Learning cannot happen without concentration. Concentration cannot happen without interest. Whether we are learning to brush our teeth, write our name, bake a cake, or solve complex algebraic equations, there is intense concentration specific to the task at hand.

Concentration is a skill that needs practice to improve and develop.

Our Montessori classroom provides an environment that offers the time and opportunity to practice deep concentration. The uninterrupted work period enables the children to focus on a task for as long as they wish without an adult-imposed schedule. The adult in the environment is cautious not to interrupt and break the children’s concentration. As the ability to concentrate improves, the children also develop better self-control and self-regulation.

What can we do to nurture and protect concentration at home?

In recent times there has been a strong social message for parents to spend lots of ‘quality time’ with children. This could be because of the increased amount of time typically spent away from the home. Parents sometimes fear their children may get bored and try to compensate for the loss of quality time by providing videos, iPads, and computer games that can keep children occupied.

It is important to spend meaningful time with your children interacting with them. It is just as important to offer children the opportunity for self-initiated play and the time to become bored. The best way to develop concentration is to practice it, and the best way to let children practice is to avoid interrupting when they are beginning to pay attention to something.

Here are some suggestions for you to do at home:

• Observe your child and identify what it is that holds his attention.
• Arrange the materials he uses so they are accessible and organized.
• Nurture his creative endeavors.
• Resist the urge to interrupt when he is deeply concentrating. Just supervise.
• Be a good role model and show your child that you have work that needs concentration.
• Provide uninterrupted time to complete his task or activity.
• Ensure your child has opportunity to develop his gross motor skills through outdoor play.
• Work on relaxation and introduce meditation or quiet time at the end of the day.

Adapting these practices at home will support your child to develop concentration, a skill essential to success in schooling and life.

“Concentration is a part of life. It is not the consequence of a method of education.” ~Maria Montessori

Best,

Mrs. Hood and Ms. Maria

Last week we celebrated the Fall harvest with our annual wagon ride and visit to our very own “Fraser Farm” located in our Zen garden which was transformed into a beautiful Pumpkin patch for our toddlers to explore.

First the children were invited to ride in wagons all around the school knowing that they needed to keep their eyes open for the pumpkin patch. The children seemed to enjoy the ride and were eager to find the pumpkins.

Once we arrived at our Fraser Farm,  children were ecstatic to run around and pick their own pumpkin. There were giggles and so much excitement! Children explored different sizes of pumpkins and worked hard to carry them around. We all had a great time! When the time came, every toddler got into their wagon, carrying their  chosen pumpkin and we went for another ride around the school arriving  at our classroom, satisfied with the experience and happy to hold their pumpkin.

A big shout out to our wonderful Middle School students who happily offered to pull the wagons for us. Also a big THANK YOU to Angela Giorgio for helping with communications  and Patricia Martinez for finding the decorations, wagons and purchasing the pumpkins for all the children.  Thank you to all of you as well who donated  for the pumpkins.  We are thankful to be part of a community that cares!

We also celebrated life and growth with two birthdays and got to enjoy some delicious treats! It was a celebration week and we went for it!

We thank you so much for sharing some time with us during Parent-teacher conferences! It’s truly one of our favorite times of the year because we get to talk more in detail about all the wonderful observations we have seen in each of your children. There is so much that happens here at school that won’t ever fit in a weekly blog! Thank you for partnering with us in providing the best experience for all our toddlers!

Sincerely,

Mrs. Hood and Ms. Maria

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