Art in our Montessori classrooms is woven throughout the curriculum and is one of the many ways children express themselves; it is a way for children to communicate their feelings. Through art children develop their fine motor skills and build concentration. In our Montessori classrooms, we provide open-ended art activities that help children explore and…
Helping Children to Help Themselves
We are often tempted to step in and “help” our young children with daily tasks. However, each time we do that we are sending a message that we don’t feel they are capable and thus are limiting our children’s desire to learn new skills. We encourage perseverance and boost problem solving when we allow children…
Normalization
The signs of spring are emerging: chirping songbirds, fluttering butterflies and budding blossoms can be seen outside. With this time of year, we also witness a fresh energy in our classrooms. This is my favorite time of year. Teachers and I delight in the explosion of mastery happening in the classroom. Children’s reading, mathematics and…
Montessori Teachers – Go Team!
The Montessori team of teachers is a perfect example of collaboration and teamwork. One definition of teamwork is “the combined action of a group of people, especially when effective and efficient”. While most teams measure effectiveness by some level of success, a Montessori team of teachers focus on the happiness and contentment of the children…
Spiral Development
With each season, birthday, and school year in our classrooms there exists a pattern to each child’s individual growth. The pattern resembles a spiral; a continuous upward progression centered on an axis. The axis is the child’s environment (composed of the teachers and the materials). The spiral is the child’s development, through various areas of…
Slowing Down to Learn
Shared from MindShift on KQED News, http://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/2015/02/17/slowing-down-to-learn-mindful-pauses-that-can-help-student-engagement/ February 17, 2015 The excerpt below is from the book “Mindfulness for Teachers: Simple Skills for Peace and Productivity in the Classroom,” by Patricia A. Jennings. This section is from the chapter entitled “Orchestrating Classroom Dynamics.” Mindful Wait Time One way to promote engagement and learning is to consciously create…
Developing Our Next Generation
An eager young lady came by the school last week to pay her respects to Ms. Rohini and the teachers. She had attended our little school twelve years earlier. From time to time previous alumni stop by, so it wasn’t unusual. This confident and poised teen shared with me that she was preparing her college…
Problem Solving
Maria Montessori is called a visionary for her method of education. While her philosophy was based upon observations of children a century ago, her approach is as applicable now more than ever before. Central to the rich learning environment is the collaborative community of multi-age learners exploring and experimenting together. They share ideas and knowledge…
Journey to Montessori
My Montessori journey is short, but what I have gained surpasses those few years. I was introduced to the Riverview Montessori School and the Montessori Method, in July of 2012. I was immediately drawn to the beautifully arranged classroom, with even more varied and beautiful materials. I was intrigued at children taking responsibility for their…
The Nature of the Business
It is no doubt that the development of young minds, and ultimately our future, is a big business. Corporate child cares are flooding the market and creating what they think are “the best” opportunities for children. At the end of the day, these corporate and franchise childcares put the implementation of the business plan first…
