All About Montessori

[baobei]

buds:

MumandMe:

Hi Buds and other mums,


I've just recently found this thread again. Enjoyed reading this.

Heyya MumandMe. :peekaboo:

MumandMe:

I need some help. Can you tell me the difference between the weekly enrichment math and phonics classes vs their daily kindy classes. I don't understand how the enrichment is able to complete the same cirriculum as the kindergarten since the enrichment is only a weekly session.

As i've shared before, daily classes cover the holistic curriculum of the Montessori Method all the 5 areas.. Practical Life Skills.. Cultural Studies.. Sensorial Exploration.. Montessori Math & Language unlike the weekly enrichment programme which only focuses on completing the enrichment subject curriculum within the year... which means one week one lesson/presentation. Not much time for hands-on practice with the apparatus.

To be frank, i personally find Montessori subjects aren't study/teaching content to be rushed to reap the full benefits of what the method TRULY brings. It embeds in the child the motivation to attempt everything on his own with beeming confidence and never to give up at first sign of failure (of being incorrect).. it encourages the child to concentrate on task at hand oblivious to distractions in his/her surroundings.. it inculcates good values and respect amongst peers and adults/ppl of authority so that the child can interact confidently with ppl in the community effectively and graciously.. Daily Montessori lessons allows the child to benefit from all the abovementioned and at a more comfortable pace instead of the weekly enrichment ones. As the children in daily lessons come in as early as 18mths, they get introduced to the Math and Language curriculum even then. Age appropriate/as they progress to higher levels ie. Nursery, K1, K2.. they finish both Math & Language syllabus and the rest of the Montessori areas of education (including Science & Geography) before being Montessori graduates.

Many sceptics have asked about whether all this actually amounts to sufficient preparation for Primary 1. I go like.. :scratchhead:.. The graduates are prepared for life! Not just for mere primary education. In fact the in-depth teaching covers up till secondary education. I'm not kidding. Lessons are not stressful and children are always encouraged to be inquisitive and we all learn to gather more knowledge/information about the world together. The good values the children learn also stay with them for life especially if their parents and family environment also encourages or complements those of the Montessori ways.

A comparison of the lessons would \"roughly\" be like this.. for a clearer note.. hopefully.

An example of..
DAILY LESSONS (Montessori Phonics)

Playgroup : Pink Scheme (Learning Single Letter Sounds)
Working with...
>Sandpaper Letters
>Large Moveable Alphabets
>Pink Object Boxes
>Pink Picture Boxes
>Pink Picture Sheets & Cards
>Songs & rhymes
>Crafts

Nursery : Pink Scheme (Wordbuilding : 3-letter phonetic words & word families)
>Large Moveable Alphabets
>Pink Object Boxes
>Rhymes
>Crafts
>Written activity
>Wordbuilding : Listening to sounds in words
>Pink Picture Boxes
>Wordlists
>Word booklets

K1 : Blue Scheme (Learning blends)
>Large Moveable Alphabets
>Blue Object Boxes
>Rhymes
>Crafts
>Written activity
>Wordbuilding : Listening to sounds in words
>Blue Picture Boxes
>Wordlists
>Word booklets

K2 : Green Scheme (Learning sound combinations & exception rules)
>Small Moveable Alphabets
>All the green boxes (objects and picture boxes)
>Wordlists
>Word booklets
>Crafts

etc... etc..

The above is just a very very very rough guide.
Disclaimer : It is not a fixed thing with all centres.

Weekly students have to carry out the above minus the fun songs, rhymes, stories, craft work and other activities to encourage reading practice to finish the curriculum within the year. Some teachers i've worked with do fret about the lack of time to actually use the Montessori apparatus for their lessons & that's definitely a disadvantage and a minus point in my opinion. Montessori materials are all specially designed and intended for the learning child to progress systematically from easy to difficult; from manageable to challenging.

MumandMe:

Also, you mentioned in one of the very early posts of a MMI at Holland. May I know which one is that? Is there one near Bukit Timah? Kindly help. Thanks.

Here's the address to the centre in Holland, provided they are still located at the same place.. >20 Holland Grove Road Singapore 278801.

