All About Montessori

[phtthp]

hi buds,


:thankyou: SO MUCH for recommending me alternative places to buy expensive Montessori home teaching training material.

very much appreciated! I should have consulted you first, before purchasing those 45 cubes as substitute from that Bishan St 22 mini-supermarket. My girl had gota used to them now, so just leave it. In future, will buy others from those shops you recommend.

i feel that Montessori Maths is useful and beneficial in helping kindergarten pre-schoolers acquire good foundation in Maths. Then at P1, they can bypass all those LSP (Maths) programme mentioned here:-

http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=12778&start=320

[buds]

Ya lor you should have.. After all, i'm usually around this thread for support on the Montessori Method. When it's convenient, i reply to what i can if it can help. Plus, you should know by now that i'm like the queen of DIY especially

for building up teaching resources for homeschooling.

Montessori Method is not new.. not elsewhere not here. It has been around for
awhile but because of its pricey fees not many were inclined to have their children
attend Montessori schools. Parents also weren't exposed to the strengths of the methodology. Some operators also had issues managing staff/manpower as not many teachers were true Montessorian at heart, hence unable to understand the works of the its teaching methods. Many teachers who came in from mainstream couldn't adapt. All these create complications within centres and hence the issue of centre turnovers crop up. To date, even as more teachers are trained to teach using the method not all of them practise it extensively. I have had unfortunate experiences working with teachers who were lazy to use the materials (Montessori really has A LOT of materials!) and in doing so the children cannot fully benefit from what the methodology truly stands for. This is also why many parents often and very easily misunderstand what is done and how lessons are carried out witin centres. Parents will feedback based on their individual experiences and not the methodology itself.

As for LSP in primary schools.. i was offered a position in a primary school thru a
friend whose P wanted me to head the team of volunteers and teaching staff with
teaching skills and materials to cater to their LSP team. I was invited to work 1/2
day and develop the LSP's framework so that they can help their children better &
systematically. I would also get to work with the children as well, which i like to. :love: Most children who are in LSP are lacking in foundation so before
the P1 Math escalates further into more challenging concepts, they hope the intervention would help to fill the gaps during that time for these children. However, due to logistics (cause the school was quite a distance from where i reside) and also caregiving arrangements (cos i had a toddler and a pre-schooler) back then.. i had to decline such a wonderful offer. I was ecstatic about the position and it did break my heart to let such an opportunity slip by.. oh well.. the things we do in the name of love for our children. They gotta come first. :hugs:

It's great that you are now equipped with the knowledge.... so now just to apply the skill for your girl to benefit from what you have learnt. :ugogirl:

[cantbearit2]

phtthp:

He paid > $240 for that box.


the rest of us were hesitant.

i improvised. i din buy those golden beads. In the end, i used subsitutes.

but i also buy those number cards from Nafisa. No time to make or DIY on my own. Plastic number cards not ex, can buy from her.

btw, i also attended this grammar workshop under Nafisa, which smurf mention. Excellent, very good. Should also go for it. After i attend, then i was told and realize that not all montessori pre-schools in SG teach Montessori grammar. Bec these pre-schools may not have sufficient time. Yes, they do teach Montessori Maths and Montessori Phonics to kids, but not necessarily Montessori Grammar.

if you got time to attend, also go for Nafisa Montessori Grammar workshop. Very worth it!

btw, if you enrol yr kid into a montessori pre-school, remember to ask the P if the school got teach & incorporate Montessori Grammar into their curriculum. If not, then better sign up for Nafisa's grammar workshop ... esp. if you think yr child needs help in Grammar.

Hi phtthp,
thanks for the detailed explanation. :thankyou:
IM a FTWM so childcare is more appropriate for me. Montessori childcare not easy to find in my area & I have no support to arrange transportation either.
IM contemplating sending my DD2 (4y.o.) for once a week Montessori Maths or teaching her myself. In order to teach her myself, I need to at least attend e workshop (was tempting to attend a full course for it, hee....but 3 kids in tow, a bit tough). I have started to teach her using some manipulatives. The ideas were mainly from Buds. IM totally convinced wen I saw how receptive my DD2 is to my teachings. Thus I explored further. It was tiring doing a lot of DIY stuff (not only for Math but Phonics & Chinese) but at e same time satisfying.
Sad to say, IM not able to spare a lot of time wif my DD2. I need to spend quite a bit of time wif DD1 as I tink I have not prepared her well for P1.
Thanks to all e kind parents at KSP who is v generous in their sharing, IM able to immerse in a wealth of information. :grphug:
I did check out e website (Montessori outlet) u have recommended & v impressed wif e montessori materials.
Thanks for e many tips on e DIY stuff & pl to get cheaper alternative materials, I may wan to attend e workshop & teach DD2 myself. If I really am not up to it, will then out-source it. :evil:
However tis upcoming workshop, I have to gif it a miss. Can only attend a later one cos my DS3 will b gg for a surgery soon :sad: (hope I dun have to wait till Dec for e nex workshop though).
Thks for e extra info on Montessori grammar. I have nv heard of it. Guess I need to do more reading liao.

