All About Montessori

[buds]

:rotflmao:

[keltong]

buds:

Blending two letters first to make one sound like say... \"at\"...

followed by reading the words that rhyme using one beginning single
letter sounds with that same ending sound like... bat cat fat hat mat pat (etc)
is using the word families styled reading.

Some children have been known to memorize words using the above way
to read and yet still unable to spell when asked to (perhaps due to the
lack of emphasis and solid teaching of single letter sounds during the
initial stage... while others have the ability to catch on that the sound
combinations represent two separate single letter sounds & effectively
use them to read and spell other words with that combination.

The other, which blends single letter sounds separately... c... a... t... is the
word building styled reading.

Both are learning styles that can work. No right and wrong. I do suppose
the Montessori method is no longer rigid as in.. it can bend in some ways
as long as it benefits the children.

I personally prefer to work with my children, students and parents the
word building way as it has proven to be more effective and concrete on
top of helping the child to pave the way to independent reading as they
learn to hear sounds in words to be able to read them & like wise also
decode sounds in words to spell them.

Hope this clarifies. Cheerios!

Word families styled reading and word building styled reading. I learn something new today. Many things to learn in this forum. Thanks buds!

[buds]

Heyya keltong, ideally Montessori Directresses are to begin introducing

3-letter phonetic word formation using word building method, so that
children are trained to listen to sounds in words... to read them and
also enable them to decode the sounds to help them spell those words.

The word building method also assists in the fluency in reading... the
flow of building sounds into words helps a child read almost anything
phonetic. After the introduction to the word building process, children
may be required to go through a word list, initial ones within word
family combinations and later on a mixture of families.

Montessori Phonics covers the reading skills concretely, where the child isn't
encouraged to guess the words but truly read them with minimal assistance.

There are some Montessori centres though, also due to stress from parents
prefer to go straight into the wordlists to show that the child can indeed read
in a short span of time. It may work with older children as they're more mature
and can easily get / grasp the reading pattern required, but for the younger age
group they may tend to get bored with the same routine... (due to the repetition
in the reading practices)... or they may not understand the blending concept
thoroughly due to age... and tend to guess the words as they go along..
resulting in the mix-up of families. When this happens and one tries to trouble
shoot, the interest in reading may decline as one back tracks what has resulted
in this road block.

While using the word families can show faster results, word building offers solid
understanding of the blending concept... though a little more time and work is
required to achieve this.

Children who are introduced to word building can also do spelling effectively
hence the reading and writing (written spelling) can work in tandem even for
beginning readers... this way, there is solid foundation, understanding &
affirmation that no guesswork was done OR can be done in any part of the
reading process.

Coupling phonetic practices with reading phonics readers will also help escalate
the reading process, from words to sentences. Phonics is after all supposed to
help with reading fluency and reading just phonetic words alone ain't enough to
encourage that.

All said & done, a knowledgable & passionate directress will be able to go beyond
just teaching reading skills... but instead nurture a reader in her students.

[smurf]

buds:

:rotflmao:

[jul04]

buds:

Just that my P4's homework has been a KILLER! :frustrated: There is almost

a few pieces of homework for every subject every single day! Not inclusive
of all the enrichment/supplementary lessons the school is giving. I'm not complaining.....

Wah! Scary.. Nvm let's not think abt that yet. Let me settle my boy's 4 yr old education before thinking of Pri 4! :scratchhead:

buds:

jul04:

So confused and torn between Montessori & \"traditional\" pre-school. Very stressed, u know? :?:

I remember answering this similar question somewhere within these pages..
Hmmm... gotta dig now.. Aniwaes, below are some links to some sharings
i did some time back.. if it helps. Btw, goggle-eyed sounds cute.


http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?t=906&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=70

http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?t=906&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=120

I read \"Montessori Children\" by Caroline somebody Baily??? :oops: Apparently she went to observe Dr Montessori's Children Houses in the Wordl War I years & wrote this book on the case studies & I'm just fascinated! I mean.. abt how the kids learn though their senses, how they start to write on their own, how they change from a terrible child to one who self-disciplines! Sounds almost like a quackhouse! Like.. really meh???? :idea:

