Practical Life
In 1990 at the World Conference on Education for All, they discussed how education needed to be meet the learning needs of all young people and adults. They also discussed the importance of life skills. I found this interesting as there is a needed to develop practical life skills globally.
As I read this, I began to reflect on my experiences here locally in the school I was in.
3-6 class: During lunch children went to the kitchen got their cups filled it with water drank, cleaned up the cup and hung it up to dry.
6-9 class: I saw a child pick up a squish ball and heard a child say "Someone left their work out" and then he put it away with out asking. This shows he was internally motivated to help keep the environment in order.
9-12 class: Children were doing their weekly jobs such as "cubbieologist" some one who check the cubbies.
I found that through the different years Montessori instills this love and care for the self, other and the environment and many children seemed confident in their abilities to assist.
This week during class we continued to discuss the importance about professionalism and then we discussed practical life. I feel that through grace and courtesy Montessori is laying the foundations for that child to grow up into a professional. I like to further assist children in the growth development by offering an opportunity to use charts and role play for example:
Here is a chart that illustrates this point. I came across this when I worked in the Beekman International School. This chart brings self-awareness into the vicinity of the child. First the child/children identify the factors of what what went on then they choose an appropriate column. As the children learn how to cope with their emotions, they are also problem-solving along with practicing decision making skills.
I feel that practical life allows the child to become full involved in their learning activity/ work. It all provides children invaluable life skills they will use everyday. Through this they will continue to practice and become functioning members of society.
Reference
UNESCO (1990, March 9). Regional handbook on life skills programmes for non formal education.Retrieved from http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0021/002175/217507e.pdf