All About Montessori

[buds]

jul04:

I'm opposite from you. I don't want a school with lots of worksheets. If I want academic per Singaporean context, I'll go for Newton. I prefer learning 'broader' stuff, that's why I want Montessori.

Montessori has a balance of both.

[buds]

NataTL:

Teacher just left them playing and they do something else.

Learning thru' play when accomplished correctly nurtures children to be
confident speakers and children who can think out of the box.. has a
wealth of vocabulary.. creative.. hands-on.. as the kind of teaching
is not like *rote learning (*blackboard learning = teacher directed = i say, you do).

NataTL:

I prefer my kids to prepare attitude for learning then to play.

Wah-seh.. :celebrate:

NataTL:

I rather school teach, I supplement. Playing part I am very good already, I can do the job hee hee

Cute lar you! :lol:

[jul04]

Buds


I have a question about discipline in a Montessori. I think they don't call it \"discipline\" but you get what I mean right?

For eg, if the child starts to take the knobbed cylinders (*woot* I know the name leh, dun pray pray :nunchuk: ) and instead of trying to fit them into the right slots, starts to use them to knock violently on the wall/floor/table, what does the directress (again.. impressed by myself :preen: ) do?

Or if Child A takes Child B's materials away by force coz Child A doesn't want to wait for his turn, what does the directress do?

Not abt discipline but TLC now :

When a new child is dropped off, he'll prob start bawling unless he's the most confident, well-adjusted kid in the world. What does the directress do in that case?

[jul04]

NataTL:

Jul04, yr bb still small just go any monte which you think can take care well your girl. If not happy still can change ma

buds:

Because the child is young lah all the more she belly fussy... err... very
concerned i meant.. ehem.. abt where her child should be placed. Good
education begins from young mah.. so, the search is now onz.

Everyone revert here after hunt hor. So everyone else also gets a slice of
the cake.. and the dig in the dirt. :evil:

Yes, I'm concerned now becoz it's the \"golden period\" for my boy to absorb stuff now mah. I don't wanna miss the boat on his sensitive period, so to speak :lol:

And I really don't want to keep changing & hunting for new schools. I'm the kind of person who likes to know \"why why why?\" then I'll make an informed decision. I don't like to be rushed in my decisions (coz I'm ahem.. insecure) so I need lead time here! :imconstipated:

[NataTL]

jul04:

Buds


I have a question about discipline in a Montessori. I think they don't call it \"discipline\" but you get what I mean right?

For eg, if the child starts to take the knobbed cylinders (*woot* I know the name leh, dun pray pray :nunchuk: ) and instead of trying to fit them into the right slots, starts to use them to knock violently on the wall/floor/table, what does the directress (again.. impressed by myself :preen: ) do?

Or if Child A takes Child B's materials away by force coz Child A doesn't want to wait for his turn, what does the directress do?

Not abt discipline but TLC now :

When a new child is dropped off, he'll prob start bawling unless he's the most confident, well-adjusted kid in the world. What does the directress do in that case?

You went for trail already? You very detail le. Can i follow your kid's monte school if you found one??? So I can free scouting around.

But again, shall we be more kumpong style? like let the chick eat anythings, run around freely, fell down etc don't kanchong? Kumpong chicken tastier isn't it?

[NataTL]

kids 40% singh race. Jul only 1 is it? very boabei good la if you have the time pls choose carefully so if 2nd 3rd come along no need to headache. Like me lor now, any dump them in bit panic cos k1 still want to change school.

[NataTL]

On MMI is the nearest, no prawns fish also good?


Toodles, toodles where are you??? (sing like the song fishes fishes where are you ) What school can share???

[jul04]

NataTL:

jul04:

Buds


I have a question about discipline in a Montessori. I think they don't call it \"discipline\" but you get what I mean right?

For eg, if the child starts to take the knobbed cylinders (*woot* I know the name leh, dun pray pray :nunchuk: ) and instead of trying to fit them into the right slots, starts to use them to knock violently on the wall/floor/table, what does the directress (again.. impressed by myself :preen: ) do?

Or if Child A takes Child B's materials away by force coz Child A doesn't want to wait for his turn, what does the directress do?

Not abt discipline but TLC now :

When a new child is dropped off, he'll prob start bawling unless he's the most confident, well-adjusted kid in the world. What does the directress do in that case?

You went for trail already? You very detail le. Can i follow your kid's monte school if you found one??? So I can free scouting around.

But again, shall we be more kumpong style? like let the chick eat anythings, run around freely, fell down etc don't kanchong? Kumpong chicken tastier isn't it?

No lah, my trial is this Sat am. I'll post my experience here to share k?

I haven't visited any Montessori school at all. Just read 1 book published in 1915 and some online googling abt Montessori

It's just that I find that the philosophy is very good, and it seems suitable for my boy. He has a very strong opinion abt things and likes to \"do do do\" all day - seems that the Montessori materials will let him \"do\" the whole day & stop messing up the hse :frustrated: :xedfingers:

I'm not really into teaching as in learn spelling, reading, do mental sums etc.. everyday do worksheets & worksheets.. Not at this age anyway! I want my boy to learn more things than that. I was from traditional schools obviously, and I went to a neighbourhood Pri sch, SAP sec sch, Top 5 JC & NUS - I can study & pass exams but I really lack in people skills and resourcefulness. I can analyse very well, but I can't find out things. I remember being young & asking \"why\", asking questions & being shot down by teacher for being so irritating & ill-disciplined & I was told to just DO IT. And now I am boring, traditional, scared old me

For the first few yrs, I'd like my boy to be spared these negative forces to learning. As for adapting to traditional Pri 1 school, aiyah! heck lah! He has the next 20 yrs to do that!