However, I notice that the \"pure\" montessori method is very difficult, very tedious, & almost impossible to follow in our lives unless we intend to establish some Montessori commune! I mean, how do you make sure they have small furniture to work on, all the tools at hand, all the proper equipment like real plates & crockery & gym equipment. I'll bet what Spore Montessoris do is just adopt the \"academic\" things like the alphabets, some toys to insert the cylinders stuff (dunno the name lah :oops: ), & the counting beads for Maths right? I doubt they have the frame to practice clothes buttoning, or the gym equipment. As in.. the \"lifestyle\" bits? Right?

Aiyoh.. I sound hopelessly blur & inarticulate coz I dunno the terms! :x Anyway.. the point I'm getting at is :

1) What do Spore Montessoris do in their curriculum? I suppose most don't follow the full Montessori \"lifestyle\" but just use bits like Phonics, Math, some toys like the Ahem.. insert cylinder thing? They don't use the gym gear & other things?

2) If I enroll the boy into a Montessori playgroup/kindy.. it'll be like only 3h. After discounting the time taken for assembly, queuing up for food, toilet time, washing hands.. etc miscellaneous stuff, what time is there left for Montessori teaching? Not to mention those 1h or 1.5h playgroups for over 18-mth olds.. got time to do anything meh???

3) Does this mean I shd enroll the boy into a full-day childcare to reap the benefits of Montessori \"lifestyle'?

4) With all the time constraint mentioned above, do Directresses really take the time to do what you did? Be very aware of children's sensitive periods & go all into the country & state maps, costumes, languages etc? Don't they need to take care of the other kids?

Lastly, I though abt enrolling my boy into a parent-accompanied Montessori playgroup on weekends.

1) But it's only 1/1.5h.. again.. enough time to learn?

2) I think they do Phonics. But my boy doesn't know his ABCs,.. wouldn't learning Phonics now confuse him?

3) Would learning a bit of Zoophonics now.. then Montessori phonics in pre-nursery & nursery,.. then Letterland or whatever phonics in kindy screw him up on reading & writing for life?

:gloomy:

[autumnbronze]

buds:

Blending two letters first to make one sound like say... \"at\"...

followed by reading the words that rhyme using one beginning single
letter sounds with that same ending sound like... bat cat fat hat mat pat (etc)
is using the word families styled reading.

Some children have been known to memorize words using the above way
to read and yet still unable to spell when asked to (perhaps due to the
lack of emphasis and solid teaching of single letter sounds during the
initial stage... while others have the ability to catch on that the sound
combinations represent two separate single letter sounds & effectively
use them to read and spell other words with that combination.

The other, which blends single letter sounds separately... c... a... t... is the
word building styled reading.

Both are learning styles that can work. No right and wrong. I do suppose
the Montessori method is no longer rigid as in.. it can bend in some ways
as long as it benefits the children.

I personally prefer to work with my children, students and parents the
word building way as it has proven to be more effective and concrete on
top of helping the child to pave the way to independent reading as they
learn to hear sounds in words to be able to read them & like wise also
decode sounds in words to spell them.

Hope this clarifies. Cheerios!

Yes it does, Buds. Thanks a lot :celebrate:

Have started DS with 3 words blending so this will come in handy

[jul04]

buds:

you asking me about my lessons arh? :lol: But hor... oredi got waitlist.

Kekekee.. You willing to do PV anot? :rotflmao:

Nope, not running the classes yet. Coming... coming...

I also wanna join your classes! I can do PV! I can.. er.. :idea: I can.. what can I do ah? I can't drive.. I know! :idea: I can take temperature & distribute hand sanitiser at the door!

[buds]

autumnbronze:

Yes it does, Buds. Thanks a lot :celebrate:


Have started DS with 3 words blending so this will come in handy

Fwaah! Someone goin' pretty fast there aye?

For his age, he's quite advanced... then again with the mommy
very ONz... i'm not surprised. Lemme noe if you require
any assistance, k?

