By: Fatema Rehmani and Ulaa Kuziez
The Educator Highlight for this issue features Suad AlTamimi, Montessori teacher at the ADS Early Childhood Center in St. Louis Missouri. Suad earned her Montessori teaching credential for infants and toddlers from the Hope Montessori Educational Institute (HMEI) in Lake Saint Louis, Missouri. Suad leads a preschool class at the ADS Early Childhood Center (ECC), an AIMA Member School. The ECC serves 125 children from infancy through kindergarten. Many of these children will matriculate into Al-Salam Day School (ADS), which serves children from Grades 1 through 12. ADS was the first, and is now the largest, Islamic school to serve the greater St. Louis area.
How long have you worked in early childhood education?
Eight years. I began teaching in 2012.
What stood out to you when you first learned about Montessori Education?
The first thing I noticed was a beautiful classroom environment, specifically designed to meet the children’s needs. Everything in the classroom was accessible to the child. It was orderly, organized. The colors were peaceful to the eye and the environment felt very much like a home. The artwork on display was created by the children, themselves. And each child was engaged in something different from every other child. Because there is no rigid schedule or class agenda, each child had the opportunity to work at his own pace and according to his own needs. In a Montessori school environment, children have freedom. They may choose to sit outside and relax, to collaborate with another child, or they may choose simply to observe another child who is working alone.
I also noticed there were three-year-olds to six-year-olds in the same classroom. I saw one child – not even four years of age – who was able to read. What he was reading was not a child’s book, but a nice, science book about birds. He opened the book randomly, chose a paragraph, and then he wrote one sentence about what he understood. It was amazing.
Your school used to be a traditional Islamic preschool that was transformed to become an Islamic Montessori preschool. Tell me about that transition. What was it like?
I took a college class in early childhood development. The textbook that we used provided an overview of different methods of education. One of those methods was Montessori, which was new to me, and I became very interested in it. I wanted to learn more about it. As a requirement of the class, we were instructed to do classroom observations in area schools. I chose a Montessori school. I went, I observed – and I was blown away by what I saw. I was so impressed with everything I saw in those classrooms.
I knew the transition wasn’t going to be easy – and I was right. It was very difficult, but we took baby steps, and we persevered until all of our lead teachers completed Montessori teacher training. Every one of our lead teachers has since earned a Montessori teaching credential.
Why is Montessori Education important to you?
I found that it actually encouraged not only the children, but even me, as an adult in the classroom; it encouraged me to be self-directed. I didn’t expect that Montessori would affect my life, but it became a lifestyle to me. After experiencing Montessori teacher training, I find I’m organized in a different way. I’m now sorting things by color or by size. I remember the first thing I did after I finished training was to organize my kitchen.
The Montessori Method encourages children to learn; it promotes confidence, independence, and nurtures them to become critical thinkers. It provides the child the precious gift of freedom. I know many people have the mistaken understanding that freedom means that children play all day. I would say in response, that children do play – but as they play, they also learn. Children learn through hands-on activities, and they learn according to their individual needs and level of capability.
How do Montessori and Islam connect in your classroom?
I noticed when I was in teacher training, that every time a Montessori concept was introduced, the Islamic connection came readily to my mind. In my classroom, we didn’t find any difficulty in making this connection between Montessori and Islam. Islam is independence. It’s freedom. It’s care. It’s about respect and love. It has a lot of grace and courtesy. These are basic concepts in Montessori. Many Montessori activities and concerns – like gardening, water conservation, the care of plants and animals – all these things parallel Islamic values.
Do you have a single, favorite experience about your own Montessori Education that you would like to share with us?
Before my Montessori training, whenever I saw a child struggling with his work, I would intervene and show him how to do it. I found it very difficult not to step in when I noticed a child who needed help. During training, though, I was encouraged to allow children the opportunity to struggle with their work. I learned to count to 20 before helping a child – if a child is not harming himself or anyone around him, it’s okay to allow him to struggle. This is how the child will learn: by trying and experiencing.
What are the first words that come to mind when you think about Montessori Education?
Respect, grace, courtesy and “follow the child” – not physically, but follow the child according to his needs.
If you are interested to be featured in The IME Report, please send you an inquiry to info@theaima.org.
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