1. Children Birthday
Celebrations
·
Children love sharing the story of their life.
Their special story is brought to life in a Montessori classroom, with the help
of their parents.
Our teachers use some form of a sun, the
written months, and a globe to help show the passage of time and the growth of
the child from birth in this birthday celebration.
In preparation of this celebration, the parents
of the birthday child are asked to make a poster with their child. Montessori Schools of Silicon Valley uses a special chart that Montessori child parents can pick
up from the teacher in advance. The Montessori child holds the earth and begins
their journey around the sun, marking each year with a brief story. This
birthday celebration is very special and it is recommended that parents attend
their child’s special circle. The poster is so sweet and allows the child
to reflect on their favorite things and what they want to be when they grow
up. It is a keeper! We wonder who the scientist, zookeeper, and
teacher will be.
A celebration
is usually followed by a special snack. All the above can be discussed
with the lead teacher in-charge.
2. Practical Life Example
·
Practical
Life Exercises are a very important component to a Montessori program.
Each of the exercises helps a child to develop her coordination so that she can
later work with more academic materials. These activities help a child to
gradually lengthen the time she spends concentrating and focusing. No
higher learning can happen without focus and attention. Children love
Practical Life because they can imitate the work of the adult. Children want to
extend this work into their own homes. Allow your children to help fold
laundry, organize their rooms, and dry dishes. It will pay off in the
future!
·
It
has been said that babbling is to oral language development as scribbling is to
written language development.
3. Writing
·
There
are so many factors which need to be in place before a child spontaneously
writes words. Scribbling is the initial stage in learning how to make the
Shapes of letters. Children's scribbles soon turn into lines and curves
representing suns and people. Invented letters and stories will emerge
from their drawings.
In Montessori Education the children have
access to curriculum which helps them on this long road to writing.
Besides developing control and concentration with the Practical Life
Exercises, the three fundamental Materials which lead to writing and reading in
the four to six year old children are the Sandpaper Letters, The Moveable
Alphabet, and the Metal Insets.
4. Holiday Toys
·
The
holidays are a good time to share one of our favorite Montessori catalogs.
For Small Hands (forsmallhands.com) supplies homes and
classrooms with well-made,child centered tools and toys. Setting up your home
environment with your children in mind gives them opportunity fornot only
independence, but as a means to contribute to family life. Let them help in the
kitchen by peeling and chopping vegetables with some handy tools from For Small
Hands.Delight young children with real tools that let them handle real tasks
"all by myself!" Small Hands provides hard-to-find, child-size items
allow them to pour their own juice or rake leaves by your side, purposeful
"work" that supports self-confidence and independence. From a pitcher
to fit small hands to open-ended games, toys, and crafts that call on spatial,
motor, or problem-solving skills, they make sure every item provides an
enriching opportunity.”
