Our Elementary children begin their mornings by writing a “morning message,” which they copy from the board into their journals. The role of these messages is two-fold: one is to impart little gems of wisdom to help build the characters of our growing young minds and the other is to help them build their handwriting…
Elementary and Cosmic Education
Maria Montessori’s vision of human development was the inspiration of her theory Cosmic Education. Cosmic in this sense meaning comprehensive, holistic, and purposeful. She described Cosmic Education as the path through which children develop a global vision. The children in the 6-9 age plane of development begin to gravitate towards others; they are not so…
“I Think So”
The benefits of Montessori education continue to be documented in scholarly journals, scientific studies, and parental groups worldwide. Montessori classroom strategies are being implemented in more private and public school settings each year. The reason is clear: Montessori teaches children to think. Gone are the days of children simply memorizing facts. Our ever-changing world requires…
Avid Readers
Our Montessori children have a great love for books. They joyfully gaze at each page, anticipating the next. They read individually, in pairs and in groups. They love to be read to, and younger children especially appreciate when older classmates read to them. It is a beautiful sight to observe children reading together! The skill…
Nature
Look deep into nature and then you will understand everything better. — Albert Einstein
Concrete to Abstract Reasoning
One of the most exciting aspects of our Montessori classroom is that it brings abstract concepts to life in a manner that is fun and makes sense to the children. Concepts such as length, diameter, temperature, tone, texture, quantity and more are presented using specific materials to isolate the quality. Children use concrete educational materials…
Science All Around Us
Children were completely engrossed in our Earth Day science lessons. Ms. Rohini presented the concept of gravity and the magnetic pull of the earth’s surface using fun practical demonstrations. We experimented with pressure in various forms. We also enjoyed animal and plant science furthering our earth-friendly appreciation and growing good stewards of our precious planet….
The Three R’s; Reduce, Reuse and Recycle
I love that Montessori teaches invaluable lessons for life. Recycling common classroom items and reducing our water usage were top lessons this week. The children certainly grasped the crucial purpose; protecting our natural resources for all living things. We crafted new objects from old items to demonstrate repurposing. The children have taken their earth-friendly lessons…
The Art of Storytelling
The teachers and I adore being captive audiences for our children. Not a day goes by when a child doesn’t stop me and ask to share her/his experiences from the weekend, a trip, etc. I could happily pull up a chair and indulge in their enthusiasm all day. It is priceless to watch their expressions…
Community
Our school classrooms are bustling little communities of learners, not only sharing a common space but also developing a special bond. It warms my heart observing how naturally the children take responsibility for each other and are genuinely concerned about others’ welfare. “May I help?” is a regular question we hear each day. Community is…
