The Montessori method, established by Maria Montessori in 1907, focuses on the universal needs of children and takes a “whole child” approach to education. This includes focus on the physical, intellectual, social and emotional growth of a child. Montessori classrooms are child-centric environments with child-accessible activities. Teachers act as guides to the students and respect each child’s right to work towards intrinsic reward by honoring freedom of choice and movement. Self-discovery and self-discipline develop as children have the opportunity to work autonomously.
After rigorous evaluation of different educational methodologies, we decided in 2013 to replace a conventional Junior Kindergarten class with a Casa 1 Montessori class. Under the guidance of two qualified Montessori teachers and complete overhaul of the classroom, our first Montessori batch experiences the benefits of this methodology with the addition of age relevant and developmentally appropriate Islamic content.
The aim of Montessori Education is to foster autonomous, competent, responsible, adaptive citizens who are lifelong-learners and problem-solvers.
– Dr. Maria Montessori
A child’s future rests on the development and education they receive in their elementary years. The gains in language and math set the stage for their future academic success. As such, we strive to set the bar high for our keen young learners. As a private school, we are able to set our own expectations and can use the Ontario Ministry Curriculum as a starting point for academic success rather than the end goal. This approach leads to greater gains for students and prepares them for future study, within Al Huda or outside it.
All Islamic schools aim to provide a balance between secular education and basic Islamic studies. At Al Huda Elementary, we take it one step further. By extending the length of the school day, we allow time to be given to religious foundational subjects (Islamic Studies, Arabic and Qur’an) without compromising time spent on mainstream subjects, which build a student’s literacy and numeracy skills. Our team of Curriculum Developers and Advisors dissect the framework of the Ministry curriculum to make Islamic connections in the context of typically secular subjects. After careful examination of the curriculum and subject plans, they work with teachers to ensure that all subjects are Islamically grounded. When we teach science and social studies, these connections help shape a student’s perspective. This careful and systematic approach to education helps us teach a deep understanding of Islam and its presence in everyday life.