In the enchanting world of Montessori education, the emphasis is not solely on what children learn; it is equally about how they learn. Rooted in a deep understanding of child development, the Montessori method employs a range of meticulously designed techniques and materials to facilitate meaningful learning experiences.
The Montessori Cylinder Blocks are deceptively simple yet profoundly transformative tools in a child's educational journey. Also known as the Knobbed Cylinders, this quintessential Montessori material encapsulates the Montessori belief in nurturing young minds through carefully designed materials and a deep respect for a child's innate desire to learn.
In this guide, we discuss what makes Montessori math at the preschool level exceptional by focusing on the intriguing Teen Board-- a highly innovative teaching tool and material for math education designed to captivate young minds and foster a lifelong love for numbers.
Visit any primary or elementary Montessori classroom and you’ll immediately notice a stunning display of colorful glass beads hanging in an open cabinet. Children (and adults!) are drawn to the order and elegance of the bead chains. Beyond their initial aesthetic appeal, the bead chain material offers an amazing array of intellectual opportunities for young children to those in their elementary years.
Unlike other species that are born with a predetermined set of behaviors, human babies are born with a set of potentials. When a child is born, we have no idea if they will be a master musician or a creative chef. It’s pretty amazing when we think about it! Children are constantly creating the skills they need to become contributing adults.
Everything we do to care for the environment, ourselves, and others make up what can be called "practical life" activities. In a Montessori home or school environment, practical life activities help children learn about cultural norms, while also helping them develop internal motivation, intellect, and body coordination.
Mistakes are a part of life. We all make them. Hopefully, we even learn from them! Intellectually, we probably understand that mistakes are part of our children’s process of learning and growing. Yet as parents and caregivers, it can be hard to know how to handle situations when our children don’t do the right thing.
In the past, people believed that children's development was like a tree growing bigger and stronger over time. However, the study of psychology changed our understanding. Psychologists discovered that children go through different stages as they grow up, just like how a caterpillar transforms into a butterfly.
As caregivers and parents, we have a bit of a bittersweet role. While we want to keep our children close, we ultimately need to support their path toward independence. Indeed, one of the most important things we can do is to help them learn and support them in growing to become functionally independent.
The summer months can sometimes feel like a long stretch, especially when we are trying to figure out how to keep our children engaged, or at least entertained. If we consider the big picture of what children really need, however, it can be easier to think about activities that will satisfy those needs and support natural development.
