SHOW AND TELL
Bring a wildflower.
Topic: Wildflowers
We’ll learn about photosynthesis, chlorophyll, naturalized, and pollination.
The value is compassion, which is sorrow for the trouble of another creature.
For ecology, we’ll talk about how plants move into different biomes and how they adapt.
Outside we’ll have an Easter egg hunt.
The songs we’ll be singing are Zippity-do-dah, Edleweiss, Yellow Rose of Texas, and Oh, What a Beautiful Morning.
For creative dramatics we’ll imagine The Legend of the Bluebonnet.
Our art activities are marble eggs, shaving cream bunnies, bluebonnets, baby ducks, chicks, and mosaic eggs.
For motor development, we’ll work on flexibility using yoga poses. For proprioception, we’ll play rescue team, crossing the line, boxcar push and bat wings.
APPLYING MONTESSORI
Since the Montessori method is eminently respectful of every child as an individual, it calls the adults who apply the method to guard themselves against preconceived expectations of the child’s progress. When we follow the child, we must have connected with the child to such an extent that we know what interests him, how he reacts to situations, and how he solves problems. Our teaching cannot require that the child adapt to our method, but we have to teach according to how she learns, according to her personality. Although the Montessori method has a logical sequence, we know that some children will take huge leaps with their learning, and that the introduction of different work does not always follow the Montessori curriculum. As we teach, we recognize three periods in which a child learns:
- What the child does is at a subconscious level. There is a spiritual disorder, and the child may not be able to complete the work. Try again another time.
- The child may show some conscious thought in reproducing the exercise. The child may bring work and say “show me.” The child looks like he is going to obey, and he wants to obey, but somehow it doesn’t happen. Be patient and cheerful.
- The child will complete the exercise as instructed. She responds at once and is happy at being able to contribute to her environment. Acknowledge your child’s contribution.
As a Montessori adult, we must experiment. When presenting a lesson, we need to clear our minds of outcomes we expect. We give the lesson; then we watch what the child does. We observe how the child works, and we observe the end result, which may not be how we instructed. Our minds must be clear of judgments so that we can fully see how the child works with the material. Dr. Montessori tells us, “There is no right way to do it. Some may be more efficient, but not wrong. What is the indirect aim? What is the goal?”
In your home, don’t be afraid to change your environment if it’s not working. In the beginning there may be chaos, that uncomfortable beginning. Real Montessori is being developmentally responsive with a pedagogical experiment and analyzing the spontaneous reaction of the child. What is the chaos telling you? Is the child matched to the wrong work? Is the child bored or too constricted? Should the house/room/equipment be changed? Observe your child and listen to what her actions, her restlessness is telling you. Listen to your own preconceptions. Prepare yourself with knowledge of children’s abilities and needs, and delight in the contribution this new life brings to our
On the Calendar
How to Bring a Wildflower – Microwaving will sometimes dry the flower nicely for bringing to the school. You could also try pressing a wildflower, although that will take a couple of days to dry the flower thoroughly. Some wildflowers work well in a small vase of water. It’s a fun family exercise.
Good Friday Holiday – The school will be closed on Friday, April 14, in recognition of Good Friday.
Classroom News
If you come to infant class don’t be surprised if you are greeted with an extended arm awaiting a handshake. Lionel, Asher, Palmer and Alexis have and lessons on hand shaking for three days buy the fourth day they were initiating the handshake. The gardening project has started and the students are excited to the sunflowers and wildflower sprouting. Each student in the toddler and primary class has a plant to take care of; we also planted watermelon, tomatoes and some herbs. Gardening engages all the senses, encourages healthy eating, enhances fine motor development, introduces scientific concepts, it also teaches responsibility and patience. Thank you to our Parent’s Group for making it all happen.
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