Monday, May 18, 2020

Montessori Kindergarten Assessment Tools

Montessori Kindergarten Assessment Tools - montessori kindergarten - Montessori West

Montessori private kindergarten assessment tools are not what you see in traditional schools. Montessori education is focused on teaching children how to learn rather than memorizing information, and that changes how assessments are used. Where a traditional assessment is typically done using group testing and grading, Montessori students are constantly being observed and their individual curriculums altered to suit their needs.


Process, Not Production

Because Montessori private kindergarten uses a different educational model than traditional education systems, assessing student progress must be done differently as well. Instead of focusing on what each child has achieved, student assessment is an appraisal of how well the child is performing the processes of learning rather than the information being learned. Practical Life Practical life skills are the methods and habits we build around our daily routines. Assessment includes such things as the willingness of a child to do for himself, the ability to perform age-appropriate tasks without assistance, and the motivation to work independently and quietly.

Courtesy and Grace

Social interaction is vital to the success of a Montessori student, and that makes courtesy and grace important tools in kindergarten assessment. This includes behaviors like:

  • Learning to listen when others talk 
  • Speaking in normal tones 
  • Controlling emotional outbursts 
  • Asking for permission 
  • Sharing

Motivation and Encouragement

Montessori is a self-teaching environment, so observing the level of motivation and self-involvement of each child is important in assessing their progress. The philosophy behind Montessori is that children are naturally inquisitive, so providing them with access and information serves as motivation for learning and expanding the child’s base of knowledge.

Academic Expectations

Academic education takes a more relaxed role in Montessori kindergarten. Children are still taught the basics of education such as reading, writing, and arithmetic, but they use play-based, self-correcting educational tools to do so. It is important to observe student progress in academics so that student guides are able to tailor the educational process for each child directly.

Another difference in Montessori kindergarten assessment is the 3-way conferencing between the parent, student, and guides. This serves the purpose of keeping parents involved in student progress and shows children that parents and teachers are on the same team. The seamless connection between school and home is crucial for Montessori education, which is why parents are encouraged to adopt the Montessori Method at home as well.