個別化進度與混齡教育的實踐旅程

種籽蒙特梭利幼兒園的教育心路

The Journey of Individualized Progress and Mixed-Age Education

Seed Montessori Preschool’s Educational Path

堅持尊重孩子的個別差異與成長節奏

在種籽蒙特梭利幼兒園，我們相信每一個孩子都是獨特的，值得被用心呵護與尊重。我們深知，每位孩子的學習旅程都有其節奏與韻律，而我們的責任就是陪伴他們，跟隨他們的腳步，為每位孩子提供一個既安全又充滿可能性的學習環境。因此，自創校之初，我們便堅持融入蒙特梭利教育的核心理念，結合混齡班級的設計，讓孩子在自主學習與彼此合作中自然成長。

以觀察為基礎的個別化學習計畫

教育在種籽的展開，始於觀察與傾聽孩子的需求。我們的老師細心記錄每位孩子的興趣與學習狀態，並依此規劃出符合其發展階段的學習計畫。同時，我們也特別重視孩子的敏感期——這是一段充滿魔力的成長時期，孩子在其中展現出對某些事物的高度專注與學習渴望。透過細膩的觀察與適時的引導，我們致力於在這些關鍵時刻為孩子提供支持，幫助他們在探索中綻放光芒。

教具 ：教師的掌握與理解 - 孩子成長的重要夥伴

在孩子的成長旅途中，蒙特梭利教具扮演了不可或缺的角色。這些教具不僅是孩子學習的工具，更是他們的重要夥伴。從幫助孩子建立日常生活習慣，到培養精細動作與感官敏銳度，再到探索數學與語言的奧秘，每一件教具的設計都蘊含深刻的教育意圖。孩子在使用教具的過程中，慢慢地建構起對世界的理解與熱愛。種籽的教師在實踐過程中，投入大量心力學習與研究教具的應用，並根據孩子的發展敏感期和需要靈活調整，確保每一位孩子都能以自己的步調學習與成長。

實施個別化進度的挑戰與策略

然而，要將個別化進度與混齡教育的理念付諸實踐並非一件簡單的事。一路走來，我們深刻體會到，這需要教師團隊的高度專業與全心投入。為了幫助教師在實務中逐步掌握這套教育模式，我們採取了分階段的推進策略。

從「Advance Casa」課程開始

最初，我們為大班孩子設計了一個名為「Advance Casa」的課程。這是一週兩次的專門學習時段，由兩位教師帶領，針對數學與語文的教學進行團體與小組示範。目的在於幫助老師聚焦於：理解教學和教具系統、關注孩子的發展與需求，從系統化的規劃進度，過度到依循孩子的腳步設計個人化進度。孩子們在這樣的安排下，不僅能清楚掌握基礎概念，還能進一步透過個別示範深入學習。在這過程中，教師一方面協助孩子建立學習的基本能力，另一方面則專注於觀察孩子的需求，記錄他們的進步，並以此作為後續規劃的參考。這樣的實踐不僅讓教師逐漸累積經驗，也讓孩子對個別化學習模式愈加熟悉。教師從示範、觀察、反思、重新規劃在觀察與反思中一步步成長與掌握能力。

孩子自主學習計畫的培養

隨著教師經驗的成長，我們開始將孩子引入下一階段的學習旅程。在這個階段，孩子不僅參與學習活動，還會在教師的引導下，學習如何為自己制定學習目標。他們與老師討論自己的興趣與需要，然後一起規劃學習進度。透過這樣的參與，孩子不僅培養了自主性與責任感，還在過程中體驗到規劃與實踐的成就感。種籽從分階段開始就設定目標要走向全面實施混齡以及個別化進度。經過兩年的努力，我們的教師與孩子都已對這套模式駕輕就熟。「Advance Casa」課程順利完成其使命，孩子們全面融入混齡環境之中，同時個別化進度的實施也全面展開。我們欣喜地看到，孩子們能按照自己的步調學習，從容而自信地面對挑戰，並在這過程中找到屬於自己的節奏與方向。

家長的支持是成功的基石

在這一旅程中，我們也深深感受到家長的支持對我們的重要性。在種籽，我們與家長保持密切的溝通，定期分享孩子的學習進度，並為家長提供具體的建議，協助他們在家中與孩子一同成長。我們相信，家長的參與能讓孩子感受到更多的關愛與支持，並為他們的學習之路注入更多的動力。此外，我們也積極邀請家長參與幼兒園的活動，讓他們能親眼見證蒙特梭利教育的魅力，並與教師攜手共創孩子的成長故事。

成就與未來展望

回顧這段推行個別化進度與混齡教育的旅程，我們既感受到挑戰，也充滿感動與成就感。起初，我們的教師面臨如何同時兼顧不同年齡層孩子需求的壓力，需要投入大量的時間與心力來進行觀察與調整。然而，隨著經驗的累積，我們的教師團隊逐漸變得更加自信與專業。我們也見證到孩子們的驚人成長：他們的自信心、自主學習能力與社交技巧都得到了顯著的提升，這些成果是我們所有努力的最大回報。

