Why should I choose Montessori School in Kuala Lumpur for My Child?

“Free the child's potential, and you will transform him into the world.” - Dr. Maria Montessori

Kuala Lumpur being the capital of Malaysia attracts a lot of expats. While the country has a lot to offer, choosing a school can be a daunting job for any parent, especially if your child is a teenager.

The Montessori based curriculum was created by Dr. Maria Montessori who was an Italian physicist. She believed that students, if given a chance, can develop individual capabilities without excessive interference from the teacher that traditional classroom settings bring in.

Kuala Lumpur invites a lot of cultures and ideologies. In such a dynamic city, Montessori schools equip the students to perform their best and also decide what is best for them and their interests. They do not force rigid structures, but allow students to explore on their own.

The moment you enter a Montessori classroom, you will find students who are empowered, who make their own decisions. They are free to pick the subjects and activities that fascinate their thought process without worrying about existing combinations like science, arts or commerce. Students are free to mix and match between subjects and are encouraged to explore new activities. Naturally, some students may work well in groups, while some fly solo.

The Montessori curriculum in a Kuala Lumpur School does not evaluate students based on a single aspect, but understands that students are also individuals who are on different levels in their journeys. This individuality is honored by letting them make their own choices, whether it is to dress, to play, to study or lead lives as successful, global leaders.

The Montessori curriculum enables rigorous, self-motivated growth for children and teenagers in all areas of their development—cognitive, emotional, social, and physical, thus focusing on their holistic development.

If you are a parent looking at schools for your child, a Montessori school should be on your hunt list for these reasons:

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Montessori Curriculum makes your Child a Capable Citizen

If you are an expat, especially in Kuala Lumpur, it is important for your child to become capable of choosing their own paths whether it is in academics, communicating what they need, their boundaries, their culture and being able to make confident and independent decisions.

The Montessori school curriculum is accepted worldwide and in well renowned universities. This does not only enable your child to become capable in day to day activities, but also develop into individuals who are well equipped with different world views, and still are able to draw their own.

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Faculty of Montessori Schools is Well Trained 

Montessori school teachers are very experienced in their own fields as well as understand the importance of becoming guides, and supporters of their students welfare and not imposing their own thinking. 

Teachers are trained to accept, allow space for questions, curiosity and to grow into better individuals each day. Teachers are not to be just worshipped, but rather seen as individuals who enable the student to find their own path.

Kuala Lumpur schools have Montessori teachers who are trained from time to time, such that they not only discover and learn new things in their field, but also how to help create successful, confident and empathetic individuals.

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Infrastructure of Montessori Based Schools in Kuala Lumpur is High-Tech

Montessori based curriculum is not only restricted in social interactions and teaching mechanisms, but also in the kind of objects and physical spaces the students interact with.

Malaysia is a very high tech country. Montessori schools incorporate this in the building, the toys, the furniture and the decor of their premises. Almost every single point of contact that the student interacts with is made to create a learning and curiosity invoking path. 

The furniture for example is shaped as animals like rabbits, the walls depict various scenes from the park and the garden, the shelves have alphabets and lockers are numbered.

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Advanced State of the Art Technology in Kuala Lumpur Schools

Technology is shaping how we live and interact each day. International Kuala Lumpur schools make use of it to the fullest. Student records are kept on a daily basis, tracking their development over various aspects:

● Assessment grades

● Segmentation

● Section

● Subject understanding

● Student to student involvement

● Teacher and student relationship

● Sports

● Extra curricular activities

● Health

All this is done using robust data analytics and tracking. Parents can interact with teachers, see live updates, interact with other parents, attend workshops, track young students across the day making the entire program a more collaborative and an integrated process. Specialized teachers train students and take SMART classes enjoying documentaries, movies and short movies.

Wifi and artificial intelligence driven labs, experience rooms, virtual reality are all a part of now and here and students get an opportunity to experience and become comfortable with these technologies and learn their way around the new advancements.

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Accountability is a Forerunner in Montessori Schools of Kuala Lumpur

Teachers in Montessori school assess students on an everyday basis. The result leads to teachers creating an environment that is individualised and altered to suit the needs of every student. Hence, creating a unique learning style for every student that empowers them to do their best.

Students are accountable for their own behaviors, results and learning. They step up and ask for that which they need to boost their learning or reach out to their teachers who can guide them. Each student is accountable for their own actions which they then carry forward in their lifestyle and values.

Self-correction and self-assessment are an integral part of the Montessori classroom approach. As students spend time in the classes and interact with the environment, teachers and other students, they learn to look at their own work critically, but also compassionately. 

They become confident in finding new or alternate understandings and changing their world views by recognizing, accepting and implementing from the errors they make and also support others. This makes students more accepting to alternate narratives and create harmony and support for each other in a safe and empathetic ecosystem.

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Sense of Self and Community is a Priority for Montessori Classroom in Kuala Lumpur

Most Montessori classes are for a period of three years during which the teachers remain the same. The students can be of varying ages.

Dr. Maria Montessori believed that when children are given the freedom to choose their own learning activities, a self-confident, inquisitive, creative child emerges.

Through this period students create deep connections of trust and belonging with each other. Each student, since encouraged to actively create their own path and make their own choices, develop a strong sense of self.

In modern days, peer pressure and social media can be destroyers of sense of self. But, Montessori based curriculum in Kuala Lumpur schools focus on the environment of the child. When presented with a positive environment that aligns with the students budding identity, all kinds of pressures come to an end, and the true self emerges.

These students don’t only firmly believe in their own selves, but also their co-students and classmates. They contribute to the community and in each other's growth. 

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Extracurricular activities are equally important for Montessori based classes

Extracurricular activities whether in sports like hockey, chess, gymnastics or music, languages, art forms like graffiti, and coding, digital softwares, traditional meditation, yoga, pottery, robotics, malkhamb are all encouraged.

Students are taught the importance of finding pleasures and hobbies in new activities that not only develop them holistically, but also find unique interests which they might not be aware of originally. It is important to maintain a balance in academics and extracurricular.

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Skill Based Learning for Students in Montessori Schools

In today’s day and age, skills are being preferred over and over again by the biggest companies. We are looking at individuals breaking bars and divergent thinkers contributing to the community. This also means a high competition in the job market as well as at top universities and different fields.

It becomes imperative that students then learn skills that are beneficial throughout one's life. These could be understanding tax slabs, stock markets, savings and investments, computer literacy, and other various skills. Students can choose which skill they wish to learn and in what capacity.

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Conclusion

Montessori could be an age-old learning methodology, but in today’s age and time, it seems to be the most wanted and needed both by parents and students.

Montessori is the way to go for your child if you want them to become independent, impactful, and compassionate individuals who believe in knowledge and the importance of community, especially if you are an expat in Kuala Lumpur.