What is Montessori Education?
Montessori education is based on the belief that the best way for a child to fulfill his or her potential is through age-appropriate independence.
Independence builds confidence, as children learn through their own successes and failures. But a Montessori environment is not a free-for-all. There are limitations for the child in the Montessori environment. Above all, the Montessori philosophy is meant to help children fulfill their unique potential.
Maria Montessori, an Italian physician and educator, believed that a sense of purpose would lead to inner peace, and by extension a more peaceful world for our children.
Montessori educational practice helps children develop creativity, problem solving, critical thinking, time-management skills, and care of the environment and each other. The basis of Montessori practice in the classroom is mixed age groups centered on research and work, with uninterrupted concentration. Students choose what to work on so they enjoy their work and remember what they learn.
Group lessons are presented by a teacher in a Montessori classroom, and children have a choice to which work pulls their interests. Joy and independence is found in their work, and they want to teach it to one another, which then in turn reinforces their learning.
Why is Lighthouse Montessori Education Center needed?
Ashley is a child care desert. Early education is a pivotal part of a child’s life and these years should not be taken lightly.
A child’s brain grows rapidly during the first few years of life. By age 2, the child’s brain is about 80% the size of an adult’s brain. Due to this, it is important to give children the best experience and learning possible.
What happens when parents who want to work cannot find reliable child care?
According to the 2019 Early Learning Summit in Fort Wayne:
• Lack of child care costs Indiana employers nearly $2 billion per year.
• Employees miss an average of 13 days per year related to child care.
• Northeast Indiana has about 3,000 job openings per year caused by lack of child care.
How will Lighthouse Montessori be funded?
Companies will be asked to invest in child care for employees. Investments in high-quality child care yield about $4 for every $1 invested.
Reliable, quality child care can then be offered as a benefit to employees.
Viewing early learning as a benefit changes one’s perspective, aligning it with health care and insurance, benefits provided at a cost by employers.
Plans are for extended hours and above-average wages for teachers and staff to ensure stability.
By investing subsidy funding that is tax-deductible, businesses will be guaranteed positions in the classrooms that they can offer as a benefit to their employees. The guaranteed quality, reliable child care will help businesses reduce costs related to absenteeism, turnover and training.
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