[buds]

jul04:

buds:

you asking me about my lessons arh? :lol: But hor... oredi got waitlist. Kekekee.. You willing to do PV anot? :rotflmao:


Nope, not running the classes yet. Coming... coming...

I also wanna join your classes! I can do PV! I can.. er.. :idea: I can.. what can I do ah? I can't drive.. I know! :idea: I can take temperature & distribute hand sanitiser at the door!

I scared later you take checklist and see that i do all the wonders that the
Montessori Method has promised to transform your child in record time.. :siam:

Cause I see you've done your homework...

[buds]

jul04:

buds:

Just that my P4's homework has been a KILLER! :frustrated: There is almost

a few pieces of homework for every subject every single day! Not inclusive
of all the enrichment/supplementary lessons the school is giving. I'm not complaining.....

Wah! Scary.. Nvm let's not think abt that yet. Let me settle my boy's 4 yr old education before thinking of Pri 4! :scratchhead:

Scary hell awrite! :lol:

PSLE oredi looming around for me.. *gulp* :scared:

jul04:

I read \"Montessori Children\" by Caroline somebody Baily??? :oops: Apparently she went to observe Dr Montessori's Children Houses in the Wordl War I years & wrote this book on the case studies & I'm just fascinated! I mean.. abt how the kids learn though their senses, how they start to write on their own, how they change from a terrible child to one who self-disciplines! Sounds almost like a quackhouse! Like.. really meh???? :idea:

Yah boy, i get watcha mean! :lol: Especially the quackhouse part! :laugh:
I, coming from mainstream initially was sworn into the drill method, with bits of
thematic work & also learning centres... and so... jumping into Montessori then
i was like, \"Wuh? Sure not? Cheh..\" Sceptic i was really. I was like who the
hell wants to do an individual curriculum, that's helluva lotta extra work! And like
how to do all that with 37 children ( i had that many on my first day at work )
with only these two hands and only 3 hours? :siao:

Then, as i slowly gave it a chance to unfold itself through theory and eventually
hands on, you could say, i was sold. :love: But the upper hand advantage i had
was i had dual knowledge of both mainstream AND Montessori, so the children i
got to work with also got double of everything. To clarify, definitely not 37. I got
to work with 3 and eventually 6 and eventually when they (the management) saw
i could work the Montessori magic :roll: they piled me with MORE! :roll: Bosses.
They start with reasons of pure passion (for the quality teaching method and
environment) and somehow wherever i went... they would eventually end with
reasons of commercial passion. Bwaah.

jul04:

However, I notice that the \"pure\" montessori method is very difficult, very tedious, & almost impossible to follow in our lives unless we intend to establish some Montessori commune! I mean, how do you make sure they have small furniture to work on, all the tools at hand, all the proper equipment like real plates & crockery & gym equipment. I'll bet what Spore Montessoris do is just adopt the \"academic\" things like the alphabets, some toys to insert the cylinders stuff (dunno the name lah :oops: ), & the counting beads for Maths right? I doubt they have the frame to practice clothes buttoning, or the gym equipment. As in.. the \"lifestyle\" bits? Right?

Ekkh.. *buzzer sound* :lol: Wrong! :politebleah:

One question.. have you visited any Montessori centres yet? :idea:

jul04:

Aiyoh.. I sound hopelessly blur & inarticulate coz I dunno the terms! :x Anyway.. the point I'm getting at is :

Hey, no worries... i totally get what you mean. :hugs:

Know why?

Cause you are like almost all other parents i have spoken to (some at great length too)..
parents who were sceptics like me... who went, \"Go playgroup play masak-masak arh? :?
Cheh.. at home oso can. :roll: Then, when i learn what the work was intended for and so
on... i realized wow... there's more to everything than meets the eye... like seriously..
and of course, i slowly became the articulate one... ta daa! :lol:

jul04:

[1) What do Spore Montessoris do in their curriculum? I suppose most don't follow the full Montessori \"lifestyle\" but just use bits like Phonics, Math, some toys like the Ahem.. insert cylinder thing? They don't use the gym gear & other things?

