HUMPTY DUMPTY  ADDIS ABABA

Methodology

Our pre-school seeks:

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• Curriculum and learning opportunities

• The involvement of parents

• Health, safety and protection of the children

• Observation, assessment and recording achievement

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Our Source of Inspiration​

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We are inspired by Maria Montessori and this can be seen in

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1. our multi-age grouping of children according to periods of development;

2. the prepared environment;

3. the importance given to human tendencies (Maria Montessori observed that learners needed to be independent in their actions while making their own decisions about what ‘work’ they should do and learning to control their actions. According to the Montessori approach teachers must respect individual children’s learning styles and must foster concentration.)

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Other source of inspiration for our pre-school is the Reggio Emilia Approach, where the environment is given a central role. We foster situated learning and multiple intelligences, therefore the environment must be a ‘motivation and animating force in creating spaces for relations, options and emotional and cognitive situations that produce a sense of well-being and security’ (Loris Malaguzzi, founder of the Reggio Approach). That is why in our pre-school spaces are fluid, children feel and are free to move from one ‘class’ to another and the general idea is that of a well-planned house where materials, games and toys are displayed and at child reach and where every detail is well thought. Our campus features spaces where children can perform make believe play, have reading time, be involved in heuristic play(*) and perfection their practical life skills. Children will have various opportunities to improve their fine motor skills and to get absorbed in some Montessori activities. 
A key feature to the set up is our atelier (the art studio) where children can explore and work with colours, shapes and different materials. Following the Reggio Approach food is shared leisurely over conversation at snack and lunch times in communal dining spaces; with the Reggio Approach we also share the idea that children are active constructors of their own knowledge therefore each year we pursue different projects according to what we believe are the interests and passions of the children rather than following the same patterns and schemas over and over again.

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(*) Heuristic play is rooted in young children’s natural curiosity. As babies grow, they move beyond being content to simply feel and ponder objects, to wanting to find out what can be done with them. Toddlers have an urge to handle things: to gather, fill, dump, stack, knock down, select and manipulate in other ways. Household or kitchen utensils offer this kind of activity as every parent knows, and can occupy a child for surprising stretches of time. When toddlers make an enjoyable discovery – for instance when one item fits into another, or an interesting sound is produced – they often repeat the action several times to test the result, which strengthens cognitive development as well as fine muscle control and hand/eye coordination. We structure heuristic play using recycling materials available for the children to experiment and explore.