observational of the child’s basic needs to fully develop the child both

participation in a church activity might suggest that she has a strong connection to an organized religion. Her desire to complete the work that was assigned for home in school could also indicate that she values both activities equally, wanting to devote time to participate in both with full attention. Through SI’s literacy practice, the use of a math book to assist in homework so she can participate in another activity may be evidence of her increased beliefs, values, and attitudes towards both school and church as a result of participating in the re-design.

As children start school he learns more than reading, writing, and math. School is where they learn to give and take with children that they aren’t as familiar with. As Staff states “relating with peers according to the rules” (2011). Children learn that not everyone will have the same rules as their parents have. Especially if their mom is a stay at home mom they learn to do what another person in authority. Preschoolers play like they want they often make their own rules, as grow older they learn to play games that have rules that they need to follow (Staff 2011). And of course with growing older comes responsibility. As the child enters kindergarten and first grade it is expected that they will gain a certain amount of knowledge. Elementary school was hard for me. I struggled through it. I guess I would fit into Erikson’s theory of Industry versus Inferiority. I don’t remember how old I was when I was inferior but I do remember struggling with it. I think that personality can play in there sometimes. So far I’ve been pretty close to Erikson’s

Another example of this part of the model can be demonstrated through the educators and teachers of Dave’s elementary school when Dave’s mother comes to meet with the professionals of the school to talk about Dave’s wounds and bruises. Dave’s Mother explains to them that Dave had made up these stories with his imagination and was hurting himself because he was trying to gain his parents attention after Dave’s Mother gave birth to her most recent child, making Dave no longer the “baby” of the family. Instead of sending Dave’s Mother for further questioning, the education

In Life-Span Development the class had the ability to observe the infant, Riley, and her parents, Erin and Robin. The class had the ability to discover to talk to real parents and ask the questions that most students are too shy to ask. The class was also able to observe how Riley acted in front of forty people. This experienced allowed people to understand the true development of infant whether it be cognitive, physical or social

Step 1: In the case study, “Two Moms”, there are multiple problems brought up. The first problem is Denise, a student with two moms, is getting picked on by her classmates. The second problem is the teacher, Ms. Ribiero, is not sure how to bring up hard topics in her classroom, such as homosexuality, and the different ways families can look. The third problem is the backlash received from the parents.

theory, in terms that are more basic, describes the process by which a child resumes real

Laila attended school as a child. When the Taliban came into power, she could not attend school anymore. Women who wanted to be educated were punished. Laila’s father, hakim, believes in women’s education. He states to Laila “ I know you’re still young, but I want you to understand and learn this now. Marriage can wait, education cannot. You’re a very, very bright girl. Truly, you are. You can be anything you want, Laila. You can be anything you want, Laila. You can be anything you want, Laila. You can be anything you want, Laila. I know this about you. And I also know that when this war is over, Afghanistan is going to need you as much as its men maybe even more. Because a society has no chance of success if its women are uneducated, Laila. No chance”(103). Hakim emphasizes the importance of women being educated. He hopes that one-day, Laila will pursue education and help rebuild Afghanistan after the war. In order for a country to flourish and succeed, men and women must be educated. Nonetheless, the Taliban did not understand the importance of educating women, and so they are not allowed to be educated, and thus, they cannot achieve anything in life. This brings us back to one of Nana’s many teachings, “what’s the sense of schooling a girl like you? It’s like shining a spittoon. And you’ll learn nothing of value in those schools. There is only one, one skill a women like you and me needs in life, and they don’t teach it at school… only one skill. And it’s this: tahamul.

In Montessori education, the term “normalization” has a specialized meaning. “Normal” does not refer to what is considered to be “typical” or “average” or even “usual”. “Normalization” does not refer to a process of being forced to conform. Instead, Maria Montessori used the terms “normal” and “normalization” to describe a unique process she observed in child development.

My case subject is Regina Holms, a second grader, from County Elementary School. Before I interviewed the subject, I received permission for her guardian. During the interview, Regina and I conversed while working on one of the seven Piagetian tasks, the volume task. During this task, Regina’s stage of development was determined.

There is no set level that all children must follow; they learn when they explore by themselves. This method leaves children with freedom where they can learn self-discipline in a place designed specifically for their developmental needs. Teachers would have a part in the education of children though even though 80% of it was up to the children. Teachers are to make sure that children are presented with the right extent of material at the right time. In other words, if a child is too advanced for one activity, a teacher would present a new one to fit them, and vice versa. Maria believed if her methods were applied to public schools the results would be even better than the traditional method results. Since the government didn't let her, she started to work with poor daycare children. She doubted that her methods would work under these conditions but she had shocking results. She discovered if the children were in an orderly place to work, they will respect that and care for it. They are able to learn longer and better than in an everyday setting. In Montessori preschool, five areas make up the prepared learning environment. These areas include practical life, the sensorial area, mathematics, and cultural activities. In the elementary program, areas include integration, presentation of knowledge, presentation of the formal scientific languages, the use of visual aids, mathematic curriculum, Montessori trained teachers, emphasis on open-ended research and

Dr. Maria Montessori was a keen observer of children. She used her observational and experimental proclivities from her medical background to develop, what we might today call, a Constructivist understanding of the process of learning. She studied them scientifically. If she saw some unusual behavior in a child, she would say,”I won’t believe it now, I shall if it happens again”. She studied the conditions in which the children would perform those actions.