We were so fortunate to have such a gorgeous day for our pumpkin-picking event in the Zen garden last week. The children rode in wagons pulled by middle school students. After the wagon ride, the children were thrilled to go out to the Zen garden, which had been transformed into a pumpkin patch. The children were delighted to explore, mesmerized by all the things they could pick up and touch. It’s hard to say if they were more interested in the pumpkins or the tiny stones that cover the floor of the Zen garden- but we made sure everyone left with a pumpkin!

On Halloween, we were invited to the field to attend the upper school’s costume parade. Our toddlers were a captive audience as the older students marched around the field several times, waving to them.

In addition to blueberry muffins and apple cider this week, we tasted pears, which the children loved. If you don’t have pears in the house, I’d definitely suggest adding them to your grocery list this week!

Many of us participated in a missing boot adventure on the playground one day. Our friend lost his yellow boot somewhere in the leaves. It was a fun hunt for the boot, which was very tricky to find as it was camouflaged in the yellow leaves! We worked as a team and noticed the variety of colored leaves that had fallen from the trees – and even found a few acorns.

I will include a song that we have been singing daily since the first week of school. Despite learning new songs and moving from apples into pumpkins, the children request this song every single day! We use numbered apples with Velcro on a tree and subtract an apple after each verse. The children enjoy watching the tree become ‘bare’ or empty. Enjoy!

We hope you all enjoy this first November weekend with your families,

Christine and Lizette

With autumn in the air, we have been taking advantage of pumpkin-related activities. This week, the children have been enjoying pumpkin scrubbing, and pumpkin hammering.

Pumpkin scrubbing is a multi-step practical life activity which the children love. They start by rolling up their sleeves, then putting an apron on over their head, securing the velcro, turning the water on, scrubbing the pumpkin, (as they delight in observing the bubbles form from the soap), turning the water off, drying the pumpkin, and finally removing the apron. They also have the opportunity to use a sponge to remove the dirty soap bubbles. This activity strengthens the muscles in the hands and fingers, in addition to building concentration and independence.

Pumpkin hammering requires a great deal of hand-eye coordination. We use a wooden mallet to hammer golf tees into a pumpkin. When the children are finished, they remove the tees with their fingers – which is quite a challenge – in order to make the activity ready for the next person.

One new song that we have been singing, which has become a fast favorite, is Five Perfect Pumpkins by Stephanie Leavell.

We’re looking forward to next week’s pumpkin picking activity in the Zen garden, which our Middle School friends will help us with. Thank you all for providing the decorations, wagons, pumpkins, and snack – we couldn’t do this without your participation.

Continue reading “Mrs. Sargeant: A Peek at the Week”

Sharing does not come naturally to children under the age of three. They are not developmentally ready to share. From a Montessori point of view, sharing should never be imposed upon a young child. We emphasize independence, self-directed learning, and respect for each child. As adults, it is our job to protect the concentration and focus of the children when they are deeply engrossed in an activity. It is also our responsibility to empower the children and model for them how to advocate for themselves and communicate effectively and respectfully with their peers.

Most of the activities in a Montessori classroom are set up for just one child at a time. All the materials are shared by all the children. However, each child is free to work as long as they’d like with any material. The children learn that if an activity is not present on the shelf, then it is unavailable. Once the activity is returned to the shelf, then it becomes available, and it can be another child’s “turn”.

Instead of forcing immediate sharing, Montessori teachers often encourage turn-taking. If a child is using a material or working on an activity, another child might be asked to wait or observe until it’s their turn. This approach helps children develop patience and understand the concept of taking turns.

Throughout the day, you will hear many murmurs of  “This is my work” and “I’m using this right now”, as well as “May I take a turn?” It is important for children to feel comfortable saying ‘no’ and also to respect when others do, too.

Forcing children to share may unintentionally send the message to the child that their needs and opinions don’t matter. Often, children also learn that crying or throwing a tantrum is a way to immediately get what they want.

The goal of Montessori education is to support the child’s development of social skills in a respectful and individualized manner. While sharing is an important aspect of social development, it is approached in a manner that aligns with the child’s natural development and readiness to understand and practice this skill. It is exciting to observe the children’s growth in both patience and confidence (and, down the road, empathy).