Various Methodologies of Preschool Teaching

Most Teacher Training Courses today offer Preschool or Nursery Teachers Training Preschool students are usually between 2–6 years old. Developmental psychologists have identified this stage as the most important developmental stage in a person’s life. So, it is crucial to give these children the right kind of start in life so that they can become responsible citizens of tomorrow. In order to do that a course in Preschool Teachers Training is of vital importance. In fact, in most schools across the globe a Preschool Teachers Training Certificate has become mandatory to teach in nursery schools.
There are a number of different PT methodologies in use today. In the following paragraphs the most popular ones are discussed in brief.
The Montessori Method was developed by Maria Montessori in the 1990s. Montessori believed that children learnt best unaided, by doing things themselves & from their peers. In this method children are allowed to learn at their own pace. Peer learning is highly emphasised & classes are typically of mixed age groups. This helps children learn from each other. Teachers are mostly there to guide or help students as & when required. Group & individual work is encouraged where a new task is practiced by the group & then children are allowed to explore it on their own. Whenever possible, learning is done by using tactile materials & children are encouraged to be independent.
The Reggio Emilia Approach was started by Loris Malaguzzi and the parents from the villages around Reggio Emilia, Italy after World War II. The parents believed that early childhood experiences form the basis for the personality of a child. The core concept of this method is that children should be allowed to develop naturally & have a close relation with their environment. Education is an experience shared by the whole community & children are to be respected & valued. Children are encouraged to learn things by using all the 5 senses & express themselves by drawings, sculpture, clay modelling and similar activities.
The Waldorf Education is based on Rudolf Steiner’s educational philosophy. It is a humanistic approach which sees education as an experience which shapes the child’s personality. Steiner’s theories of child development provide the foundation for the educational structure. Children up to 6-7 years are mainly taught by imitation & example with special emphasis on practical activities. Children are encouraged to use their imagination, analytic & creative thinking while learning. Guided play & outdoor play are encouraged. Language learning is done through songs, poems, story-telling & games.
The Play-based Method is also called child-centred as its focus is on the children. It is believed that children learn best through play so all the learning is done through play. There is guided play, activity-based play & some time is set aside for free play as well. Story-telling sessions are also present for language learning. This method is built on the developmental theories like those of Piaget & Steiner.