All About Montessori

[glow10]

thanks but cant place at early years as it is a kindy. i work full time so need childcare hours.

[GKmum]

Early learners have extended hours now, till 3pm.

[Off123]

Hi All and Buds


I went to see Ideal Montessori. The pax in charge was very good with telling everything we need to know and want to hear. I like the surrounding very much and most importantly, there seem to be very few montessori near boon keng mrt so I doubt I have many choice...pls correct me if i am wrong!

The thing that is making me have second thoughts is that throughout my time there, i didnt feel the presence of kids... ie. very quiet! They are there but very quiet. No laughter, no questions, I dont even hear much from the teachers.
Maybe they are very well behave and ask teachers in very `disciplined' manner...but I thought a cc should have a fair amount of buzz??

Let me know what you all think?


My kid is under my parents care and is talkative at home. To me, being vocal (not demanding or rude) is important as I myself grew up as a shy person and it hinders my interaction. I didnt shed this shyness and was only able to speak infront of groups much later. So to me it is important to be confident infront of group.

Thanks!

[BabyRR]

HI


Does anyone have any experience or feedback on pink tower montessori (previously san lorenzo montessori)?

Thank you.

[piefreak]

Hi everyone,


I am pretty new here and have been a slient reader and is impressed with Montessori teaching method, especially reading a number of informative posts from Buds. Thanks Buds!

I have a couple of questions, wondering if anyone can help to provide some insights on these queries?

Here is how it goes, after much sourcing around, we finally decided to send my son to a Monte Preschool. However, after some observation we noticed this Monte Preschool's teacher looks quite serious and the school environment seems very quiet. Is this one of the Montessori feature?

Another thing is this Monte Preschool only starts teaching Phonics at the age of 3 and above. So currently my son of 19mths is exploring with Montessori material but no Phonics yet. Is this because young toddler only learn about practical life at this age? I would like to understand more about this method used on young toddler. Anyone know about it, please assist.

Thank you!

[Beanicemum]

Off123:

Hi All and Buds


I went to see Ideal Montessori. The pax in charge was very good with telling everything we need to know and want to hear. I like the surrounding very much and most importantly, there seem to be very few montessori near boon keng mrt so I doubt I have many choice...pls correct me if i am wrong!

The thing that is making me have second thoughts is that throughout my time there, i didnt feel the presence of kids... ie. very quiet! They are there but very quiet. No laughter, no questions, I dont even hear much from the teachers.
Maybe they are very well behave and ask teachers in very `disciplined' manner...but I thought a cc should have a fair amount of buzz??

Let me know what you all think?


My kid is under my parents care and is talkative at home. To me, being vocal (not demanding or rude) is important as I myself grew up as a shy person and it hinders my interaction. I didnt shed this shyness and was only able to speak infront of groups much later. So to me it is important to be confident infront of group.

Thanks!

Yes, this is my concern also, I have confidence of Montessori academic part, just not very sure do the children have enough social time with all their peers? Or how does montesorri program train a child to be confidence, outspoken?

I am still thinking whether enroll my son at Cs Montessori Nex or kinderland serangoon, (both my sons feel a little bit of shy when they do public speaking. They are 3 and 5 yrs old) it seems kinderland does not very strong academic training, but seems they have a lot program to train children to be a extroverted. Not sure my feeling correct or not.?

Hi buds, really wants to know your opinion since you have both main stream and Montessori experience ... Thank u so much..

[schnapps_7]

Hi Buds


Can I have your views on Josiah Monti? My son has started attending that school for 4 months now and they are planning for fee hike. I am wondering if I am getting the " bang for the buck". Any feedback is much appreciated. Thanks.

[buds]

piefreak:

Hi everyone,


I am pretty new here and have been a slient reader and is impressed with Montessori teaching method, especially reading a number of informative posts from Buds. Thanks Buds!

Hi to you too! :peekaboo:

piefreak:

I have a couple of questions, wondering if anyone can help to provide some insights on these queries?

Here is how it goes, after much sourcing around, we finally decided to send my son to a Monte Preschool. However, after some observation we noticed this Monte Preschool's teacher looks quite serious and the school environment seems very quiet. Is this one of the Montessori feature?

I guess then wherever i work will be an odd Montessori feature then.. cos i'm the noisy sort... and long winded... as you should already know by now after having read my sharings in the forum. Oh i forgot to add one more feature. Notti oso. That wan is prominent feature.

