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would you like Montessori activities? June 30, 2011 |
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Montessori At HomeToddler Ideas is the insightful ezine delivered to your inbox monthly from clever-toddler-activities.com June 2011 Issue 20 Featuring:
Opening ThoughtsWhat’s the Montessori Method in a Nutshell?Montessori education is becoming so wide spread that you’ve probably heard of it, right? Did you know that Google’s founders Larry Page and Sergei Brin, Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, videogame pioneer Will Wright, and Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, not to mention Julia Child and rapper Sean “P.Diddy” Combs were all Montessori educated as children? Intrigued about what makes Montessori a successful approach? The Montessori method is unique because in nut a shell, the focus is on the prepared environment and individually taught lessons based on what the children need at the time. Won’t you agree that young children love to learn? In fact, don’t they spend most (if not all) their time learning? Maria Montessori observed that children do more than play, they actually work too. Within the Montessori method, work is seen as a joyously purposeful activity which the child chooses to do, and learns from in the process. In most Montessori classrooms, two-six year old children have a three hour work periods where they are free to move around, choose what to work with and whether to work alone, with a teacher or other children. Isn't it ironic that I and many others have observed that many busy Montessori classes are actually calm and quiet. The regular schools I’ve worked in with the same ages and amounts of children were much noisier and more frantic even when the children where meant to be sitting and writing independently. Another unique trait is that authentic Montessori classrooms have age groups spanning two, three and even six years (for example two-three year olds, three-six year olds and six-twelve year olds). Montessori builds upon the thought that each child has an ‘inner teacher’ who knows when he is ready to learn certain facts or practise a particular skill. The specially designed Montessori equipment separates difficult, abstract concepts into small, simple, hands on tasks that uses all of their senses. I hope you're finding the information on the Montessori method useful in this issue of Toddler Ideas. Wise WordsIntrigued To Learn More?Mary-Ellen Mauz is an experienced Montessori early years and elementary teacher and teacher trainer. She was personally mentored by Dr. Elisabeth Caspari for 22 years, who was in turn a personal friend and student of Dr Maria Montessori herself for many years. Mary-Ellen made the very good point that when you’re thirsty, just looking at a glass of water isn’t good enough, nor is it helpful for someone to describe it to you, you’ve got to drink the water, right? Also you are the only one who knows when your thirst is quenched, but us. That’s the same as a child’s need to learn… they need to discover and explore until they are satisfied. Mary-Ellen has trained many Montessori teachers and parents worldwide in the authentic Montessori method. Now she wants to make the course available to even more parents, child-carers and whose want to be Montessori trained by offering most of the course on-line and allowing each student to intern in a Montessori pre-school near home. However if you don’t need a certificate you’re welcome to take just the informational parts as well. Intrigued? Simply visit Age Of Montessori. I personally found the webinar about the training program and basic Montessori information fascinating. Featured PageMontessori At HomeMontessori education isn’t just reserved for Montessori classrooms, even though they are (usually) fully equipped and (often) have Montessori teachers. The Montessori method can easily be part of your home, even without any Montessori equipment. Check out the new Montessori Activities page on Clever Toddler Activities site. What Do You Think?If you liked this ezine please do a friend and me a big favour and tell them about Toddler Ideas. If a friend DID forward this to you and if you like what you read, click here to subscribe. When you subscribe, you'll receive a FREE download of 'On the Spot' Toddler Activities that can be done anywhere with whatever is around you.I would be happy to answer any questions you have about toddlers. I'd also love to read a cute/funny story about young children, a parenting tip, a great toddler activity or a comment you have about Toddler Ideas at our Contact Form. |
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