Did this get your attention? Demanding empathy certainly won’t create it. February is the month of love, sentiment, and friendship. Here at Montessori Beginnings, we emphasize friendship during the month through peer to peer work, literature and modeling behaviors essential to empathy and problem solving. We incorporate a “Peace Curriculum” as well to help children learn skills they will need as they grow toward adulthood.

Empathy is not innate. Children must be taught to feel a sense of compassion and caring for another. There are those with a natural interpersonal connection, but most little ones need some help. That’s where we all come in. It is so important to role play that concern or conflict resolution with another – to provide the environment for children to observe and imitate. Since young children’s brains are still in a primal state, they are more apt to act first – think later. Through observation, role playing, encouragement, literature and positive television viewing, children can obtain tools and skills essential for human interaction.

As owner and educator of the school for over six years, I have had the pleasure of interacting with many children. I have seen children from our toddler classrooms learn basic skills, take what they have observed and put it into practice once they are in the preschool classroom. It is heartening to see two or more children be able to settle a disagreement before it escalates. Often it is as simple as putting a hand up and saying “No,” or “No thank you”. If a child falls and cries, watching a peer go over, ask if they are ok, if they want help, pat the sad child’s arm or try to help them is a small victory.  Sometimes an adult might intervene or model positive behavior, but to see the child do it first is a joy to behold.

A joy? Yes. A joy because in this fast-paced, electronic world, physical interactions and tenderness can’t be mimicked by machine. To learn empathy and caring one must be shown it, then show it. The month of February seems a fitting time to remember and continue it throughout the year.

Peace, love and joy to all of you-

Kathy

Our Nature Explore Play space is alive and well into month four! If it were an animal, I would compare it to a chameleon.  The physical entity remains the same, but changes with the colors of the seasons.

In the fall when we had our grand opening, it was resplendent with leaves of bright red, orange, yellow and green from our maple and oak trees .Pumpkins, hay bales and corn stalks filled our Messy Materials Area while corn cobs, leaves and straw beckoned from our Nature Art Area. Children climbed and created, built and biked and saw the coming of winter.

Our first snow brought the shovels and buckets to clear paths and move snow from one spot to another. Teamwork abounded as children worked together to roll and construct large snow, earth, mulch balls. These were rolled until they could be rolled no more, thanks to their size and weight. That didn’t stop the children from trying though!  Those were fun photos to post on our Facebook page.

As the weather changes from cold to colder, the children navigate the play space through their senses and their mittens. Where cornstalks once stood, pieces of log now await strong muscles. Planks straddle the pine log barrier creating the perfect launch pad for mounds of sand. There is still fun to be had riding the track on a bike or scooter, stealing a quiet moment in the Zen Garden Area or rocking to the beat of instruments in our Music Area.

As the seasons change so will elements of our space. Plenty of opportunity to play, think and interact with nature and each other will still occur. With spring and summer a renewed interest in our Art and Water Areas will come bubbling to the surface. The play space will be reborn, ready for another year of seasons and another and another…

The pledge forms have been returned and donations sent in. Families and friends of Montessori Beginnings donated almost $6000.00 to our cause. I cannot begin to tell you how blessed we are to have so many caring people helping us bring our “Nature Explore” Play space to life!

“Nature Explore.”  We keep talking about it, but what does it mean? It is a movement toward creating dynamic, special, and individual outdoor classrooms to further a child’s love of play and learning. Through Arbor Day Foundation and Dimensions Educational Research Foundation, their www.natureexplore.org website provides information and examples of this exciting movement to take our playgrounds back to nature; To provide a place where a child can roam and explore, paint, build, create, get messy or just sit and “take it all in”… the opportunities are endless.

Did you know children learn best when they are active participants in the learning process? When they “play,” they are developing important skills that will serve them their entire lives. There is so much more to “play” than meets the eye, which you will soon discover in the following paragraphs . . .

Through art activities, a child learns how mind and hand work together to create, not to mention hand muscle and fine motor skill development. Art provides an outlet for tension and frustration. It also develops prewriting, math and science skills by brush, hand and color manipulation.

Through block play, a child build large muscle development and eye-hand coordination by carrying, sorting and stacking them. Math skills emerge by examining size, shape, balance and physics. Children work cooperatively with others and engage in conversation as they work. They also use their imagination as they classify, sort and build.

In the Messy Materials Area, children learn to problem solve and work with others. They experiment with measuring, volume and mass every time they fill a container with water or sand. The water table teaches about what sinks and floats or how many soap bubbles are needed to get something clean!

Through Music and Movement, a child can relax, release energy, develop vocabulary and build their memory. A child can experience a sense of wonder or appreciation of another culture.  It’s also an important way to learn about the body and how it works.

Dramatic Play allows a child to use and develop imagination and problem solving skills that will serve them throughout their life.  This is a particularly good way for children to express feelings and fears in a safe and comfortable way. Children develop storytelling and language skills too.

In the safe confines of an interactive play space, the problem solvers and adults of tomorrow are grown.

I want to thank you again for your donations, time, and your child. Thank you for allowing us to provide these amazing opportunities for them!

So often in the hubbub of our daily lives, opportunities are lost to express one’s gratitude; many have taken to the internet to connect and reconnect with others. The advent of social media has helped in “reaching the masses,” as long as the people you intend to reach read the posts, but not everyone is on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook and there lies the dilemma of reaching everyone you want.  While I appreciate being able to virtually connect with my friends and family, I prefer the personal touch of in-person conversation, where you can convey true feelings and connect in a moment so often lost in this social media age.

