Maria Montessori and Japanese

Name
Instructor’s Name
Course
Date
Date Maria Montessori and Japanese Preschool Teaching
Preschool and Kindergarten teaching involves equipping young children with the necessary knowledge for the future life. There have been different approaches to ensuring that children develop the essential knowledge and skills in that different philosophies are followed in teaching the children. Among the philosophies used is that of Maria Montessori, established in the early 1900s. The theory has been used successfully by many schools in different countries. However, in Japan, there is a current approach to teaching young children believed to be more productive than that of Montessori.
Difference between Montessori and the Current Japanese Preschool Teaching
Maria Montessori, an Italian doctor, came up with a revolutionary children-centered model of learning in the early 1990s. According to the approach, children should be inspired to learn what they are interested in. Teachers should only guide them and give them a favorable environment to do so. Most importantly, children are taught the importance of cooperation to perform different activities and how the activities they do affect others. Additionally, children are taught how to be creative and curious. They end up thinking in a broad scope that enables them to develop innate skills and abilities. In this case, children had to be exposed to reading at the age of three to four years to avoid interrupting the other progressive learning milestones.

On the contrary, the Japanese current preschool learning system does not teach under-fives learning and reading skills. The areas of focus include language skills, group work, and interaction with others. Unlike Montessori’s approach, children are given much time to play around without any emphasis on their creativity. Teachers act as guides and role models for the young children.
What are Montessori’s Methods of Preschool Teaching?
Scientific methods are used in learning whereby children are allowed to perform their activities basing on their creativity. In this case, the children can discover many things during their lessons since the learning is not restrictive and directional. Teachers are there to support the young children by offering a favorable environment for them (Akhsanova 758). Educational materials including wood are organized according to the subject being learned, and incorrect sizes that can be handled by children. Also, children are free to move in class, and the teachers only focus on observing them discover their talents.
Aspects to Appreciate about the Japanese Preschool Experience Today
Some aspects make the Japanese preschool learning considerably. Among them is the freedom of play whereby playing is termed as part of knowledge. Teachers teach children different childhood games, allowing children to interact and compete in the open field. Besides, the aspect of teaching language skills is essential, as communication is crucial in the daily living. Excellent communication also prepares them to develop relations with others even later in life. Lastly, the aspect of group work and group interaction enables children to grow up with the spirit of togetherness and cooperation. It has instilled the aspect of creativity that has proved to be of benefit that the society and our institutions had neglected. The method emphasizes the embracement the things that at times they appear to have no clear path that led to external growth benefits as spending time on creative thing is worthwhile. At the same time, the concept of the uninterrupted block that she instilled is very crucial in the creativity. Also, I appreciate the educational innovation that the method introduced on the concept of learning through interaction with our environment.
How Does the Preschool in Japan Reflect the Important Values in Japanese Society?
The Japanese society values behaviors that result in positive relations. Such behaviors include social interactions, empathy, and the spirit of togetherness (Pate et al. 718). All the values mentioned above are taught in the preschools in Japan. Therefore, the approach equips children with essential knowledge and virtues to grow up as responsible citizens in the countries.
What are the Differences between American, Japanese, and Montessori’s Preschool Teaching Approaches?
As explained in the previous paragraphs, there is a difference between the Montessori and the current Japanese preschool teaching system. While the Montessori system based on discovering the children’s talents through creativity and previous exposure, the Japanese system values development in social life and language skills (Akhsanova 763). On the other side, the system of preschool education here in the USA has its approach. It involves focusing on the whole child in that all aspects are put into consideration which includes social life skills, creative skills, academic skills and motivational learning. In this regard, the children tend to mature in all aspects, making them discover their areas of interest easily.
Ideas that I Liked, and Those that Surprised Me in Montessori’s Work and the Operation of the Japanese Preschool
The two approaches in preschool learning are excellent in their setting, yet they each of them have it exciting and surprising portion. First, the Montessori’s ideas allowing children to develop their creativity through curiosity made me like it since it enables children to discover their potentials when young. The freedom helps children to work beyond limits, making them good people in the future. On the other hand, the Japanese system of encouraging playing while discouraging severe learning for the under-fives can be surprising because children usually have a high curiosity for learning at an earlier. Letting them grow older before teaching them may lead to laziness and skipped milestones.
What New and Interesting Ideas Do I Have About Raising My Children?
Having studied the different preschool teaching approach, I have discovered that for children to grow up responsibly, several ideas should be incorporated into their teaching. I would prefer to equip my children with necessary social skills, freedom of thinking, adequate time to think and create the own activities, and to discover what they can do best. In essence, combining the crucial aspects of the Montessori, Japanese, and American preschool teaching will help yield the best from the child.
Works Cited
Akhsanova, Liliya Nazimova, and Gulnara Ildarovna Salyakhova. “English teaching features by Montessori system among preschool-age children (working experience).” International Journal of Humanities and Cultural Studies (IJHCS) ISSN 2356-5926 1.1 (2016): 758-764.
Pate, Russell R., et al. “Physical activity in preschool children: Comparison between Montessori and traditional preschools.” Journal of School Health 84.11 (2014): 716-721.