Believe it or not, the concept of technology in Montessori environments is a rather controversial one. On one hand, we want our children to be prepared for whatever may lie ahead in this digital age. On the other hand, research is leading us to determine what is best for the health and learning of young children in regard to the use of devices. As Montessorians, one of our first considerations...
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In a mainstream school setting, which most of us come from, we are used to children moving up to a new class at the start of each new year. While children have specific moments of development, Montessori saw that each and every human has their own unique path, and their own time of ‘readiness’ to learn something new or progress to something more challenging. This is why we plan a...
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You made the decision to enroll your child (or children) in a Montessori school and you couldn’t be happier. You see the benefits, you relish in the joy your child has for learning, and you know you made the right choice. But for whatever reason, you may hesitate to share this with other parents. Why do families hesitate to actively advocate for Montessori? Here are five reasons to reconsider: It’s...
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It’s that time of year again… Schools and parents alike are planning for next school year. If your child has been in a Montessori class for a year or two, you may be thinking ahead to kindergarten. In Australia, the public school system offers kindergarten, and many parents are curious about this transitional year. This post is meant to highlight the important reasons why a child benefits from that final...
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As a graduating student from Forestville Montessori School at the end of Term 4 2020, Ella Williams has many happy memories and lots of insight about what makes her school special. “Friendly people, that’s one of the best things about FMS. All the children and all the staff are really friendly. It makes me feel so comfortable being here.’ Commented Ella. She had lots of praise for her teachers and...
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When Maria Montessori developed her educational method, she created programs that encompass a three-year learning cycle. This three-year cycle corresponds with Montessori’s planes of development, each of which spans six years of the child’s life: First plane: 0–6 years (Absorbent Mind) Second plane: 6–12 years (Childhood) Third plane: 12–18 years (Adolescence) Fourth plane: 18–24 years (Young Adult) Within each plane of development, there is a natural separation and transformation that...
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Image credit: Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) This article is part of a series that we will share throughout the 2020-2021 school year to celebrate the 150th birthday of Dr. Maria Montessori. Check back often for more posts that reflect on the past, present, and future of Montessori education. If you’re reading this article, you are likely already a champion of Montessori education. At the very least, you’ve heard anecdotes or...
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Matty van Drempt and Emma Elegado-Kotulic share the exciting learning in the Birth-3 Program during Term 3 so far. NIDO / Parent Toddler We’re all enjoying being together and being able to meet. Thank you to all our families for following the COVID-19 procedures put in place to keep us all safe. In the NIDO class, 3 of the children are just pulling up and starting to walk. It’s great...
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We are often amazed at the capabilities of Montessori children. They bounce home from school each day excited about their learning. As adults, they tend to be driven and innovative. How does one cultivate such an attitude toward the world? How might we guide our children to want to learn? To want to discover? To always pursue more without being told they must? The key lies in what type of...
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“I always get excited preparing for Jump Rope for Heart. It happens every year in springtime and I get an adrenalin rush counting down the days. Because of COVID-19 our parents won’t be able to come and watch us this year but we’re thinking about organising a live stream so they can watch from home or work.” This will be Maree Barbara’s tenth year of raising money for the Heart...
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