In most Montessori centres, i must say yes, our Montessorian children are well-behaved or in Montessori terms they call it normalized. Normalized children have very good concentration & attention span (after adapting) and they use their entire time in centres engaged in purposeful work almost oblivious to everything else around them, especially during individual mat activity. During this time they observe presentations, learn, try, make mistakes, try again... until they get it right... after which they move on to the many extension activities from that one presentation itself. Concept is key for once concept is concrete the rest will flow. That said however, it does not mean that interaction is not allowed entirely. Most Montessorian children do not like to waste time while at the centre. There are so many things to work on and they want to work on as many as they can before time is up to go home. Apart from that, there is circle time, where stories and rhyme and music and movement are also included in a Montessori centre. The other factor could probably also be that the centre has lower enrollment (if they are a new establishment) and/or that the different groups/classes cater to a special teacher: child ratio... as we know... Montessori has a good teacher : child ratio. This enables the directresses to observe and facilitate the individual child's curriculum to the students under their wing.

The opposite of a normalized child is a deviated child... who has yet to adapt to a Montessori environment. Not that it refers to an ill-behaved child but one who may require more time to come to the phase where they won't get distracted too easily. A Montessori environment encourages children to build good concentration and attention which in turn sees children working effectively. At this stage, some may be almost oblivious to even visitors who comes to view the centre at any time where lessons are being conducted. Which is normally the reason why most centres do not allow parent-visitors to engage directly with children who are at work. It can disrupt a child's full attention while working on an activity and can get the child distracted. Some children may get upset but most are willing to look up, smile and manage a sweet hi but return to their activity quickly. Where a child is a willing party, he or she won't mind to engage in short conversation with parent-visitors from time to time. Parents of the children attending the centres also pay good money for their children's education and as such you can also say time is money. Which in reality is not entirely false.

piefreak:

Another thing is this Monte Preschool only starts teaching Phonics at the age of 3 and above. So currently my son of 19mths is exploring with Montessori material but no Phonics yet. Is this because young toddler only learn about practical life at this age? I would like to understand more about this method used on young toddler. Anyone know about it, please assist.

Thank you!

Official phonics is at that age yes. However in Playgroup stage (18mths) they are introduced to the sandpaper letters, the objects beginning with corresponding single letter sounds, some centres incorporate phonics songs (external) and there are crafts done up to reinforce the sounds learnt. This is the informal introduction. Not so much testing whether they really know or not know but more so a phonemic awareness at this stage.

Practical Life is best for children of this age as they help refine their fine motor skills so children can hold a spoon correctly to allow for independent feeding during meals.. encourages good pincer grip in preparation for tracing and writing.. etc. Practical Life reflects on day to day activities we all do everyday and in a mainstream setting this is often overlooked but in a Montessori setting this is crucial to the needs of a growing child.

Sensorial activities are fabulous activities for children this age.. as they explore beyond shapes and colors alone but instead exposed to 3D shapes and colour gradation as well. Children refine the use of their senses from visual to auditory to tactile and it creates the best opportunities for children to derive many small successes before their big ones for the environment allows for every child to work from simple to complex banking in on their self-confidence and esteem that it is ok to work at their own pace. In a non-threatening environment like the Montessori environment, offers children a safe place to learn things slowly (if they need more time) or to accelerate (if they are fast learners). They also get to work on their sense of smell and taste with real life experiences all in the comfort of the centre.

Besides covering the 5 areas of Montessori, my Montessorian children get a taste of organized games, birthday celebration or themed parties like Halloween or Valentines, group-projects or group work or even just reading books to one another. As much as we value the need for concentration to work on individual activities and materials, we encourage children to engage in thoughtful conversations and discussions. They love Cultural Studies for we often do not have enough time to discuss everything under the sun. Everyone always has something special to share. This allows them to portray their experiences and their learning journeys better... for us (directresses) to observe their sensitive periods, their milestones and the kind of progress we can help them achieve with their potentials. We allow them to be the children that they are.

I dunno abt other centres but where and how i teach... nope... pin-drop silence is not a feature of our environment. In fact, where the space of a centre is good... there are also outdoor playgrounds, water/sand play, even cycling as well.

Not sure if i answered your question (cos i told you i'm long winded, right?) but well, that's my sharing for you.

[buds]

http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/content/montessori-phonics-introduction-single-letter-sounds-lesson-1


The first link leads to the article i shared (a bit) with regards to Montessori Phonics introduction.

http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5768

The second link above, i pasted for you should you wish to follow up on discussions over the thread.

The final one below is if you wish to follow up on my other threads as well.
> http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/blogs/buds <

Cheers. Have a great Sunday. :celebrate:

[Expatmum]

[quote Any others recommendations? I stay around Bukit panjang, choa chu kang, upper Bukit timah area.

Many thanks[/quote]

Arts Kidz have just opened a new branch at The Old Fire Station, Upper Bukit Timah Road.