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Montessori Basics

Why do Montessori Classrooms Have Long, Uninterrupted Work Periods?

By Article, Montessori Basics, Montessori in Action, Montessori Learning, Our School, The Prepared Environment No Comments
The Montessori method of education was born from Dr. Montessori's scientific observations as she explored how to support children’s optimum development. In her studies, Dr. Montessori found that children need a block of uninterrupted time to go through cycles of focus and consolidation. Children aged two and a half and older need at least three hours to move through rhythms of focus. Often, the most growth and meaningful work happens…
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Cosmic Education at Forestville Montessori School

Montessori Education: What is Cosmic Work?

By Article, FMS Values, Montessori Basics, Montessori Learning No Comments
Recently we’ve been sharing elements of the Montessori learning journey, and how we assess learning as our students’ progress. This week, we take a closer look at what your children learn in their Montessori classroom, specifically in the primary school years. “They have already absorbed the immediate environment and the restricted society they and their families have dealings with. You must try to give the child what he now longs…
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Let’s Go Outside: Benefits for Our Children (and Ourselves!)

By Montessori Basics, Montessori in Action, Montessori Learning No Comments
Montessori advocates reconnecting with nature for emotional resilience, social skills, and environmental stewardship in children.Our world–and as a result our children’s world–is increasingly dominated by screens and schedules. As such, the importance of reconnecting with nature has become more important than ever. Dr. Maria Montessori believed in providing children with an environment that encourages exploration, independence, and self-discovery. Central to the  Montessori philosophy is the concept of the prepared environment,…
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The Absorbent Mind: The start to building intelligence

By Montessori Basics, Montessori in Action, Montessori Learning No Comments
Well before brain scans, Dr. Montessori discovered so much about how children’s brains function and she termed this special mental functioning, the Absorbent Mind. Her book, The Absorbent Mind, was one of the last books she compiled.The words Dr. Montessori used to describe the child’s Absorbent Mind were chosen deliberately. The word absorbent implies “taking in” and integrating into the whole. What is absorbed becomes a part of what is…
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Social Benefits of Montessori: The Primary Years

By Montessori Basics, Montessori in Action, Montessori Learning No Comments
With NAPLAN receiving so much attention this week, we want to highlight the importance of skills learned during primary school, other than academics. Social and emotional learning are hot topics in today's education world and Montessori primary schools have this built into their curriculum. Before moving on to social and emotional learning, let’s recollect the academic benefits of Montessori education. An August 2023 meta-analysis of 32 studies highlights how students in…
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Toilet Learning: The Montessori Way

By Helpful Hints, Montessori Basics, Montessori in Action No Comments
The toilet learning process for young children takes time but doesn’t have to feel daunting. Here are some key aspects of toileting the Montessori way. As parents we quickly learn that children have control over three things: eating, sleeping, and toileting. Rather than engage in power struggles, however, we can help children develop the skills they need to manage and gain mastery over these essential aspects of life.   In Montessori learning…
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Making Amends

By FMS Values, Montessori Basics, Montessori Philosophy No Comments
Our children make mistakes. We can help them learn how to make amends. Help children shift from throw-away apologies to repairing the wrong-doing.Mistakes are a part of life. We all make them. Hopefully, we even learn from them! Intellectually we probably understand that mistakes are part of our children’s process of learning and growing. Yet as parents and caregivers, it can be hard to know how to handle situations when…
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The Positive Way

By FMS Values, Montessori Basics, Montessori Philosophy No Comments
Positive Discipline aligns well with Montessori philosophy and helps us shift from being punitive or reward-based to being kind and firm at the same time. We are often asked about how we handle discipline in Montessori. It’s a great question because we think differently about discipline. Ultimately, we want our children to develop self-discipline and to understand how to balance being an individual within a community. We know that children need…
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The Montessori Prepared Environment

By FMS Values, Montessori Basics, Montessori Philosophy No Comments
A Montessori prepared environment (classroom) is a place designed to foster children’s learning as well as support their fundamental human tendencies.In Montessori, we talk a lot about the “prepared environment.” Really, though, this concept of a prepared environment isn’t limited to Montessori. In fact, from the earth’s biosphere offering an array of support for life, to the fragrant and colorful flowers existing to lure pollinators, to a woman’s uterus preparing…
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Moving Away from How Was your Day?

By FMS Values, Montessori Basics, Montessori Philosophy No Comments
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 lackluster. As adults, we can likely relate. If a partner or friend asks about our day, our responses may…
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