Maria Montessori used the scientific method to study children’s natural learning processes. She found that the child absorbs the culture they are in effortlessly and without fatigue between the ages of birth – six. Whatever the child is exposed to is internalized by the child and accepted into the child’s own being, imprinted on their soul. If a child is surrounded with music, the child will be a musical person. If a child hears their parents singing, the child will sing. If a child sees their parents dancing, the child will dance.

She called this the child’s “Absorbent Mind.”

In our environment, children are exposed to meaningful music experiences everyday. Whole body movement songs, singing, finger-plays and instrument times are always part of our morning routine. Children learn the names of the instruments they are playing and they learn how to properly play them. This week we introduced the triangle and we explored the different sounds it produces when struck. We practice the importance of holding the triangle by the loop and not from the body of the instrument to find the beautiful overtones that it produces. We also had a drumming session and children had a blast practicing rhythm with different sized drums. One main part of our music lessons includes grace and courtesy. Through this, the children learn to recognize the importance of being polite and waiting until everybody gets their instrument before selecting a song and grabbing their instrument to play! Children are directed to recognize hand gestures for tempo, dynamics, and their favorite: the closing of the song. They all love to hold their fists up and watch how everybody’s instrument stops at the same time! Their smiles say it all! We call this our “band time.”

As always, we had fun exploring food and this week we enjoyed spaghetti squash! Most of our children were brave enough to taste it and surprisingly, many asked for second rounds! Yum! 

Enjoy the weekend,

Mrs. Hood and Ms. Maria

Maria Montessori believed that the initial six years of a child’s life are crucial for a their language development; that from birth a child must receive appropriate stimulation. This is also widely recognized by many specialists in language, also when referring to learning foreign languages.

Research shows that learning a second language boosts problem-solving, critical-thinking, and listening skills, in addition to improving memory, concentration, and the ability to multitask. Children proficient in other languages also show signs of enhanced creativity and mental flexibility.

In our environment, children are exposed to Spanish multiple times a day. From songs, to books, to direct conversations, Spanish is always part of our routines.

Due to the changing of the season, children have been introduced to the wonders of Otoño (Autumn) by observing and talking about what we see. The wind blowing, the leaves falling, the squirrels gathering acorns and climbing the trees, the scarecrows, the smiley pumpkins, and the different foods in season we get to explore during this time of the year are things we like to talk about, observe in nature, and imitate while reading our favorite book this week, En Otoño (In Autum) by Susana Madinabeitia Manso.

The leaves changing color has been another fun aspect we like to talk about and observe. Color recognition in both languages is always used. As a fun sensorial art work, children worked on a leaf stamping activity mixing fall colors and using giant maple leaves from our playground.

For food tasting we observed, touched, smelled and tasted butternut squash! Just a handful of students really loved it but we’ve gotta say that ALL of them tested it.

Have a great weekend,

Mrs. Hood and Ms. Maria 

 

Dr. Maria Montessori introduced Practical Life exercises to provide children with opportunities to perform simple tasks that they have already observed at home. Practical Life exercises enable children to care for themselves, take care of the environment, and develop respect for others.

Care of environment activities encourage the child to interact with the environment, exhibiting respect and love. These activities help the child form a connection with their environment and find a personal responsibility towards it.

As a highlight, this week we introduced to our new students one of the most beloved activities in our Montessori environments: flower arrangement. Second year students were thrilled to observe the work and they were ready to continue sharpening their hand skills and also their leadership skills while modeling this work to new students. This is a beautiful activity that offers so much to your child’s development. Through this exercise, children develop a sense of beauty, the mental task of sequencing, they learn to exercise the judgment of size and capacity in matching flowers to vases and in pouring water, also, manual dexterity as they need to fetch water and use different tools. This activity also indirectly prepares your child for botany studies in our Primary program and offers a great opportunity to work on independence and concentration. Your children love it! We can’t thank you enough for your weekly flower donations!

To close our apple unit studies, we explored a yellow apple during food tasting. Some of the children’s facial expressions when they saw a yellow apple were priceless! They couldn’t believe there were yellow apples! It was so funny to them! Needless to say, they enjoyed every bit of it!

Lastly, here is one of the songs your child has been learning during the last weeks. As children are working on copying finger plays and growing in language, feel free to sing it at home with your child.

Way up high in that apple tree. (place left hand under right elbow and lift right arm with fingers opened forming a tree)

Five red apples smiled down at me. (wiggle fingers)

I shook that tree as hard as I could. (shake right arm and hand)

Down came an apple! Mmmmm it was good! (hide thumb and pretend to eat and apple)

Way up high in the apple tree, 4 red apples smiled down at me (count fingers)

Repeat song until there are zero apples in the tree.

Virtual Parent-Teacher Conferences are coming up on October 28th! Please look for an email this coming Tuesday with a link for you to sign up for your conference slot. 

Reminder: School picture day is next Wednesday October 13th.

Enjoy the holiday weekend,

Mrs. Hood and Ms. Maria