[buds]

Heyya cantbearit2, more sharings to come hopefully.

Time doesn't seem to be enuff these days. Great to
read you again! :imanisland:

[Maize]

Hello


Any one keen to attend the Montessori Mathematics workshop:

http://montessoriprogram.com/mathematics

If anyone else has attended - can please comment about the course as well!!!

[buds]

Heyya Maize, many have commented on this programme.

Latest one is from our friend phthhp at this link below.
It is taken from the previous page which you may hv
missed or overlooked. Cheers.

http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?p=453173#p453173

[Maize]

Hey Buds


Thanks … I will read thru it…

[cantbearit2]

buds:

Heyya cantbearit2, more sharings to come hopefully.

Time doesn't seem to be enuff these days. Great to
read you again! :imanisland:

Hee....I've always been ard. Sometimes too tired so juz silently read yur posts. Wan 2 keep updated though v bz. I noe e feeling of time is nv enough. Yurs truly oso have 3 kiddos. :lol: Tats Y can't afford e time to attend a full course (Yes, I actually wanted to find out more abt Montessori courses cos e more I read abt it, e more convince IM). Thus v excited abt tis montessori maths workshop. :dancing: :dancing:
It is also very heartening 2 c my DD2 progressing well fr our DIY home coaching (not certified montessori program but got some ideas fr yur sharing, hee....). It is no doubt tiring (a lot of DIY stuff to make) but most definitely rewarding. Lots of inspiration came fr u & Tamarind (i oso silently read her posts, hee....). She is not juz picking up things fast but enjoying e lessons too. Take e sandpaper letter for learning first sounds for eg, we try to tink of words which began fr tat letter & had lots of fun together. I will oso prepare some physical thgs for her to feel & touch & ask questions abt those things. She remembers it instantly. :rahrah:
My DS3 will b gg for surgery tis coming week so will b pretty tied up during his recovery period. Even though it's a minor surgery, I wan 2b there in case of complications (he's after all 18 mths old only )
After which, I will sign up 4d montessori maths workshop. Tink I prefer to teach my kiddos myself even though I may not be e best teacher
Pls continue to share wen u have e time. No pressure. U noe u have garnered quite a following in tis KSP forum rite? It's like waiting for yur fav bk 2b out on e shelves. :rotflmao:

[buds]

Just to touch on the Grammar bit. It is not true that centres in Singapore do not teach it, cos my teachers and i have. For starters, the centre operator must first purchase the grammar box & have it in their centre to allow directresses to continue to follow up from their phonics programme or else the directresses may have to make them on their own. This is subjective to individual centres and how they run their programmes and also for that matter of whether the directress does indeed exercise the training to the best of her ability to benefit the highest potentials of the students under her care. It is not really a matter of no time or because it is only taught in primary schools. Not really the main reasons... at least from how i've experienced it over the many years.


The usage of varying materials also does not mean the directresses are using totally different versions of the method of teaching but rather forms of concrete alternatives used to teach the children. Individual centre's budget also plays a part for sure. The golden beads being the most expensive and most concrete are ideal for the best sensorial experience but it does not go to say that the wooden ones are not as great, cos ultimately they depict the concrete intention of introducing place values as concretely as well. It is the concept we are presenting to the children. The materials used are secondary, hence the varying types available in the market & even the DIYs. It's fine really...

The method itself discourages rigidity.. so don't worry abt it.

[buds]

Maize:

Hey Buds


Thanks ... I will read thru it...

You're welcome Maize. No worries.
Btw, your nick sounds delicious...
steamed & lathered with butter. :drool:

Sorry, it's the super late supper growl
putting ideas in my head. Arrrgghhh!! :frustrated:

Welcome to the Montessori thread, Maize. :imanisland: