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Montessori Learning

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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Focused on Friends (or Fenemies!)

By Montessori Educators, Montessori Learning, Montessori Philosophy No Comments
During their primary years, it can seem like our children are only focused on friends (and frenemies!). We hear about what happened at recess or who they sat with at lunch. They come home with elaborate accounts of being wronged. It’s easy to begin to wonder what they are really learning at school!  In Montessori we always try to understand what is happening developmentally, so we can address children’s needs...
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The Role of the Montessori Teacher?

By Montessori Educators, Montessori Learning, Montessori Philosophy No Comments
What, exactly, is the role of the Montessori teacher?  How is it so different from that of any other teacher? Sometimes it’s easiest to begin by explaining what a Montessori teacher isn’t. A Montessori teacher is less like the traditional idea of an instructor, and more like a gentle guide.  They don’t consider it their job to give a child information.  They rather lead children in the general direction and...
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Materials Spotlight: The Puzzle Maps

By Montessori Learning No Comments
Today we celebrate and explain the Montessori puzzle maps. Beautifully and colourfully painted and carefully crafted out of wood, they can be found in both the Pre-Primary (3-6 Years) and Lower Primary (6-9 Years) classrooms. While they are used differently in the two environments, educators take a developmentally appropriate approach to utilising this beautiful geography material.  The Material  In a Montessori classroom, one will find a wooden rack that contains...
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Materials Highlight: Geometry From the Start

By Montessori Learning No Comments
When many of us think of our geometry education, we have thoughts of identifying shapes in kindergarten, and then taking a class or two in high school. The truth is, children are fully capable, and enthusiastically prepared, to learn so much more at a much younger age. While we can’t possibly cover our entire curriculum in one short article, we’ll share some of the highlights. It begins (perhaps unsurprisingly) in our...
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Montessori vs. Daycare: 5 Key Differences

By Montessori Learning, Montessori Philosophy No Comments
Many families rely on childcare while their children are still young. Figuring out the best place to drop your little one off every day is a big decision. Parents want to ensure their child spends their days safe, comfortable, and happy, and under the watchful eye of well-trained and competent adults.   Daycare is the obvious choice for many parents…that is, until they become aware of other options.  If you’re reading...
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Montessori Basics: Geography

By Montessori Learning, Montessori Philosophy No Comments
Geography: a science that deals with the description, distribution, and interaction of the diverse physical, biological, and cultural features of the earth's surface. Geography is a commonly taught subject in most schools, with children learning about maps, the globe, and various countries and land features. Montessori schools do this as well, but as with most subjects, we tend to take things a bit deeper (even for our younger students). This...
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2 Types of Assessment: Which One Do Montessori Schools Prefer?

By Montessori Learning, Montessori Philosophy No Comments
Assessment is a topic often discussed in the many corners of the education world.  Whether a child is enrolled in their local public school, an independent school, or is homeschooled, assessment will most likely play a role in that experience.  To what extent it plays varies greatly, however, as does the prevalence of the different styles of assessment.  With NAPLAN happening this week, we thought it was a good time...
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5 Ways to Take Learning Outside

By Helpful Hints, Montessori Learning No Comments
It’s that time of year again. The clocks have changed.  The mornings and evenings are cooler. The daylight is gracing us with its shorter presence and the Sydney sunsets are awe inspiring!  While we believe in the importance of finding fun ways to be outside all year round, prolonging the hold on summer seems to pull us there without the need for any convincing.   Parents often ask us how they...
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