There's one (childcare if i recall correctly) at Beauty World Centre. Not an ideal location in my opinion, especially with the current road works, traffic congestion, parking problem amongst other things.

Hi MumandMe,

Are the two centres run by the same owner?

[buds]

Answering on behalf of MumandMe..


Nope. Different owner.

[cheetian]

Hi all… any mummies with kids in MMI branches? I would like to find out how is their Chinese standard in this center…as I intend to sign my girl up in their new branch (Biopolis).


Thanks

[Dino_Mummy]

Hi,


Any mummies with feedback on GreenTree Montessori?
If yes, appreciate your sharing?

Many thanks.

[North_Mummy]

Can someone pls advise does montessori method make a child more lonely?.. I am thinking of putting him in MMI childcare centre and being the only child my main concern is whether he will not like to mix with ppl as diff child work on their own??

[cloubhappy.05320live.05320com]

Hi


would be grateful if anyone could share how to teach subtraction using montessori method?

thanks!

[phtthp]

MumandMe:

Can you tell me the difference between the weekly enrichment math and phonics classes vs their daily kindy classes. I don't understand how the enrichment is able to complete the same cirriculum as the kindergarten since the enrichment is only a weekly session.

you're right. I agree with you.

i always wonder .... how those kids who attend once a week Saturday weekend enrichment for montessori Maths can complete the entire Montessori Maths curriculum before enter P1 - compared to those who practise daily from Monday - Friday, 45 minutes daily in a montessori 3 or 4 hrs kindergarten.

definitely those kids who practise 45 minutes minimal Maths daily will cover and learn much more, complete syllabus earlier.

perhaps montessori Phonics, still can. But Maths is a lot much tougher, compared to Phonics.

[buds]

Heyya guys, haven't been in here much of late. Sorry lar.. :salute: Overwhelming routine having 4 children now. I do come in once in awhile but more to chat (to chillax) instead of work. In Montessori... thread i work. Aniwaes, just to update that i have replied to these PMs today.


Many many many apologies for the delay. :imsorry:

> thinkertinker10
> toffee
> sk_star
> mistermerz
> SAHM_TAN

Next up, i hope to catch up with yours... smurf. *pant pant*

If you don't mind, i can also air out your clarifications in this thread so that others with similar doubts or questions can sorta relate to your situation. I am positive you are not alone in your doubts and fears as i have had many parents inquiring the same. :hugs:

[buds]

phtthp:

MumandMe:

Can you tell me the difference between the weekly enrichment math and phonics classes vs their daily kindy classes. I don't understand how the enrichment is able to complete the same cirriculum as the kindergarten since the enrichment is only a weekly session.

you're right. I agree with you.

i always wonder .... how those kids who attend once a week Saturday weekend enrichment for montessori Maths can complete the entire Montessori Maths curriculum before enter P1 - compared to those who practise daily from Monday - Friday, 45 minutes daily in a montessori 3 or 4 hrs kindergarten.

definitely those kids who practise 45 minutes minimal Maths daily will cover and learn much more, complete syllabus earlier.

perhaps montessori Phonics, still can. But Maths is a lot much tougher, compared to Phonics.

Phtthp, i thought i already clarified in my reply to MumandMe?

ie. the daily vs weekly lesson difference?

PS. Montessori schools do not do 45mins of Montessori time! :yikes:
We do Montessori ALL THE TIME. :love: On top of that some of us/the centres add in the Thematic lessons/curriulum similar to the ones in mainstream so children are exposed as well. The Montessori Education has evolved much to stay relevant to the current mainstream education. Plus Montessori children do not just learn preschool education. The academic portion of Montessori covers up till upper primary and Montessori actually has curriculum for up to secondary education as well! The rest of the holistic portion of the Montessori Education guides children for life. :please:

[brainkuku]

Hi buds


For phonics… he seems to know all the sounds… but how to incorporate that into pronouncing a word? I know there are word blend, but I am not sure how receptive my son is on the word blend… how do i test him on whether he knows or not? Or there isnt any need for test, just let him be?

Do you think flash card methods works?