Essential points while Exercises of Practical Life in Montessori System

Children are naturally interested in activities they have witnessed. It is therefore the directress’s task to demonstrate the correct way of doing these exercises in a way that allows the child to fully observe the movement.

The materials used in the EPL can be characterized as follows:

                    i.      Physical proportions: They must be the right size for the child to handle.

                  ii.      Psychically proportionate: Their function must be clear to the child.

                iii.      Attractive and good quality: Materials must be beautiful and attract the child.

                iv.      Clean and well maintained: The materials must be kept intact. Avoid too many material from which child can choose.

                  v.      Real not a toy: They must be real materials not toys.

                vi.      One for each exercise: Multiple sets of materials so that the children learn individually.

              vii.      Adaptable: Must be able to change from culture to culture and be comprised of the same objects the children would find in their home.

            viii.      Separation: Materials must be kept separate from other objects found in the environment.

                ix.      Non-Toxic Detergents: Detergents and cleaning solutions must be non-toxic or diluted in water.

Two ways to give EPL: The presentations for EPL can be collective or individual depending on the child’s needs and the nature of the activity. It can be direct or indirect. 

 

a)      Direct Presentation: Direct presentations are when we introduce an activity to the child. Analysis of movement is necessary when giving a presentation to help the child understand the movements necessary and the sequence of movements.

b)     Indirect Presentation: The indirect presentations are defined as when a child is watching the teacher make a presentation and paying attention to the lesson without the teacher being aware of it. This can be more important than the direct presentation, for the teacher is the biggest piece of Montessori material.

While presenting any EPL in front of a child teacher or elder should know these four basic principles:

1.            Choosing Activities: While choosing any activity all material is clean non-toxic. Teacher should first practice a lot before presenting it in front of a child.  The exercises taught must be done in the way the children see them done in their own homes.

2.            Setting Up: The practical life area must have a place for everything within reach of the children. For example, hooks to hang the brooms and apron, dust pan, mop, duster, and aprons should be within easy reach of the children.

·         The practical life area is best arranged near the sink, as water is needed for some of the activities.

·         In setting up a classroom, provision must be made to practice all types of housework the child sees done at home. Furniture of all types must be chosen with various surfaces. In this way, children can learn to clean some plain unvarnished wood, some polished, and some painted surfaces.

·         Things used in the class must include some made of brass and silver so that children can learn how to polish brass and silver. These materials should not be provided in the room only as exercises, but to serve other useful purposes as well.

·         Children need to learn to wash various types of fabrics. Aprons, dusters, dish towels, etc., should be chosen so different fabrics are represented like linen, denim, cotton, etc.

3.            Presenting Activities – Guidelines:

·         For all practical life activities, teacher and child should wear aprons and roll up their sleeves.

·          Child is shown how to work without making a mess. The child should stand a little away from a table or sink so as not to lean his stomach on a wet surface.

·         The child is also shown how to clean up after an exercise and is encouraged, but not forced, to do so.

·         A child is shown how to put material away, rinsing and drying where necessary, and how to hang up the apron. They are helped and encouraged to be orderly but never forced.

·         When giving any new lesson, teacher will point out the directions on the cleaning agent containers to the child. If written with red, she will tell the child that these are most important and should be read first.

·         Teacher practice each activity enough so that she feel very secure with the material. There is no right or wrong way to present. Some ways are simply better and more efficient.

·         Procedure:

i)           Give lessons in a relaxed, happy and gentle manner

ii)         Model courtesy, quiet and graceful movements, enthusiasm, zest for learning, a helping spirit, and a positive and pleasant attitude about work.

iii)       Keep the lessons short and simple. Follow a flexible sequence when introducing exercises.

iv)       Invite the child. Tell him what you are going to demonstrate.

v)         Take the child to the place where the material is stored.

vi)       Carry the material to the work area.

vii)     Demonstrate the activity.

viii)   Show the child where to return the material when the activity is completed.

4.            Evaluation: Observe children at work to determine when activities need to be simplified, when the environment needs to be modified, and what is currently catching the interest of your children.

a)      Remove activities that are no longer being used.

b)      Watch child used material appropriately and make a mental note.

c)      Don’t disturb the child while he is doing any activity, either doing wrong. Repeat lessons as needed at a neutral time.

d)      Appreciate the concentration, the mastery of any work.