From a young age, we are taught to prioritise our education and excel in subjects like math, science, and language arts. While these academic skills are undoubtedly important, they often overshadow the value of life skills.
These are the practical abilities that help us navigate through daily life, such as communication, time management, and problem-solving.
By understanding the significance of both academic knowledge and life skills and how to cultivate them, we can prepare our kids for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead in their lives.
The role of primary schools is a big contributor to this scenario. If you like your child to be prepared academically and in life, Brighton Montessori might be the perfect school for them.
Let’s talk about how Brighton Montessori can instil academic and life skills through their five (5) pillars of education.
1. Practical life skills
Looks like someone can help you with household chores soon!
One of Brighton Montessori’s academic pillars is teaching practical skills based on the age of a child.
Teachers allow students to learn small things in life that are not usually acquired in schools, such as simple buttoning, using utensils properly, scooping food, or pouring drinks into containers.
These are essentially important for young students who are still developing their motor skills.
2. Problem-solving math problems
Kids can surely learn how to budget or allocate finances growing up!
At school, we are not directly taught to do real-life finance budgeting, but through challenging math problems, we’ve been able to acquire skills in problem-solving! This is important to establish in primary school.
Brighton Montessori provides simple to advanced math problems to their students to establish math concepts at a young age. They utilise tangible Montessori Apparatus to facilitate the teaching, such as Number Rods and Golden Beads, before graduating to more complex, abstract calculations, preparing them for formal schooling.
3. Sensorial exercises
Can enrich their critical thinking skills in all aspects of life
Brighton Montessori offers a set of activities where young students engage with their five senses. Kids will learn about different shapes, and sizes—which is fun and vibrant for them! They will learn to perceive differences, compare, and estimate.
So, how does this instil life skills in them? Through sensory exploration, kids can develop critical thinking skills that are crucial for navigating through daily life.
By engaging their senses and actively observing and analysing their surroundings, children can learn to think critically and make informed decisions.
Plus, Brighton Montessori also teaches them organisational skills where students go through simple tasks, like keeping used materials back on their rightful shelves.
4. Phonics and early grammar
Great communication skills can take your child anywhere!
Phonics and early grammar are two essential components of a child's language development, and their importance cannot be overstated.
Having a solid understanding of phonics and grammar can boost a child's confidence and motivation, setting them up for success in their academic and personal lives.
Brighton Montessori has tools and prepared activities to establish a strong literacy foundation for your kids. Students use sandpaper letters to encourage them to associate auditory, tactile, and visual input.
Additionally, if you like your child to learn Chinese, they also offer an Intensive Chinese Immersion Programme (ICIP). Students will be immersed in a strictly Chinese-speaking reading and writing environment so that they are exposed to Mandarin at a young age.
5. Culture studies
Can easily connect with people from different cultures, especially if you’re considering them to study abroad for college
Culture studies, a field that examines the beliefs, behaviours, and artefacts of a society, is vital for kids to gain a deeper understanding of their own culture and those of others.
It not only broadens their knowledge but also promotes empathy, tolerance, and respect for diversity, values that are crucial for a harmonious and inclusive society.
Brighton Montessori exposes their students to a broad spectrum of experiences and topics where they engage them in age-appropriate discussions. Some topics from science, history, botany, general knowledge, and even geography!
Playtime can teach kids to value self-care
Although not one of the pillars of Brighton Montessori, playtime is essentially included in the curriculum and daily activities of students.
In fact, the school offers the Kidz Fun Discovery Programme (KFDP), which allows kids to learn in a very fun way! This includes speech and drama, cooking, music, and computer skills.
Through play, children can learn to set boundaries, respect their own needs, and understand the importance of taking care of themselves!
All about Brighton Montessori
Brighton Montessori follows a personalised teaching approach, where the teacher monitors each child's progress individually. Every student works at their own pace for the Montessori materials.
With more than 25 years of educating young students, Brighton Montessori is a reputable school in Singapore. They offer a strong and competitive preschool programme, which covers the entire spectrum of Montessori training for children 18 months to 6 years of age.