Srujana is a Sanskrit word that means “creative”.

“The role of Education is to interest the child profoundly in an external activity to which he will give all his potential.”
– Maria Montessori

 

The child is the constructor of every individual. In a child there is abundant knowledge and wisdom. The child can absorb much more instruction and culture, at an early age than as an adult. The child takes not only with his mind but with his hands and activity.

At Srujana, we follow the Montessori philosophy with utmost commitment with regards to Prepared Environment, scientifically designed Montessori Materials and Montessori trained adults.

Mrs. Prabha Padmanabhan (M.com – Education Management), the founder of Srujana Montessori School has earned her bachelor degree in Arts in 1976, later secured her diploma in Cosmetology and Fashion Designing in kothari academy in 1990. When she was living in various states, she showed enormous interest in learning languages and started teaching small children in their languages.

Her attempt to find out a suitable method of teaching has made her to join an international course offering training on Montessori Method of teaching during mid-nineties. She attained distinction in her training and became an Association Montessori Diploma holder, a prestigious diploma offered by the AMI, Netherlands. Immediately after her securing a diploma, she joined Chettinad Vidhyashram to teach children using Montessori methods.

After successfully practicing the methods, she felt the need for starting a Montessori School of her own and accordingly during 1999, she established her school at Velachery, Chennai, India with just 3 children and then on the success has become a part of her school life. The Government of Tamilnadu has recognized the school, which is now spaciously located in Periya Kovilambakkam.

 

Montessori Methodology

The Montessori Method is an educational approach developed by Italian physician and educator. Dr. Maria Montessori and is practised in schools worldwide serving children from birth to 18 years of age. It is an educational approach based on the child’s education being guided by his inner needs and interests. She born in Italy in the year 1870, Dr. Maria Montessori is well known for the Montessori Methodology of educating young children, which is based on child’s own initiative and natural abilities. Dr. Montessori’s principles were founded on the observation of children at liberty to act freely in an environment prepared to meet their needs.

In 1906, Dr. Montessori began her first school in Italy – Casa Dei Bambin. A child from birth to age six has an “absorbent mind”; with a great capacity to learn. Dr. Montessori believed that each person should educate himself. Her method encourages children to learn while preparing them for life.

One way this can be achieved is through hands-on lessons. In the words of Dr. Montessori – “The hand is the instrument of the brain.” The more senses
involved in learning, the easier it is to learn.

The Montessori Method allows children to experience the excitement of learning without being forced while encouraging them to develop their own natural tools for learning.

Montessori observed 4 distinct periods, or “planes” in human development extending

From birth to 6 years 6-12 years 12-18 years 18-24 years
She saw different characteristics, learning modes and developmental imperatives active in each of these planes, and called for a prepared environment for the child specific to each period. The method caters to the differing needs of different age groups 3-6, 6-12 and 12-18

Montessori in India

On the invitation of the President of the Theosophical Society, Dr. Maria Montessori arrived in Adyar in 1939 with her son Mario Montessori Sr. The first international Montessori course in Madras was held in the Theosophical Society in Adyar in a thatched hut with students from all over India. This was the beginning of Montessori in India. Since then her training course travelled to different cities in the country and finally settled in Bangalore.

Today there are training centres in Mumbai and Chennai as well as Montessori schools throughout the country largely focussing on the 3-6 age group.

Having developed her theory and practice in the early to mid-20th century, she came to believe that education had a role to play in the development of world peace. Montessori felt that children allowed to develop, according to their inner laws of development would give rise to a more peaceful and enduring civilization. From the 1930’s to the end of her life, she gave a number of lectures and addresses on the subject saying “Preventing conflicts is the work of politics, establishing peace is the work of education”.

Srujana makes extensive use of the learning methodology of the Montessori system.