Wow. Blanket sweep question! Cannot answer! For each set up is built according
to its own space constraints, to its mission/purpose, to serve certain services that does
benefit children in the name of the methodology. For example, some Montessori schools
are run as per childcare, kindergarten and/or enrichment hence each set up has its
own conditions and limitations of service. And ehem... cost is also another factor.
The materials are expensive... teachers are also expensive... by that i mean good ones
and by that again... i mean, teachers who believe... that learning can come naturally
from the heart.. :love:

jul04:

[2) If I enroll the boy into a Montessori playgroup/kindy.. it'll be like only 3h. After discounting the time taken for assembly, queuing up for food, toilet time, washing hands.. etc miscellaneous stuff, what time is there left for Montessori teaching? Not to mention those 1h or 1.5h playgroups for over 18-mth olds.. got time to do anything meh???

Yes yes... your questions and concerns are ALL valid. Valid cause in Singapore we rush
everything and try to do everything we can within what little time we have.. this is
one of the constraints. :roll: I have done the 1.5s and the 3s... and am happy to note
that yes, time may not be of an advantage... but when we have smaller group of
children to work with (small teacher:student ratio)... have complete set of materials
to work with... a prepared environment & curriculum... throw in a knowledgable directress
and may i add... who believes and has faith in the method... it works all on its own...

Here i'm saying... i believe and because of that belief it slowly became a passion
that i have faith in cos i've had personal hand at it and can tell you that it works. We work the curriculum not the curriculum works us... cos then,
we'd be chasin' waterfalls ain't it? With small group of normalized children,
guiding & observing them... facilitating the programme becomes manageable
on certain days... easy.

jul04:

[3) Does this mean I shd enroll the boy into a full-day childcare to reap the benefits of Montessori \"lifestyle'?

Not necessarily. As mentioned above, with good educators... much can be accomplished
even with limitations of time... and not something that we have a choice with cos we are
but only; the employees.

jul04:

[4) With all the time constraint mentioned above, do Directresses really take the time to do what you did? Be very aware of children's sensitive periods & go all into the country & state maps, costumes, languages etc? Don't they need to take care of the other kids?

Yes we do... And that goes to answer for all the questions in (4).

jul04:

[Lastly, I though abt enrolling my boy into a parent-accompanied Montessori playgroup on weekends.

Fantastic start i say.. :idea:

Parent AND child will get to slowly learn more about the learning approach and both
can have the time and option to gauge if Montessori is indeed what you want and
would like for yourself and your child.

jul04:

[1) But it's only 1/1.5h.. again.. enough time to learn?

Yes... and it will leave you wanting more at the end of each week's lesson.

Enough time to learn... enough time to believe... :love:

jul04:

[2) I think they do Phonics. But my boy doesn't know his ABCs,.. wouldn't learning Phonics now confuse him?

Montessori is about the 5 areas ain't it?

You can do the alphabets and let the centre do the sounds.
Whaddya think of this arrangement? If you work together, it can work. :celebrate:

jul04:

[3) Would learning a bit of Zoophonics now.. then Montessori phonics in pre-nursery & nursery,.. then Letterland or whatever phonics in kindy screw him up on reading & writing for life?

Screw? :rotflmao: Naaah.. the child will only be getting loads more vocabulary i say! :idea:
Zoophonics and Jollyphonics have interesting hand-gestures (actions) to accompany
the letter sounds. Letterland has colourful & fun characters plus beautiful music/songs
to accompany the learning of the letter sounds...

And finally.... Montessori has complete resources and by complete i do mean...
every step of the way... level by level... to complete the much needed skill of
reading and writing to equip the child for life.. :love:

For single letter sounds honestly, it is fine... the only part that needs work is
the transition from learning the sounds with characters and songs into the
actual print.

Hope this helps clarify some doubts you may have.. *gulp*.. read : \"hope\".. :lol:
Aniwaes, kudos to you for having done your homework. I'll give you some more
homework soon and then.......

Of course....................

I WILL TEST YOU......................... :evil:

My turn to ask the questions. :rubhands:

QUACK! :lol: