The first educational center following the methodology of an Italian scientist-teacher has opened in Ashgabat
A new innovative educational center Perzent bilim merkezi, in which the advanced methodology of the Italian scientist, teacher and doctor Maria Montessori was introduced for the first time in Turkmenistan, opened in Ashgabat.
The Montessori system is a unique and internationally recognized practice for the psychological education of children and their spiritual improvement. The whole essence of the system is to provide the child with conditions for independent development, independent choice of practical material and respect for the environment.
The principle of her teaching methodology — "Help me to do it alone" — causes spontaneous manifestations of self-discipline in preschool children, which contributes to the formation of healthy and objective thinking in the child.
ORIENT correspondent talked to Ekaterina Geldimuradova, Deputy Director of Perzent bilim merkezi, who told about the Montessori system in the first such center in Turkmenistan.
— Our final listener is a parent, – says Geldimuradova. – We teach the Montessori method to parents, because often there is more than one child in families, and not everyone has the opportunity to teach everyone. Therefore, we set the ultimate goal to teach a parent how to arrange a Montessori environment at home, how to talk to a child, and what they need to know about the development of a child. I think if our final listener is a parent, then it will be more efficient. Our task is not to be a monopolist in Montessori education, but to introduce Montessori to the masses.
— What is the Montessori method in general?
— Montessori is a philosophy, a way of life, and, first of all, parents should live by it. People often wonder if Montessori is suitable for children. Montessori is suitable for any child, if it suits parents.
— So, is it the atmosphere and philosophy in the family?
— Yes, first of all, everything comes from adults. A child at this age absorbs everything like a sponge, and repeats everything after adults, trusts adults, and everything that a parent needs is needed by a child. Therefore, everything comes from an adult who is nearby.
— So you are planning courses and educational trainings for parents?
— Yes, we start with parents, i.e., first we conduct trainings for parents on child development. All because Maria Montessori herself was an anthropologist: she had a medical education, she received a doctorate in psychology and devoted her whole life to children and pedagogy. This is such an integrated approach, from the point of view of Montessori, about what the development of a child looks like. We conduct trainings on how the Montessori environment is arranged, how to organize such an environment at home and distribute the books of this famous teacher to parents during classes as a manual. The cost of the book is included in the course. If you sign up with us, we distribute it at the training.
— Why the Montessori method? Were there any alternatives?
— There are a lot of methods, but we chose Montessori because it is more humane and comprehensive. Everything is thought out to the smallest detail.
— What are the advantages of this method?
— The fact that it is soft. It is not the child who follows what needs to be done, as the adult said, but the adult follows what the child is interested in. Therefore, children feel comfortable within this technique, so they "open up" faster.
— How did you come up with the idea to open this educational center?
— I had a daughter who was 6 years old at that time, and I didn't understand her. In addition to my main job, in the evening I went to a speech therapy course at TNIWL. At the very beginning of the course, when they told us what methods there are, we were shown a two-minute video where children of different ages help each other, do not swear, do not run, do not quarrel. It surprised me, it was alive for me. It affected me because my child was not like that. I started arguing that it was impossible, to which the teacher replied: "read it!". And that's all. Since 2017 I've been reading it and I can't stop.
— Do you practice this method at home with your children?
— Yes. My daughter is already 11, and now we are in harmony, thanks to this method. Despite my pedagogical education, I had not been able to achieve this before.
— How old should the children be for parents to sign up?
— We accept any adults, even those who are just planning to have a child. But in general, the technique is aimed at children from 3 to 6 years old. It is with us. The Montessori course lasts a month, while the program itself is designed for 12 courses, it is annual. Every month is a new set.
— Is your institution the only one in the country that uses the Montessori methodology?
— As far as I know, we are using Montessori in its full, complex form for the first time. And so, other teachers also use elements of the methodology. I know that even at the state level, Montessori classes were introduced in some kindergartens, but being completely Montessori-oriented – no.
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