As for not letting him study at all, cannot lah! ILs will spoil him rotten & he'll be stupid (as in cannot think) then how? I don't want to support him till I die So.. Montessori is good lah. less worksheets so not so \"study-ish\" but he's learning as he is \"doing\" things ( :evil: evil & sneaky mummy)

[jul04]

yeah I only have 1. So I'm a bit anal abt where to send my boy. Plus it has to be near my MIL's place in Toa Payoh - scully No 2 comes along, I'll need her help to look after No2, so the school can't be far away at my place in Sengkang right?


Anyway I've sort of made up my mind & will go for a trial on Sat to re-affirm my decision abt Montessori. Now I shall look ard for Montessoris near Toa Payoh. Then it's time for more trials again Argh! Never-ending headache :frustrated:

[buds]

Montessori Books For Starters


http://postimage.org/image/1y17n0s9w/


From left :

1. Montessori Play & Learn by Lesley Britton

Lesley Britton is a Montessori practitioner in UK and i like how the book
helps starters bring Montessori into the home... just like how i'm doing
right here. By starters, i mean parents or practitioners alike
who have found the calling... the interest to work with the Montessori
Method of Education.

While the book may not be as detailed-ly step-by-step as how i do it here,
it still manages to provide an inkling to the many activities in a Montessori
classroom that can be done in the home.. from what materials are to be
used.. how to plan.. how to involve the child and is a good supplement to
fit into daily home routine.

What i like about this book is that it also dishes out practical games and
activities and tips on how to understand the ways of Montessori. It offers
concise stages of learning of the Absorbent Mind.

Some pages are also colour illustrated to give a clearer view of the materials,
games and pictures of children at work.

2. Montessori Read & Write by Lynn Lawrence

For the kiasu starters to Montessori Phonics, this is a must read! It shows
how to introduce phonics and shares examples to promote readiness in
children via fun games & activities that make learning fun. The DIY stuff
are easy peasy and most times only require coloured markers and paper
for you to work quickie stuff with your kids.

What i like about this book is how it develops from the simplest forms of
introduction and gradually move up to grammar for young children. Offers
stage analysis of progression for parents and practitioners plus lotsa ideas
on encouraging print awareness on top of learning how to read. Literacy at
a glance? Dig this.. The book comes with alphabet templates (cursive),
beginning writer templates (line masters) and some simple puzzle words.

3. Basic Montessori by David Gettman

A very very concise version of the Montessori presentations at a glance.
Provides procedural assistance for starters to the Montessori Method.
There's a checklist of activities for Practical Life Exercises. There are
also quick reads on Montessori and her theories.

What i like about this book is that it provides a brief introduction before
going into each of the 5 areas of the Montessori Method. This book gives
an overview of what children can/will learn in a Montessori classroom.....
yes... all 5 areas. But also provides the opportunity for home activity
follow-up for keen parents and practitioners. Key objectives are offered
before each activity starts off; so starters have an idea of the intended
aim of the activities.

4. The Discovery Of The Child *Clio Montessori Series*

This book covers the history of methods and makes comparison btwn
traditional and Montessori... followed up with how the methods are being
implemented in classrooms.

What's interesting about this book is the manner the writer thinks thru' abt
the learning prejudices in a Montessori classroom & how a directress works
with her children. Parents & practitioners are given glimpses of scenarios
that allow readers to visualize what goes on in a Montessori classroom. A
special chapter on discipline in a Montessori classroom is also included.

5. The Essential Montessori by Elizabeth G. Hainstock

A good read with reference to the many doubts hovering over the Montessori
Method. There's a chapter dedicated to the common doubts an onlooker has
about the method. The author also goes into the adaptability of the method.

Interesting to read the relevance of Montessori today and in the future plus
Montessori's views of her work. Concise theories and philosophies on the
discovery of the child.. the absorbent mind.. normalization & observations
of the child.. Author goes into the apparent sensitive periods in a child's
life... on freedom and order and the prepared environment.

For starters who are keen to understand the jargon used in Montessori, an
appendix of familiar Montessori terms is included towards the end of the bk. :rubhands:

There's also a concise checklist of materials so that parents can look out
for them during centre recce.. :evil: .. and also a list of comparisons btwn
a traditional preschool and a Montessori one.. .. and for parents who
need some Montessori background knowledge in the method prior to
centre recce, it also helps that the theories and philosophies covered in
this book encourages the importance of carrying over the method over
from school to the home.

A Montessori book is not complete if it doesn't delve into material orientation.
Essential Montessori offers the answers to the common why's of doing
certain things/materials in a certain manner in the practical applications
of the theory chapter. In a nutshell, starters get to look into the ways and
the why's of the Montessori Method.