montessoricalgaryblog.com

How to best encourage a loving and harmonious relationship between siblings is one of the most pressing questions for many parents of multiples. Parenting Siblings Welcoming a second (or third, or fourth…) child is a major event in the life of a family. On one hand, parents might feel a bit more confident than when they were expecting the first, as they’ve “been there once already”. On the other hand, there is a brand-new dynamic in play: that of the relationship between the children themselves. …

A child does not know why he is interested in a particular object or movement at a particular moment – the important thing is that he is interested, and that it is natural for his mind to grow just as his body does, therefore what interests him at the moment is appropriate for his needs. —Maria Montessori Maria Montessori Speaks to Parents, p. 23. As an upper elementary Montessori teacher in a new school, I was often bombarded with questions from the children. The …

Moving Through Fall and Winter Moving Through Fall and Winter.  Summertime, and the livin’ is easy… when all of your child’s energy can be spent running around the playground. How to get all of that all-important movement, however, when it’s dark and cold by the time school lets out?It is a truth universally acknowledged – at least in Montessori circles – that movement is absolutely essential to children’s wellbeing, health and development. Movement is inseparable from thinking and being, and a child kept inactive is all …

Desarrollar habilidades grafomotoras Desarrollar habilidades grafomotoras. El acto físico de escribir (usar bolígrafos y papel para crear marcas que transmiten palabras, conceptos y mensajes) es una actividad exclusivamente humana y tremendamente compleja . Cada vez más, también es uno con el que luchan los niños modernos. ¿Puede ayudar Montessori?   La capacidad de escribir es algo que la mayoría de los adultos dan por sentado: ¿con qué frecuencia nos detenemos a considerar la interacción minuciosa de las habilidades cognitivas, el procesamiento visual-espacial y el …

Montessori from Birth: Symbiotic Life Montessori from Birth: Symbiotic Life. Building a new Relationship Montessori goes beyond a method of education to an understanding of how to support natural development.  Maria Montessori’s philosophy and developmental theories help us understand what the development needs are at certain points in life and the practice and implementation help us follow each child’s individual inner guide or developmental path through kindness and respect. Symbiotic life in Montessori theory is the first 6 to 8 weeks of a baby’s life also known as post-partum …

For young children, every bush is a forest, every rivulet a waterway, and every unfamiliar adult environment a trip to the moon! This year, consider skipping the exotic locale and long travel time. Your family can find plenty of summer fun right in the neighborhood. Even the most mundane locations offer fascinating treasures to uncover – a farmers market, an engineering marvel, even your humble neighborhood pet store! Involve children in planning your mini-vacation. Use some creativity to transform simple ideas into real adventures. …

Setting up the Home Environment, part III Setting up the Home Environment, part III. After introducing the Prepared Environment and discussing newborn, infant and toddler home environments, this week we will take a look at how to prepare the home of a preschooler and Elementary school student.   Although the Primary and Elementary years are quite different mentally, they share a lot of similarities in terms of the physical space the child inhabits and the way they interact with it. At three years old, children cross that somewhat imaginary line from being …

Moving Through Fall and Winter Moving Through Fall and Winter.  Summertime, and the livin’ is easy… when all of your child’s energy can be spent running around the playground. How to get all of that all-important movement, however, when it’s dark and cold by the time school lets out?It is a truth universally acknowledged – at least in Montessori circles – that movement is absolutely essential to children’s wellbeing, health and development. Movement is inseparable from thinking and being, and a child kept inactive is all …

Montessori Parenting in the 21st Century Montessori Parenting in the 21st Century.  What does it mean to be a Montessori parent? Can it be balanced with busy lives, complicated schedules, limited budgets and varying resources? When parents start discovering and exploring the Montessori approach for their family, sooner or later they run into the infamous Pinterest Trap. Online (or through parent meet ups), they find a maddening array of educational activities, hand-made materials, brilliant arts and crafts and more… that they just know they will not do, …

Dividing with the Montessori Method helps children understand division in a practical and visual way by using materials such as test tubes. What does dividing with the Montessori Method mean? In the Montessori method, dividing means separating a whole into equal parts using concrete tools that make the process more comprehensible for children. Division is introduced as a mathematical operation connected to daily life, helping children internalize it more easily. The Test Tube Material in the Montessori Method The test tube material is a …

Setting up the Home Environment, part III Setting up the Home Environment, part III. After introducing the Prepared Environment and discussing newborn, infant and toddler home environments, this week we will take a look at how to prepare the home of a preschooler and Elementary school student.   Although the Primary and Elementary years are quite different mentally, they share a lot of similarities in terms of the physical space the child inhabits and the way they interact with it. At three years old, children cross that somewhat imaginary line from being …

Desarrollar habilidades grafomotoras Desarrollar habilidades grafomotoras. El acto físico de escribir (usar bolígrafos y papel para crear marcas que transmiten palabras, conceptos y mensajes) es una actividad exclusivamente humana y tremendamente compleja . Cada vez más, también es uno con el que luchan los niños modernos. ¿Puede ayudar Montessori?   La capacidad de escribir es algo que la mayoría de los adultos dan por sentado: ¿con qué frecuencia nos detenemos a considerar la interacción minuciosa de las habilidades cognitivas, el procesamiento visual-espacial y el …