Greetings Banyan Families!
“Of all things love is the most potent” ~ Dr. Maria Montessori
January has passed by very quickly. The Banyans have smoothly adapted themselves back to our daily rhythm after the winter break. We have been learning about the solar system and vertebrates and invertebrates. We are going to continue these units of study for this month as we didn’t get enough time to explore the planets. The Banyans helped and supported our new friends adjust to the classroom environment. “As soon as children find something that interests them they lose their instability and learn to concentrate.” – Dr.Maria Montessori. Our Bake Sale was a great success. We raised $800. Thank you again one and all for your time and support.
Observation highlight for January:
In a Montessori classroom, the teacher follows the child and plans the lessons according to the child’s developmental need and readiness. One week, in my planner, I wrote down to present a particular lesson for an individual child, but that child took out the same lesson and asked me to present her the lesson. Because of the freedom of work choices in the Montessori classroom, the child prepares himself for the next level without any external pressure. Our responsibility as a teacher is to allow the child to adjust to the classroom environment, to move around and absorb the information he/she needs from the classroom, the teachers, their friends, the daily rhythm and the lessons in the classroom.
Every child’s learning pattern is unique and thus the time he/she take to learn is unique as well, this time may differ from a day to months. Once the child is well adjusted in the classroom environment, he/she will focus on choosing and working on the lessons. Again, the time a child take to adapt to the classroom will differ from child to child. Dr. Maria Montessori defined the child’s mind as an “absorbent mind,” it is like a sponge and absorbs information by being in the specially prepared environment which we call the Montessori classroom. Dr.Maria Montessori designed the Primary Montessori classroom for mixed age group starting from 2 1/2 to Kindergarten to stay together in the same classroom until they get ready to move to the next developmental stage. The children don’t need to work on adjusting themselves to the new classroom environment before they are developmentally ready for the next move. The multi-age classroom also helps the children foster the learning and give them a chance to be another teacher in the classroom!
February Events (Friendship Sharing Month)
February 12 Date Night – Dinner, Silent Auction, Comedy Show @ San Carols
February 12 Kids Night Out @ Key West Sports Academy 5:15-10:30.
February 16 & 17 Kapok Classroom Bake Sale
February 20 NO SCHOOL – President’s Day
February 25 Friendship Day – Love and Play @ The Children’s School 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
The topic of the Month:
How Children differ from Adults:
1. A child’s natural rhythm is much slower than an adult
2. A child’s work is very different than that of an adult.
3. A child needs to be given the opportunity to do as much as possible for himself. We must encourage self-reliance by doing ONLY what the child cannot do for himself.
4. Unlike an adult, a child needs to interact with the environment to learn. Thus, the importance of environments rich in hands-on, manipulative materials and activities which encourage motor exploration.
5. Unlike an adult, a child passes through certain “sensitive periods” when it is easier for him to learn particular things.
6. Unlike an adult, the muscles of a child are largely undeveloped, opportunities to exercise them are essential and must be provided as part of a developmentally appropriate environment.
7. The young child is highly imitative. Be aware that you are a regular model in all you do and say.
8. A young child is self-centered; he has not yet developed a high degree of concern for others, Peaceful, problem-solving environments in which adults and children talk out issues and establish ground rules for the respect and safety of all, are essential.
Lovingly,
Ms. Karthi and Ms. Marleny
