Show me Montessori

Our First tour of a Montessori Nursery and School.

 

When Chanel was a few months old, we went to visit schools in our area to get an idea of the varied education near us. At that point, I wasn't quite aware of the benefits and enriching life that a child could acquire with a Montessori education. Initially we thought a school which provides an emphasis on arts, music and science, with a small class group and within a short walking distance, would be the best choice.

Since then I have broadened my knowledge on Montessori philosophy, and we have applied it at home. Since then Chanel has blossomed in independence and natural learning.

Recently, I decided to go further afield and explore Montessori school options. I was amazed and thrilled to see, in real life, in a class room, like what I have tried to achieve modestly at home.

I would like to share my first impressions, and what I found on my first tour :

The school was situated in a city area, and it has facilities for children of 2- 12 years. I hadn't seen a Montessori school environment for the infant and toddler age group before, and loved it. I was amazed by the organisation and interactions of the children. The rooms were beautiful, and light, and everything was set up with natural materials and wooden shelves.

Each shelf had gorgeous materials that taught a purpose in each subject of life. These included shelves for Geography, Arts, maths, science, languages, and practical life, for care of self, care of others and care of environment. The children are the ones who choose what they want to learn. They learn at their own pace and they have the teachers one to one to guide and support them in their learning. Isn't that fantastic!

There was a snack area where children as young as two years served their food, poured their drink and sat together at a table independently. They socialised at their pace, and then cleared up by themselves to return to their activity of interest.

The maths area was set up with materials where children learned mathematical concepts in a concrete way.

In the tour, Chanel immersed herself into the environment right from the start. She was encouraged to follow her interests and passions. The other children in the class chose their work according to what they wanted to do.

I observed a 3 year old toddler engaged with letters in sand, and drawing a letter with her finger, while another child was absorbed with the science materials and pouring water. Another was reading and had a teacher answering questions on the new vocabulary in his book. Each lesson and interaction is tailored to the child.

Chanel was absorbed in the area of food first, observing and eating with other kids. Then she used the pouring materials, and went to the reading area, before we moved to the older classrooms.

The music room was a wonderful space, with a wall mirror, a piano and many musical instruments. Musicians come weekly to delight them with music and dance sessions. Chanel took her shoes off and began to dance.

I was happy to find out that the children in a Montessori classroom aren't called to an office by the director if they made a mistake, or were rewarded with smiley faces. Montessori method understands totally the development of children at each age stage, and respects the child. They are not bribed, or punished, and they are not spoken down to. They are treated with respect and are valued in every way. I absolutely love this.

I also loved the sense of community I felt. Older children are helpers and guide the Youngers. There is a mix of ages in each class so they learn from each other. I thought this is also special. Here children can watch and learn from experience and the older children get to develop patience, and teaching skills. Children work individually and in collaboration with each other.

In a Montessori school in the younger children's materials have a control of error so the child can determine for themselves if the work has been done correctly. There is no testing or marking. There is no competition within the classroom. I dream of a World like this.

The children have learning shelves to develop global thinking and to be global citizens. They are taught to promote peace. The teachers observe the child and present lessons when the child is ready.

Children also have a complete area where they can feed their guinea pigs and work in daily gardening projects. Wow!

We moved to the older classes and Chanel made friends instantly with children who were learning to write with the movable alphabet. There were baskets with beautiful objects of the world. A Mexican blanket, a Peruvian instrument, a set of flags of the world, a table of peace, of nature. What a delight it was to see all of this meaningful learning.

I loved the lights, art work and flowers on the tables made by the children. A peaceful and beautiful environment, rich in purposeful materials, harmony and with accessible child-sized furniture. This is what I want for my child.

The kitchen was immaculate, and the vegetarian menu was full of coloured vegetables, fruit and flowered scents. The chefs were particularly neat, smiley and friendly. There is a table for children's cookery sessions, which I think won my heart.

I did a second tour of the primary class of this school and this is situated at another part of the town where the facilities and the green area is more restricted. From year 8 they assess the children with a mix of exams and research to get used to the conventional curriculum. Still following Montessori principles.

Children also have an entire area to feed their guinea pigs and work daily in gardening projects.

I will be touring next a well known Montessori school in a greener and less urban area, where the curriculum seems to be 'pure' Montessori, meaning they would apply the principles fully in all senses. I am excited to find more goodness.

Montessori schooling made me think of us working together in a sense of community, with the teachers with the children, where principles and values are the core of a child's learning. Now my challenge is to find a great, high quality, genuine Montessori school environment. One that feel like home to us.

I will be sharing our next tour with you in one if my next posts!

The sand tray to learn numbers and letters Montessori

 We discovered the sand tray! Ah! yes, it is a wonderful tool.

If I had introduced it at one year old, it would have been a great material for introducing shapes. Instead, we used flour or the large sand pit. Now at two, Chanel was dazzled with the fun of coloured sand and its fine and smooth texture.

Can I make a castle? After moulding a few, she began to trace. First numbers 1, 3 and 8. Then letters. She wanted to sound, practice and repeat. I placed the sand tray on her shelf for when she wants to try again.

 

 

We used classic wooden numbers, Montessori Number Work and Letter Work as a guide. I like the sand letters in these books as they can be used to practice traces and help a child to learn how to trace letters and numbers on her own.

We know Chanel will have invaluable reading and writing lessons at school but in the mean time, we will keep practising.

First steps learning to read and write in a Montessori way

Language is fascinating. It is amazing to observe and understand the development of vocabulary from when a child is born, through to talking, reading and writing. At birth they cannot speak any language, but by three they have formed the basis of their language, and by six they have command of a wide vocabulary. It is also interesting to know that a child would learn not just one language but as many as they are exposed to.

I have been looking for ways to support and build reading and writing skills at home, as it is a long process. We started building vocabulary from the early days through talking, signing, singing, experiences, reading and modelling a love of books.

Many of the story and poetry books we have enjoyed reading together contained rhyme and rhythm. This has helped Chanel to recognise sounds and rhymes. When she begins to read she will be able to predict the words she comes across because she knows the rhyme.

We started with the sound game which consists in giving the first or the last sound of a word. For example : Can you give the first sound of the following word?

Cat ' c '

Can you give the last sound of the following word? Dance 's'

We also have been playing games to help her with sound and letters recognition "I spy with my little eye". For example, I spy with my little eye something in my hand begging with p. We have also been inventing funny 'nonsense' rhymes and poems. For example "high in a tree I saw a ...( bee)"

As Chanel started to speak and enjoy the sounds, rhymes and patterns in it, recently we have started to use Number Work Book and Letter Work Book. As the numbers and letters are textured a child can have a good feel of the shapes of the letters and the more she practises feeling it, the hand will learn how to start and form a letter when writing.

We will combine this practise with a sand tray in which to make number and letter shapes.

You can start developing language involving your baby in lots of conversation from the early days. Read books with good illustrations, and play with language inventing rhymes and poems. Once you have taken these first steps you have given your child the foundation to become a good reader and writer!

 

How are you supporting your child with reading and writing skills at home?