Edible Schoolyard

inspirational
 video

Parent Evening

Although it has been two weeks since our school's parent evening, the importance of this first community event of the year is still fresh in our minds. Our hope is to welcome you and encourage you to embrace the life of the school. Your interest and support has tremendous impact in aiding your child in their first steps on their journey of lifelong learning. While the journey seems to have just begun for these young students, the very first steps have, of course, been taken in the home. Preschool especially is a time of partnership between the home and the school life. It is a bridge. Many parents ask what can be done to integrate the Montessori philosophy into the home environment? This is a fairly easy thing to carry out and so gratifying and empowering for the child.

The following are five qualities that we strive to encourage in the child in the Montessori environment:

Independence- self esteem comes from being able to carry things out on one's own.

Socialization- your child learning to manage himself in increasingly greater social environments.

Communication- the human need to communicate clearly, to understand and be understood.

Order- addressing the human need for patterns and structure. Applied both to the external world (your child's world) and the internal world (your child's mind). The mathematical mind.

Curiosity- The scientific mind.

Dr. Maria Montessori viewed the child as a member of a family, not as an isolated individual, and one whose most formative life experiences take place within the family. She recognized parents as a child's first and most influential teachers.

Practical ideas for the home:

1. Independence

Care of the Person:

Teach them slowly how to dress themselves

Allow them to choose from limited outfits

Give them a drawer or space in their own closet where they can choose their own clothing from

Teach them where to put soiled clothing

A dress up box can aid in this practice for young three year olds

Let them brush their own teeth

A low cupboard in the kitchen where they can choose their own snack

They can help set the table

Let them participate in the kitchen

Provide them their own tools for kitchen use

Let them choose and make their own breakfast

Clear the table

Wash dishes

Teach them bathroom hygiene- let them do it themselves

If toilet is too high, put a step on it

Teach them how to use utensils properly, no reason why they shouldn't be able to use a knife

Care of the Environment:

Low work spaces

Tools that are accessible to them (sponges, buckets, soap, water)

Put a step up to your kitchen sink

Keep things in one place as much as possible so that they will know where to put them back

In the kitchen: measuring, pouring, stirring, spreading, cutting, peeling, grating, washing, seeding,

Watering the plants around the house

Wiping the table or counters

Washing hands

Mopping the floor

Making their own bed

Preparing their clothes for next day

Opening and closing curtains

Feeding animals

Putting dirty clothes in hamper

How to treat their toys

2. Social Relations

Practice wanted behaviors

Praise

Talk about positive things you see in them

Talk about positive things you see in others

“Catch them being good”

Let them hear you saying good things about others, including children, notice more of what you DO want them to do

Clear limits to unacceptable behavior

Talk about your values and what you find important

Model your beliefs

3. Communication

Clear precise communication with your child

Talk a lot with them, explain things

Sing

Read to them even when they can already read for themselves- they love the same books over and over

Let them see you reading

Tell them true stories

Prohibitions should be clear (and you should hold yourself accountable as well)

Give words to feelings

Introduce complex vocabulary

Stick to your own best language

Give realistic choices

Let them be a part of family meals

4. Order

Routines! Morning routines, and bedtime routines especially

Things have a place in your child's room, then he will know where to put them away

Not too many toys

Not too many activities to do- time to process the day is necessary

Limited sets of clothing to choose from

Limited work space

How to treat their toys

Tell them what happens before, and what will happen after

Make a picture schedule and talk about it

Give them real world word problems

Notice patterns with them

5. Curiosity, Creativity

Listen to what they have to say!

Outdoor provides much opportunity for exploration

Let them solve their own problems

Ask them what they think about things

Wonder with them

Read

Expose them to art

Give them tools for expression

Open ended toys

Book Lists:

Parent/Child Press       AMS       NAMTA

                                                                               

              

   

Toys and other materials that support Montessori ideas

for the home and school are available through

Michael Olaf

Little Red Robin

and

For Small Hands

 

Signs of Fall

Seasonal field trips are a classic and well-loved tradition for all schools. The child experiences something new with her learning community as they go out together into the wider world beyind the school environment. What excitement and positive stimulation it creates for them, even more special because it is shared as a group. Leaving the classroom for a field trip places the kids in a different social environment. They encounter a new set of adults and possibly other children during the course of the average field trip. These interactions teach them how to behave in different settings. They employ more self-control because it is a less contained environment than the classroom. It fosters a sense of teamwork and community among the students as they experience a field trip together.