00-01 Blog

Oct 25 2019

The Smiles Say it All…

By Denice Scala FMS Values, Parenting No Comments

Living in Australia away from my homeland I’ve come to appreciate the times that my parents have travelled a very long way to be with my daughter. Now they are older and not able to travel we miss them so much and we take regular trips back to Scotland to be with them. What’s special about the time they spend together are the little things like the day she dropped...

Sep 26 2019

What’s All The Fuss About Class Size?

By Denice Scala Parenting No Comments

Class size in schools is a hot topic at the moment. Here at Forestville Montessori School we’re perplexed. We don’t get what all the fuss is about. Our students are self-directed learners, setting their own pace with teachers who tailor learning to their individual needs, taking them on a journey of discovery. We focus on things like ensuring students are engaged regardless of their age and abilities. We seek adventures...

Sep 17 2019

Parents looking at a computer with child.

Introducing Transparent Classroom

By Denice Scala Parenting No Comments

Transparent Classroom is a huge shift in the way we as busy educators plan, deliver and record our daily interactions with children in our Montessori environments. We’re excited about introducing Transparent Classroom because it’s genuinely Montessori and we get to track every child’s progress. Ever wondered what lessons your child has participated in every day? Ever wondered what’s happening for your child in their learning environment in real time? Wanting...

Sep 11 2019

Books to Love the Earth

By Denice Scala Montessori Philosophy, Parenting No Comments

Our planet is a beautiful, magical place. As our children move through their young lives at a different pace and with different eyes than we have as adults, they often remind us to notice all the small and special things. Whether it be a ladybug on their bedroom wall or the way leaves make shadows on the lawn, we get to appreciate Earth in a new way. This book list...

Aug 22 2019

The World Needs Montessori Children

By Denice Scala Montessori Philosophy No Comments

Curious about why? Watch the first of a series of videos where our families and teachers share their experiences of a Montessori education. Hear from one of our founders, Sue Birdsall about the benefits of a Montessori education for your child. Would love to hear your thoughts, please comment below! ”Our care of the child should be governed, not by the desire to make them learn things, but by...

Aug 15 2019

Child exploring through a magnifying glass.

Five Reasons to Share Why You Chose Montessori

By Denice Scala Montessori Philosophy No Comments

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: 1....

Aug 07 2019

A child exploring through a magnifying glass.

Science in Montessori

By Anthony Milano Montessori Learning No Comments

Science is a major component of the Montessori curriculum. It gives children opportunities to learn about fascinating areas of study very early in their schooling. Science in our Montessori classrooms is not taught in isolation. It provides children with a clear thinking approach to gathering information and problem solving. The scope of the Montessori curriculum includes a sound introduction to botany, zoology, chemistry, physics, geology and astronomy. When this approach...

Aug 01 2019

Creating Family Rituals

By Denice Scala FMS Values, Helpful Hints, Montessori Basics, Montessori Philosophy, Talking with children No Comments

“See you in the morning, Hoot, Hoot,” sings my daughter, “See you in the morning, Hoot Hoot,” me echoing a reply. This is the silly song you would hear in our family home every night before my daughter goes to bed. It started after watching Giggle and Hoot when she was oh so young and we’ve continued ever since. Now she tells me that is she goes for a sleepover...

Jun 27 2019

Read our 2018 Annual Report

By Denice Scala Montessori Basics No Comments

Central to everything we do is our Montessori philosophy and our commitment to providing the highest quality of Montessori education through our Birth to age 12 programs. This is strengthened by our vision and our core values. To make this happen, we focus on aligning all that we do in our day to day practices to support our students in their growth and development, our staff in their passion for...

Jun 13 2019

Engaged or Bored? How to Tell What Your Child is Feeling at School

By Denice Scala Emotional Wellbeing, Montessori Basics, Montessori Learning, Montessori Philosophy No Comments

How do you know what your child is feeling at school? A familiar scenario: your child comes home from school, and you, the interested parent, eagerly ask them how their day was and what they did. While some children will happily relay the day’s events, most shrug and say, “Good” without offering any detail. Don’t worry - this is totally normal. After all, it’s not even really a question about...