The Montessori approach to education is built upon a profound understanding of human development. Dr. Maria Montessori dedicated her life's work to observing how children grow and change over time, identifying key developmental stages that shape their path to maturity. In this article, we take a close look at Dr Montessori’s first stage of development: from birth to age six, unpacking how Montessori education adapts to support children’s evolving needs...
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As a new term begins, we thought it would be helpful to review some key features of education at Forestville Montessori School, and how we support your child beyond school readiness. The Montessori method focuses on children’s important process of constructing themselves into the amazing humans they are becoming. Respect for this process of self-construction, along with a prepared environment that supports the development of self-discipline and freedom within…
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Logical Consequences is a popular topic for FMS families and our recent webinar was a great opportunity for us to partner with parents to help you implement logical consequences at home. For those who missed it, this article offers a brief overview of the presentation. You can watch the video recording here and use this parent guide as quick reference when needed -stick it to your fridge! A brief introduction…
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Harmony Day is significant event in Australia, promoting cultural diversity, inclusiveness, and a sense of belonging for everyone. At FMS, Harmony Day is an opportunity to showcase the rich tapestry of cultures that make up our vibrant school community. This year, our whole community got involved, sharing foods, books, maps, traditional dress and traditions from cultures across the globe. Students and parents got a taste of each culture – literally…
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At FMS we strive to give our students the widest variety of experiences in education. We know our academic programs are second to none. We incorporate a variety of immersion experiences into our curriculum so that every FMS student can experience music, art, drama, languages other than English, culture, history, gardening, PDHPE and sport. These programs are offered within our regular weekly programming, going beyond NESA requirements for K-6 (primary)…
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It can be hard for children to talk about their experiences at school. If we shift our approach, we can often get more insight into our children’s day. When we pick up our children from school, it can be so tempting to ask, “How was your day?” Often the responses are pretty lacklustre. As adults, we can likely relate. If a partner or friend asks about our day, our responses…
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This week primary school students at FMS are participating in NAPLAN testing as part of the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) assessment process. Also this week, and in the weeks to come, we are welcoming FMS parents to speak with teachers in person and online about their children's progress at FMS. Both activities have parents (and children!) thinking more about learning, assessment and progress as part of Montessori education.…
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At FMS, our teachers facilitate your children’s growing independence, confidence, capability and real-world application of everything they learn at school. But there’s just so much to learn, and children never stop learning, even at home. This is why we love sharing ‘Montessori at Home’ with families in our community, so you can engage with and extend your child’s education, develop strong relationships with your children, and establish your unique community…
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In order to be truly free, we need to be able to make our own choices, which means having the skills and abilities to then act upon our choices. Without independence, we can’t truly be free. As children’s independence grows, so does their opportunity for freedom. They have more choices available and more to consider. The freedom children experience in our prepared learning environments is directly related to their independence.…
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Think of a time when you did an activity because you wanted to do it–maybe weeding your garden, reading a book, taking a walk, or rearranging your bedroom. Your motivations arose entirely from within you. You likely felt pure joy or satisfaction in the very act of what you were doing. In these activities, you may have also felt a sense of meaning or purpose. Or maybe you felt like…
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