The Montessori Schoolhouse

Back to school tips!

These are just a few ideas that will hopefully help to ease the transition to school!

Let me know if these are helpful.

Do you have any tips to share with us?

MOVEABLE ALPHABET

You can clearly see the words the child made -
Glas
Dog
Wind
Mom
Gum

This activity is to help the child reproduce words with graphic symbols.

It is also indirectly preparing the child for writing.

This is not a reading activity- we never ask the child to read back the words they have made.

This is also not at all about spelling.

The child thinks of a word, sounds it out, and as they are sounding it out they find the matching symbol.

This little guy is doing this activity for the 2nd time today.

While he was doing it, I heard him say,

“I’m going to do this activity every morning!”

This is why I love Montessori!

The child is shown an activity that interests them and is just challenging enough to keep them coming back for more!!!!

The Stamp Game - Math

The Stamp Game provides opportunity for individual practice in the operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.

In a step towards abstraction, the quantity and symbols of the decimal system are combined and are represented by each ‘stamp’.

Math becomes incredibly clear for the child to understand when they are given the opportunity to experience it sensorily.

I always say that Maria Montessori was a genius, and when you see how math is done in a Montessori class you will soon understand why.

Do you have any questions about how this math material works?

THE GREATEST GIFTS WE CAN GIVE OUR CHILDREN ARE THE ROOTS OF RESPONSIBILITY
AND THE WINGS OF INDEPENDENCE.

The greatest sign of success for a teacher... is to be able to say, 'The children are now working
as if I did not exist.’

Never help a child with a task at which he feels he can succeed.

Maria Montessori

I remember my first visit to a Montessori class.

I was 20 years old and I was doing an observation in my 3 year old nieces classroom.

I was in awe of what I saw.

Children were calm, polite and so content and happy.

I remember very specifically a little girl around 3 years old sitting right in front of me. She took out little objects and then she read little cards and labeled the objects! I was blown away!!

It was after that observation that I new what I saw was incredibly special.

I went home and stared researching where to do my Montessori training.

And here I am, 22 years later, still in love with Montessori.

Have you had the privilege to observe in a Montessori class?

Did you know that a Montessori class is based on a three year cycle?

The final year in the class, when your child is turning 6 is the year of completion. This is when you will see the biggest change in your child.

It’s like an ‘aha’ moment.

Where all of the work from the last 3 years comes into fruition.

As a teacher, it’s a beautiful thing to witness!

Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions.

10 WAYS YOUR CHILD CAN HELP AT HOME

These might be chores to us but children LOVE to help!

As the adult, you need to set up these activities to make them attractive to your child and simplify these activities to give your child success.

HELPFUL TIPS

1. Get a child sized broom, brush and dustpan.

2. Have a small basket with a spray bottle and cloth for wiping up spills.

3. Focus on the process not the result – when your child helps it will take longer, it may not look perfect at the end, but your child is learning to master these skills and you will have a life-long helper at home!

4. When you are shopping, look for baskets, trays and simple caddies to arrange items on.

REMEMBER

Your child LOVES to feel a part of the family and being able to contribute helps them feel connected!

Watch this reel by themontessorischoolhouse on Instagram AShamaluevMusic • Uplifting Acoustic

And sometimes things just don’t go as planned…

Watch this reel by themontessorischoolhouse on Instagram The Piano Guys • The Cello Song (Live)

TRACING

The Sandpaper Letters are one of Maria Montessori's most brilliant materials.
(I know, I say this about most of the materials in the class.)

Tracing the letters gives children the foundation for beautiful penmanship.

When the children work with Sandpaper Letters, they learn how the sounds they hear are written.

Montessori emphasized that writing comes first, then reading.

Once a child has learned the sounds, they can start blending them together to read phonetic words, this is an easy task for the child and done without much effort.

It is a very exciting day for the child when they discover they can read!!

At what age did your child learn to read?

Watch this reel by themontessorischoolhouse on Instagram Box of Music • Halo - Piano Instrumental

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CbgakpLpYOp/?utm_medium=copy_link

Watch this reel by themontessorischoolhouse on Instagram Christie Lenée • Full Moon

REGISTRATION IS OPEN

Registration is OPEN for September 2022 at
The Montessori Schoolhouse.

The Montessori Schoolhouse provides a warm, nurturing and authentic Montessori program in a beautiful home environment located at Bloor and Runnymede.
We encourage independence and self directed learning, inspiring a lifelong love of learning by allowing children to develop at their own pace.

AMI trained Montessori teacher with 16 years of experience.

Accepting children ages 2 1/2 - 6

Is this of interest to you or someone you know?
Please get in touch so we can schedule a time to chat and have a tour of the class.

THE JOY OF LEARNING

Can you see the joy on his face?

As this child was working I sat slightly out of his sight and observed him.

When he was finished building the Number Rods, he exclaimed “I did it!”.

I imagine him to be feeling very proud, confident, immensely happy and content.

When a child is given the opportunity to work uninterrupted, allowing for deep concentration and connection to the material, the child experiences immense joy!

“He learns everything without knowing he is learning it, and in doing so he passes little by little from the unconscious to the conscious, treading always in the paths of joy and love.”

Maria Montessori

What made your children happy and joyful today?