A common misconception about Montessori education is that it is entirely child-led. This couldn’t be further from the truth! Certainly, children feel like they are in the driver’s seat of their education, and that’s by design. Behind the scenes, Montessori-trained educators are skillfully guiding children through carefully sequenced lessons, ensuring they encounter and master all of the subject areas, strands, and standards they need. The true gift of a Montessori...
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Thank you to all families helping with class art for the annual FMS Art Auction. With FMS parents enjoying this creative outlet, we thought was timely revisit the benefits of artistic expression for our children! Numerous theories and lots of research expound upon the importance of artistic expression. For young children and adolescents, art is an especially crucial form of personal expression. As such, children need to experience their own...
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When Dr. Maria Montessori was observing children’s development, she wasn’t just focused on how they learn in the classroom. She was curious about the drives, instincts, and patterns that have shaped humans across time. These human tendencies are the forces that have guided our species since the very beginning, helping us adapt, survive, and thrive. When we recognise the human tendencies in children, we can create environments that don’t fight...
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Our Toddler and Preschool Programs share some similarities with regular childcare or preschool centres but we like to say we are different from daycare and more school than preschool. Here's what we have in common with other daycare and childcare facilities: Long hours: Toddler & preschool programs run from 8.30am - 3pm, with an on-site FMS-staffed after-school care program open until 5.30pm daily 3, 4 or 5 day program options…
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Last Saturday was the United Nations International Day of Peace. As a school educating for peace, we highlight this day in our calendar and remind families how peace, connection and concepts of humanity are woven into learning and life at FMS. Dr. Montessori believed that education should help children see themselves as part of a larger human family. By studying the universal needs that all humans share, children develop a...
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Written by FMS Music and Drama teacher, Xiomara Barahona- Gordillo With NESA’s new Creative Arts syllabus to be implemented from 2027, Forestville Montessori School has been quick to act, taking the lead early and officially welcoming drama into our co-curricular program at the start of 2025. Drama is so much more than being on stage. It develops communication skills, teamwork, and self-esteem. It fosters creativity, helps children gain new perspectives,...
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At FMS, in addition to meeting (often exceeding) students’ academic, social and physical learning needs, our programs intentionally prepare children for the world beyond the classroom, beyond school. We prepare children for life, and for a life of peace! In Montessori, peace is more than a concept, it is a living practice that starts within the child and expands outward, creating a world grounded in understanding and empathy. You can...
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With Sydney sunshine making a grand and very welcome appearance for the start of spring, we are excited to get our students back into the FMS gardens for more learning and growing in our bountiful outdoor spaces. One of the many beautiful and empowering aspects of Montessori education is how it helps children understand themselves as valued members of their communities through Care of the Environment. Practical Life work provides...
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Last week we had the pleasure of hosting local Paediatric Occupational Therapist, Jessica L’Green, to speak with FMS families about how we can better support children’s sensory processing and emotional regulation. Jessica’s insightful presentation opened with an invitation for the parents and educators present to first consider their own sensory processing tendencies and their own emotional responses; a practice she encouraged us to continue throughout the session. This was a...
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One of the gifts of Montessori education is that we can truly focus on the whole child —cognitive, social, emotional, and physical. Our approach is not just about academics but also about nurturing life skills, emotional intelligence, and social relationships. The Montessori approach to child development revolves around the understanding that children are naturally curious, care deeply about others, and can be intrinsically motivated. When provided with the right environment,...
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