November brings the coming of Thanksgiving projects, such as coloring the Mayflower and turkeys, pin-punching fall leaves, counting turkey stickers and making booklets with the parts of the turkey! Most importantly, however, November reminds us to “give thanks.” How do we teach children to give … [Read more...]
About Kathy Graham
Grace and courtesy in the Primary classroom
Fall in the Primary classroom brings many opportunities for more advanced work by our older 5- and 6-year-olds, as well as diverse challenges for our younger 3- and 4-year-olds. We’ve experienced a successful transition to the classroom. After eight weeks of repeated lessons in grace and courtesy, … [Read more...]
Autumn in the classroom
The first several weeks were filled with lots of exciting opportunities for learning many new things, as well as sharing with friends and giving thanks for our time together. While the beginning of school was more focused on getting acquainted, the coming of autumn has become a time for challenging … [Read more...]
Children need and want to connect to nature
The young child has a great need to connect with nature. This is especially apparent by the obvious joy she expresses and the calm demeanor she displays whenever she is involved in outdoor activities that allow her to engage all her senses. A simple walk in the park, listening to the birds sing, … [Read more...]
Great care taken to prepare Primary classroom
The work of the young child is geared toward self-construction. Everything the child does is directed toward achieving independence. “Except when he has regressive tendencies, the child’s nature is to aim directly and energetically at functional independence,” Maria Montessori said. To aid the … [Read more...]
Art in the Primary Classroom
Parents with children in Room 2 may have noticed that their children have been bringing many varied forms of art home. The area of creativity, art, is part of all the child’s work in the Montessori classroom. The creative force of the child is an interior part of his or her development, and it has … [Read more...]
Montessori Tides Primary Curriculum: Practical Life
The Exercises of Practical Life Curriculum The exercises of Practical Life curriculum at Montessori Tides School are designed to foster independence, self-confidence, self-esteem, and self-control, all which are characteristics that play a critical role in subsequent intellectual growth. … [Read more...]
Scrubbing: The Pathway to Excellence
As one of the many Practical Life activities found in the Montessori classroom, Scrubbing provides several essential skills that lay the foundation for the child’s later success in school. Important work habits such as concentration, coordination, order and independence are all helped to develop as … [Read more...]
Planning Your Family Vacation: Traveling with Kids
With summer vacation right around the corner, NOW is the perfect time to start planning your family vacation. For most, taking a trip with young children may not sound too relaxing and pleasurable at first thought. In retrospect traveling with children may present some very real challenges. So … [Read more...]
Language Lesson I: Oral Vocabulary
Language is the most important work we do in a Montessori classroom aside from Practical Life. It is also an integral part of the process of learning to read and write. The importance of good speech cannot be overstressed because it is the means by which the child makes himself known and understood. … [Read more...]