攜手共創美好學習旅程

及至今日，當時經歷Advance Casa發展過程的婷婷老師、秀麗老師Tammy老師幾位資深的老師，依然在種籽的教室中用心為孩子打造和規劃符合孩子發展的環境，協助孩子安排符合自己的工作、活動和進度，持續傳承著蒙特梭利尊重個人與發展的教育理念和哲學。未來，我們將持續深化個別化進度與混齡教育的實踐，並探索更多能讓孩子受益的教育方式。我們始終相信，教育並非僅僅是知識的傳遞，而是充滿愛與陪伴的旅程。我們期待與家長和教育者攜手同行，為每位孩子創造一個充滿溫暖與希望的成長環境。如果您對我們的教育理念或實踐有任何疑問，歡迎隨時與我們聯繫。我們期待與您分享更多教育的美好瞬間，並與您一同見證孩子的成長與蛻變。

Upholding Respect for Each Child’s Individual Growth and Rhythm

At Seed Montessori Kindergarten, we believe that every child is unique, deserving of care and respect. We understand that each child’s learning journey follows its own rhythm, and our responsibility is to accompany them, moving at their pace while providing a safe and opportunity-filled learning environment. Since our founding, we have embraced the core principles of Montessori education, incorporating mixed-age classroom designs that allow children to naturally thrive in self-directed learning and collaborative interactions.

Individualized Learning Plans Rooted in Observation

Education at Seed begins with observing and listening to the needs of each child. Our teachers carefully document each child’s interests and learning progress, using these insights to create learning plans tailored to their developmental stages. Special emphasis is placed on sensitive periods—those magical windows of growth when children display heightened focus and a thirst for learning specific skills. Through meticulous observation and timely guidance, we strive to support children during these pivotal moments, helping them shine as they explore and grow.

Montessori Materials: Teachers’ Mastery and Children’s Growth Partner

Montessori materials play an essential role in children’s development. These tools are more than learning aids; they are integral companions on their journey. From building daily routines to refining fine motor skills and sensory perception, and from discovering the mysteries of mathematics to delving into the beauty of language, every material is designed with profound educational intent. As children engage with these materials, they gradually construct their understanding and love for the world around them. Seed’s teachers dedicate significant time and effort to mastering the application of these materials, adapting them flexibly to align with each child’s sensitive periods and developmental needs, ensuring that every child learns and grows at their own pace.

Challenges and Strategies in Implementing Individualized Progress

Implementing the principles of individualized progress and mixed-age education is not without challenges. We have learned that this requires a highly skilled and deeply committed teaching team. To support our teachers in gradually mastering this educational approach, we adopted a phased strategy.

Starting with the "Advance Casa" Program

Initially, we designed the "Advance Casa" program for our older children, held twice a week and led by two teachers. This specialized session focused on mathematics and language, using group and small-group demonstrations to help teachers and children. The program aimed to assist teachers in understanding the teaching system and materials, focusing on children’s development and transitioning from structured planning to following the child’s individualized needs. Children gained foundational concepts through this arrangement and delved deeper into personalized learning with individual demonstrations. Throughout this process, teachers observed children’s needs, documented their progress, and used these insights for subsequent planning. This approach allowed teachers to accumulate valuable experience while helping children become more comfortable with individualized learning. Teachers grew step by step, through demonstration, observation, reflection, and replanning, honing their skills and confidence.

Fostering Children’s Self-Directed Learning Plans

As teachers gained experience, we began guiding children to take the next step in their learning journey. At this stage, children not only participated in learning activities but also learned, under teacher guidance, to set their learning goals. They discussed their interests and needs with teachers, collaboratively planning their progress. This involvement nurtured children’s independence and responsibility, allowing them to experience the satisfaction of planning and achieving.

From the beginning, Seed set its sights on fully implementing mixed-age classrooms and individualized progress. After two years of effort, both teachers and children became adept at this model. The "Advance Casa" program successfully fulfilled its role, and children fully integrated into the mixed-age environment. Individualized progress implementation also expanded across the board. We were delighted to see children learning at their own pace, confidently and calmly facing challenges, and finding their rhythm and direction in the process.

Parental Support as the Foundation of Success

Throughout this journey, we have deeply appreciated the vital role of parental support. At Seed, we maintain close communication with parents, regularly sharing updates on their child’s progress and providing practical advice to help them support their child’s growth at home. We believe that parental involvement enriches children’s experiences and infuses their learning journey with additional love and encouragement. Furthermore, we actively invite parents to participate in school activities, enabling them to witness the charm of Montessori education firsthand and collaborate with teachers to foster their child’s development.

Achievements and Future Aspirations

Looking back on our journey to implement individualized progress and mixed-age education, we recall both challenges and heartfelt accomplishments. Initially, our teachers faced the challenge of meeting the diverse needs of children across age groups, requiring significant time and effort for observation and adjustment. However, as experience accumulated, our teaching team grew more confident and skilled. We also witnessed the remarkable growth of our children: their self-confidence, autonomy, and social skills improved significantly, rewarding all our hard work.

Collaborating to Create a Meaningful Learning Journey

Today, the teachers who contributed to the development of the Advance Casa program—Ms. Ting-Ting, Ms. Hsiu-Li, and Ms. Tammy—continue to dedicate themselves to designing learning environments that support children’s growth. They assist children in arranging personalized work, activities, and progress, carrying forward Montessori’s philosophy of respecting individuality and development.

Looking ahead, we will continue to deepen the practice of individualized progress and mixed-age education, exploring new ways to benefit children. We firmly believe that education is not merely about transmitting knowledge but about a journey filled with love and companionship. We look forward to working hand-in-hand with parents and educators, creating a warm and hopeful environment where every child can thrive. If you have any questions about our educational philosophy or practices, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We are eager to share more beautiful moments in education and to witness each child’s growth and transformation together.