Praise vs. Encouragement

Self-esteem as defined in Webster’s Dictionary is “a confidence and satisfaction in oneself.” My older two children grew up in a culture where a child’s self esteem was considered a fragile egg and it was parents’ and society’s responsibility to protect it. They grew up hearing words like “Awesome”, “Good job” and “You’re the best!” They were given trophies and … Read More

Observation – The Montessori Assessment tool

As Montessori teachers we are often asked about a child’s progress especially when there are few papers and no tests. Our evaluation of a child’s ability and development come from a keen sense of observation. We observe children while they are working, in-between works, at circle, while lining up, and even during snack time. We observe without judgment, without interfering … Read More

Why Practical Life?

Some of the activities in this area include self-care, care of the environment and use of household utensils. There are numerous benefits to children repetitively practicing in this area. ♦ Concentration – Carrying a tray, carrying a bucket of water, and using sharp objects all require children to be mindful, which leads to deeper concentration. Children need concentration in order … Read More

Concentration

A foundational cornerstone of Montessori education is concentration. We all understand that for children to learn, they need to cultivate the ability to sustain focus on the task at hand.How do we help children develop and strengthen this quality?In Montessori classrooms, we begin fostering concentration through our Practical Life activities. Once concentration is developed, they use this skill to sustain … Read More

Independence

Fostering independence is one of our biggest goals in a Montessori classroom. Maria Montessori believed that even the youngest of children are saying, “Help me to do it by myself!” Here are 4 specific things we can do to help children become more independent: 1. Prepare the classroom – Children can access the entire classroom by themselves and do not … Read More

Order

When parents walk into a Montessori classroom for the first time, they initially notice the orderly environment. Although there are over 100 works in the classroom, every work has a specific place. Similar works are grouped together, and the children are taught to return materials back on the shelf ready for the next person. This order gives children the consistency … Read More

Southwest Montessori Academy Receives Validation Certificate

Southwest Montessori Academy has become the first Montessori school in Indiana to be validated by United Montessori Schools of Indiana or UMSI. To be validated by UMSI means that the school has demonstrated that they meet basic threshold standards of a fully-implemented Montessori school. These standards are as follows: demonstrating an understanding of the Montessori philosophy, credentialed teachers from accredited programs, authentic … Read More

Academic V.S. Free Play

There seems to be a plethora of information aimed at parents regarding regarding the way Early Childhood Education “should be”.  Some of this information points to providing children with unlimited free play as this will enhance social-emotional skills and that they will have enough time for the remainder of their educational years with little to no freedom. Other sources promote … Read More