There have been many changes to Montessori Beginnings since I took ownership of the school six years ago.  As the world changes with how it connects, we have tried to keep up…updating the website, revamping the newsletter, and joining social media sites.  Throughout these changes, the families and friends of Montessori Beginnings have been there; because of these changes, much has been asked of our families. Our Montessori Beginnings families and friends have stepped up in ways I never would have imagined to make our school what it is today.  I am often humbled and touched by the generosity of our families and the community, because as a small school, we rely so much on benefactors and have always been rewarded.  I am so grateful for all that has been done and excited to see what our families will do to take Montessori Beginnings to the next level.  

Every family that chooses our school has made a commitment to their child or children.  Each day that the faculty and I walk through the doors, gives us the opportunity to express our gratitude for the faith placed in us.  It is a joy to be with the children every day (even when they are “overenthusiastic”), and while we are busy providing an environment for them to grow and learn, they do the same for us.  We hope that we are mindful enough to savor these moments.

So thank you to the parents, grandparent, aunts, uncles, faculty and countless benefactors who have been and continue to be an integral part of our life here at Montessori Beginnings.  Words are not enough to express the depth of my gratitude—thank you for your time, feedback, donations and support.  I look forward to opportunities to express this gratitude in the future as we continue on this journey together.

Peace-

Kathy

YODA, Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back

No truer words have been given to a puppet. It never ceases to amaze me that while time is constant, the future feels as though it comes at warp speed. I realize it has been too long since my last post and will rectify that in the not so distant future!

Wanted to share a  review of the book, Nurture Shock, a recent read from Justine, one of our preschool program teachers. She is an avid reader, lover of Montessori, and has volunteered to submit reviews from time to time. This book talks to the issue of praise among children.  Maria Montessori believed in fostering the internal or intrinsic need to accomplish a task; children have Sensitive Periods for learning that far exceed the desire for reward and praise, and those things come from the outside world (us). Rewards and punishments are definitely not the 'norm' in a Montessori classroom. 

The issue of praise is well discussed/disputed. One of the things I hope to do with this blog is to provide varied information which might get you thinking and talking too, so feel free to share your comments.  Enjoy the below review (I know I did), and if you have some extra time,  Check out the following link--some Montessori food for thought...
http://livingmontessorinow.com/2011/06/27/a-montessori-approach-to-praise/ 

I hope you find the contributions timely and helpful now and in the future. Peace. 

The Dangers of Excessive and Ambiguous Praise

Nurture Shock by Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman

Reviewed by: Justine N. – Teacher at Montessori Beginnings

Nurture Shock is a phenomenal book that changes our thinking about children.  Authors Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman have looked at hundreds of studies on children.  The research covers different aspects of child development in an easy to understand format.  Parents themselves report being shocked by their discoveries.  Both authors report changing how they parented after they completed the research for this book.

It opens with an examination of the dangers of frivolous, excessive, and generic praise.  It looks at research that originally seemed to support the praise early and often approach and actually found that when research was looked at more closely it was inaccurate.  They also discuss several recent studies that have shown when children are over praised and praised in general terms it can actually have a negative effect on their willingness to try new things they may not be good at right away. 

They also look at the problems that can be created by one less hour of sleep every night such as teenage rebellion, children lying, siblings, how to encourage talking in your young toddler, teaching your child self control, and the importance of discussing race with children as young as preschool. 

This book is a must read for parents, teachers and anyone else who works with children.  It is well written, in an organized format for the layman.  One does not need a background in child development to understand what they are saying.  I would recommend this book to all parents.  Not only can the research revealed in this book benefit your children but it can also help to make your job as a parent a little less stressful.

...I’m Kathy Raymond—head of school by day,  Discovery TV fanatic by night…teacher, mother, wife, sister, friend, gardener, lover of music,  the occasional Double-Stuf Oreo eater and oh, I will be your humble blogger for the duration of this blog:)  Welcome to my corner!  

There are many exciting things in our future…  The school is truly living up to its name:  “Beginnings”.  As of this week, we have a new blog, website, fund raising site and set of goals.  

Our website is a wonderful tool and resource for current and prospective families.  We are proud to display both current and past MBS students in all of our site pictures, in addition to great info and links about our wonderful little school community.  We've even added (hold your breaths and wait for the drum roll) pdf's of all relevant documents for both current and future MBS families.

Our blog will hopefully educate and entertain those who read it—sharing musings, observations, ideas and more. But it’s not all one sided… Montessori Beginnings “begins” (see what I did there?) with you, so I encourage your feedback as well.  Just click on the comment icon below and share:)  

Our fund raising site, through “GoFundMe.com” provides unlimited potential to help raise needed funds geared for our (soon to be) Nature Explore certified classroom and playground.  What an ideal opportunity to invest in education and community, don’t you think?  Feel free to check out the Nature Explore website at www.natureexplore.org and browse all the information and research illustrating how essential it is for children to connect with nature. This is a perfect partnership to have since the Montessori philosophy also extols the virtue of respecting and connecting with nature and the universe:).

Well, there you have it folks, my very first blog entry.  Thanks for stopping by my corner and having a read.  I will be posting relevant MBS news and happenings a few times a month, so come back and visit every now and again.  We even have “the corner” synced up with our Facebook page (fancy right?) for maximum viewing enjoyment.  But before I sign off, I leave you with Dr. Montessori’s own words from her book, The Secret of Childhood.

“Movement, or physical activity, is thus an essential factor in intellectual growth, which depends upon the impressions received from outside. Through movement we come in contact with external reality, and it is through these contacts that we eventually acquire even abstract ideas.”

Peace,​

Kathy