ADOPTING MONTESSORI METHOD IN CONVENTIONAL SCHOOLS FOR THE 21ST CENTURY CHILD

Abstract

The school should be an institution that inspires learners to learn more about the world they live in and not a place where learners are filled with some limited information ready to pass a test or examination. The conventional school system has been preparing children for excellent academic achievement. There is need to change this concept and prepare learners who will function successfully in the dynamic society we live in today. The Ability to adopt a learning method which inspires exploration and holistic development should be considered. One among these methods is the Montessori Method. The paper therefore highlighted the characteristics of Montessori Method as prepared environment, Montessori material, repetition, independence, uninterrupted work period, multi-age classroom and child-centered learning, characteristics of conventional schooling. The benefits of Montessori Method and conventional schooling were mentioned. The paper discussed how the Montessori Method can be incorporated into the conventional school by merging direct instruction with handson activities, rearranging the conventional classroom by creating a space within the classroom for locally sourced material, using play method while applying rote learning and also factoring the children’s views when making the classroom rules. These suggest the possibility of adopting the Montessori Method to suit into the conventional school system.