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Montessori Basics

Kindergarten: The Icing On the Cake

By Montessori Basics, Montessori Learning No Comments
This post is for our Toddler and Pre-School  families (although the families of older students who read it will readily agree and support the points below - ask them when you have a chance!). Some of you were originally drawn to Montessori because you’ve read about how different and special the approach is. Some of you were looking for a high-quality daycare or preschool and stumbled upon us.   There are...
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Everyone Belongs – Embracing Diversity from a Young Age

By FMS Values, Montessori Basics No Comments
We all want our children to be peaceful and accepting of others.  It is never too early to start teaching them to embrace diversity.  Too often, we falsely imagine that young children do not notice what makes them different from each other.  They do notice, and instead of waiting for them to ask questions or gather information on their own, we can be proactive about diversity education.  We can teach...
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The Montessori Prepared Environment

By Montessori Basics, Montessori Learning No Comments
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 each month for the implantation of a fertilized egg – prepared environments are all around us!   A prepared environment has...
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Mathematics through the levels

Montessori Basics: How Mathematics Progresses Through the Levels

By Montessori Basics, Montessori Educators No Comments
In Montessori, you know your four year old loves their classroom and their work.  You know their teachers are guiding them to learn early mathematical skills.  But what, exactly, does that look like?  And how does it change as they get older?  Montessori mathematics materials are nothing short of amazing.  While they look quite different than what we used growing up (pencil, paper and textbooks) there are intentional reasons for...
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Materials Spotlight: The Bead Chain Cabinet

By Montessori Basics, Montessori Learning No Comments
Visit any primary or pre-school Montessori classroom and you’ll immediately notice a stunning display of colourful glass beads hanging in an open cabinet. Children (and adults!) are drawn to the order and elegance of the bead chains. Beyond their initial aesthetic appeal, the bead chain material offers an amazing array of intellectual opportunities for young children to those in their elementary years.   Colour-coding  One of the brilliant aspects of the...
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What is the Montessori Three-Year Cycle?

By Montessori Basics, Montessori Learning No Comments
When visiting a Montessori classroom, it can at first be surprising to see children of a range of ages in one room. Visitors often ask how children of very different sizes and abilities can all be supported and challenged in one classroom. There are many factors, but one reason the mix of ages works so well in Montessori is because we have “three-year cycles.”   What is a Montessori Three-Year Cycle? ...
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How We Montessori: A Montessori View on Chores

By Helpful Hints, Montessori Basics, Parenting No Comments
Chores: the word has such a negative connotation.  But does it need to be that way?  Following on from our post last week about chores being beneficial for all ages, we wanted to share a post from 'How We Montessori' about the benefits of chores for children at three years of age. It’s not about making children do chores.  Instead, it’s about encouraging and supporting your children to recognise and...
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Chores: They’re Good for Your Kids!

By Helpful Hints, Montessori Basics, Parenting No Comments
Chores: the word has such a negative connotation.  But does it need to be that way?  Do you remember doing chores when you were growing up?  For some of us, we remember them as a negative consequence.  For others, we never had them and it took us a while to learn how to do them as adults.  Still others remember helping around the house but not thinking it was a...
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Montessori Basics: Observation

By Montessori Basics No Comments
Montessori classrooms rely heavily on the art of observation. Sadly, during COVID, physical observation onsite was not possible but now we want to get back into this practice.   You may see it in action some time, or you may have an opportunity to try it yourself (which we welcome and encourage!).  If you ever walk past a classroom and see the children working intently, while the educator is quietly sitting...
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Materials Spotlight: Racks and Tubes

By Montessori Basics, Montessori Learning No Comments
Racks and Tubes, The Test Tubes - they may go by different names, but they’re all the same: a gloriously detailed Montessori division material. Introduced to the child somewhere around the end of Lower Primary (6-9 Years) or beginning of Upper Primary (9-12 Years), the tiny parts are appealing. Adults who have had an opportunity to see the Racks and Tubes used are usually delighted by the way this physical...
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