Over the past two months, kids from the Kindergarten class have been visiting our room once a week to read books to the toddlers. This past Friday we had two guests come down and share books with us. After the audience applauded and we said our good byes to the kindergarten friends, there were three empty chairs in front of the easel.[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_s1026" style='position:absolute; margin-left:204pt;margin-top:127pt;width:203pt;height:240.35pt;z-index:2516

In the classroom we have been learning about how animals adapt to the changes of winter. We have been singing a new song about hibernation. In the song we ask the questions about animals like, “In the winter, where’s the frog? Sleeping in a pond or log.” We also discovered a new book that tied in nicely to our interests in animal behaviors, “Over and Under the Snow” by Kate Messner with illustrations by Christopher Silas Neal. This book shows how animals survive the cold wi

Recently we went for a walk in the pine grove with a group of Seedlings. As we walked along the path we noticed several signs of activity in the snow. There were a variety of different tracks; snowshoes, snow poles, boots, dog paw prints and cross country skis. A few children noticed the dog tracks and suggested that there could be bears. The children were excited to see signs of squirrels. We could see tracks in the snow, but also empty pinecone cores. In the fresh snow we c

“Pretend play combines two wondrous and uniquely human characteristics- the capacity for fantasy and capacity for, and need to, make meaning of our experience.” Susan Linn ( The Case for Make Believe) Although pretend play is not a tradition in the Montessori classroom there are opportunities for dramatic play and pretending in our classroom as well as the playground. After the recent snowstorm, we invited the children to join in playing with shaving cream at the big table. T

Over the past weeks the children have been exploring new works in the Practical Life area of the classroom. Activities like zippering vests or buttoning a dressing frame can assist a child to master these tasks. Montessori had other reasons for presenting these life skills in the classroom however. Two and three year olds are particularly motivated to learn how to do these tasks independently. After watching adults help with tasks like dressing and cleaning your child is eage

"To give children freedom and be watchful and ready is not easy, but we must be prepared to do all this." Maria Montessori Over the past weeks the children have been exploring new works in the Practical Life area of the classroom. Activities like zippering vests or buttoning a dressing frame can assist a child to master these tasks. Montessori had other reasons for presenting these life skills in the classroom however. Two and three year olds are particularly motivated to lea

“True peace...suggests the triumph of justice and love among men; it reveals the existence of a better world where harmony reigns.” Maria Montessori For a young child between 2-3 years sharing will be a skill that is learned with a lot of practice. Grabbing and taking may be the first “go to” for a child that is navigating social challenges in school for the first time. In the Montessori environment one of the teacher’s goals is to assist the children in expressing their wan

“We must teach the children the elements of social behavior so their interest is aroused, and as a consequence, their attention directed to these aspects of life.” Maria Montessori In the Seedlings classroom this year we will be working on refining the skill of kindness and the art of being polite. The young child is looking for consistency in her daily routine. She looks to the adult in the room to help her express her wants and needs. All of the children look to the adults

Recently, on a warm sunny day together, the children had the opportunity to plant marigolds on the playground. Klara arranged the outdoor table to hold potting soil, scoops, small plants and watering cans. Klara gave a lesson to show the friends how to gently transplant the flowers into pots to bring home. Since the first few weeks of school we have been prac[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_s1026" style='position:absolute;margin-left:206pt;margin-top:2in; width:199pt;heig

“The environment must be rich in motives which lend interest to activity and invite the child to conduct his own experiences.” -Maria Montessori Recently the toddlers have been busy having picnics in the classroom. This little picnic activity has been very enticing for friends over the last week. The children have multiple opportunities to use vocabulary and practice social skills. In the classroom we have observed children relive scenes from their own lives at home. Baby dol