All is calm, all is bright - Montessori at Home resources for Winter Break

School ends this coming Friday (20th Dec) for Winter Break. In between celebrating the various holidays, you may find yourself wondering a) How do I keep up all the stuff my child is learning at home? b) I really need to tire this kid out! c) both of the above.

Here at EMM, we subscribe to a great lifestyle website called The Kavanaugh Report, run by real parents. It’s helpful to keep a pulse on Montessori at action in a real home. Below are some select links to short articles that may help with your Winter Break planning:

1. 5 simple changes to make your home more Montessori friendly (Hang a low hook in your child's bedroom to hang a coat, robe, or other clothing item.)

2. Trying Montessori Freedoms at Home

3. Montessori Math at Home

4. Montessori Letter Learning at Home

5. Montessori Work Shelf (for 3 year olds)

Have any other tips and tricks for Montessori during breaks? Feel free to comment!

What's All The Fuss About Montessori?

Here at EMM, we are passionate and dedicated educators and mothers. We’re starting a blog to share more of our thoughts with the broader community. As a first topic, we wanted to share a brief overview of the Montessori Education as well as an article that we think perfectly encapsulates the experience at our school.

What Is Montessori - Full article here

It is a child-focused approach that Dr. Maria Montessori, an Italian physician, developed for educating children.

Montessori education is student-led and self-paced but guided, assessed, and enriched by knowledgeable and caring teachers, the leadership of their peers, and a nurturing environment.

Within the community of a multi-age classroom—designed to create natural opportunities for independence, citizenship, and accountability—children embrace multi-sensory learning and passionate inquiry. Individual students follow their own curiosity at their own pace, taking the time they need to fully understand each concept and meet individualized learning goals.

Why Montessori Education is Priceless: Highlights

Montessori education is paced to meet the needs of the child. The teacher encourages the child to master a concept, though it might take a week or a month; the child indicates to the teacher when he is ready to move on to the next skill or concept.

Montessori is a form of education that respects the child and her desire to learn. The child is not an empty vessel whose head needs to be filled by the allknowing teacher. The Montessori teacher respects the child and engages him as a partner in learning.

The teacher presents lessons using concrete materials, but the child discovers the rules.

Montessori is a holistic form of education. The physical, social, emotional, and spiritual growth of the child are valued as much as academic progress.

Starting at the Early Childhood level, a Montessori child learns to ask the right questions to learn more about any topic he is studying or in which he is interested. Once the Montessori child knows the right questions to ask, she needs only the guidance of the teacher and the support of the environment to affirm that she is on track.