The Development of Writing “The hands help the development of the intellect. When a child is capable of using his hands, he can have a quantity of experiences in the environment through using them. In order to develop his consciousness, then his intellect, then his...
Inside Escuela: Montesssori Materials The Printed Alphabet Dr. Maria Montessori developed the materials we see in the classroom through years of careful observation and experimentation giving us carefully designed items that naturally support the child’s mind at each...
As with other subjects, learning about geography begins with a global view. Children learn the continents’ names and then each continent’s countries. Later, they will explore pictures of different homes and animals from the continents and learn about customs and ways of life. They continue gathering new information and adding details to foundations they already know.
Dressing Frames Practical Life exercises are one of the key components of the Montessori Early Childhood Prepared Environment. These activities provide opportunities for children to develop the skills necessary to participate in daily life at home and at school and...
One of the amazing qualities of Montessori materials is the way they change throughout the course of a child’s school experience to correspond with their stage of development. While we may think of Montessori materials as carefully crafted objects at earlier ages, in the Jr. HIgh, they often simply look like real life items – because they are!
Dr. Maria Montessori spoke extensively about the importance of choice for young people. This is often misconstrued as students “doing whatever they want.” This is not the case. Rather, we expect students to find a balance between freedom and responsibility. All students are responsible for respecting themselves, each other, and the environment – a foundational philosophy students learn in Primary and carry throughout their years at Escuela.
Escuela del Sol Montessori does not provide conventional grades or quantitative assessments of a child’s work. Grading offers a limited evaluation of a student’s work and encourages the child to work for the grade. We want to encourage children to work for the intrinsic satisfaction of increasing personal competency and knowledge rather than to please adults.
Reading and writing skills blossom throughout the elementary years, not only through spelling and grammar work, but through work in all subjects. Writing develops as children research, experiment and share what they have discovered. Creative writing allows children to acquire a valuable tool for self-expression. Reading becomes an important means to satisfy their interests. Witnessing older children reading and writing spontaneously, the younger ones are highly motivated to perfect language skills that need work. With carefully structured presentations and appealing follow-up work, the teacher and child work together to accomplish these goals.
As children move into Elementary, they develop a strong interest in ethics and fair play. The same impulse that led the young child to insist, “help me to do it by myself,” for physical tasks — putting on a coat, carrying a chair, or opening a door — now moves into the moral realm. Elementary students want to independently investigate rules of behavior and roles in a group. Their questions move from “What is that?” to “WHY is that?”
Going Out is an essential part of the Montessori educational experience. Elementary children are ready to reach beyond the classroom and expand their learning to real-life situations. Opportunities to interact with adults and the public foster practical skills that strengthen student’s growing independence.
Escuela del Sol Montessori • 1114 Seventh Street NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102 • 505-242-3033 • 800-317-4752 (fax)
