“And that is how change happens. One gesture. One person. One moment at a time.” 
― Libba Bray, The Sweet Far Thing

Another school year is behind us and we look forward to the upcoming one. That said, the previous year has been one of change and next is set to follow the same path as we celebrate our tenth year. We have welcomed change and experienced it one gesture, one person, one moment at a time to be sure. We would not have the Nature Explore play space, classroom space or tidy school were it not for the efforts of devoted families and faculty. These tasks were monumental in planning, preparation and completion but so worth the time and effort. Thank you.

So with the end of the year came saying good bye to families that had been with us since their children were infants. While it was sad to say farewell, it was truly a gift to watch babbling babies grow to precocious, precious pre-primary students! The enormity of all they have accomplished in their short time on earth is amazing and we have been blessed to be a part of the journey. Thank you to our families for sharing your most precious gift with us!

Now we look forward to summer and all the excitement that comes with it! Each classroom will explore many exciting concepts this July and August. They will enjoy art, science, building, exploring, imagining, playing, water fun, getting messy, visits from Green Briar Nature Center and the Mass. Audubon Society, all while investigating and learning about the world around them.

When you are young, it doesn't get much better than this. Who am I kidding? Who says you have to be young!?

We are in the eighth month of our Nature Explore Outdoor Classroom. It has been interesting to see it evolve over these past months. When we opened in October of 2013, the leaves were on the trees and all the plants looked lush and green. As fall progressed there was abscission - where the leaves fall from the oaks, as did acorns. The older children loved gathering these for "food" in their playhouse. I was happy that gathering them kept the younger children from possible choking hazards. The leaves provided giant piles to jump in while the damp, musty smell brought the children back for more. Corn stalks and pumpkins filled our messy materials area as the children built lean-to's with the stalks and bowled with the smallest pumpkins. 

Winter's grip left the play space a bit bare. This was the time to be thankful for all the evergreens in the yard.  The bountiful boughs of greenery and pine cones able to be used in the Nature Art table and Messy Materials area was welcome relief from stark surroundings. Every snowfall brought ample opportunity to build bigger snowmen, snowballs and chop ice. Snow storm after snowstorm blanketed the ground in white so it was nice to finally start to see the green and brown ground as we experienced a spring thaw.

Spring has been a welcome addition to the Outdoor Classroom! Watching buds come from the branches, daffodil and crocus bulbs emerge, inch worms invade and many birds revisit our feeders, has brought a renewed energy and vibe to the space. What a wonderful task faculty and families undertook just a year ago to make this space come to life. It has been interesting and wonderful to watch the evolution and transformation of this beautiful space. Can't wait to see what fun summer brings...  

I’ll admit I am partial to the Montessori philosophy. When I conduct tours of the school, it is interesting to me the misinformation out there. No, Montessori is not a cult (the strangest question I have fielded), nor do we keep children from playing or socializing.  Nor is it a “free for all,” where children just run about with no direction.

Montessori is just the opposite! It is a child centered, enriching environment set to the child’s level. It allows them the freedom to explore their classroom and learn at their own pace, building upon an intrinsic motivation to learn and develop. When was the last time you had to tell an eight month old child, “ok, babble – time to babble”? My point is children are born with a developmental timeline-an inner drive that can be stifled by our good intentions as parents and caregivers. If a child is taught to receive or have to seek external praise all the time, how will she learn to believe in herself and the work she does?

There are many developmental and educational philosophies in the world. I have been fortunate to learn about Maria Montessori’s revolutionary work in child and brain development. When she made her observations one hundred years ago she did not have the benefit of machines to test her theories but the testing today supports the work she did so long ago. As Dr. Stephen Hughes, President of the American Academy of Pediatric Neuropsychology remarks about Montessori:

“If we decided that the purpose of education should be to help every child’s brain reach its highest developmental potential, we would have to radically rethink school. The task seems insurmountable, yet this work has already been done. In fact, it was done over a hundred years ago. When examined through the lens of environmental enrichment and brain development, Montessori education presents a radically different-and radically effective-educational approach that may be the best method we’ve got to ensure the optimal cognitive, social, and emotional development of every child.” 

This is a week set aside to educate the world about this wonderful philosophy. I hope you will find out a little more about this amazing woman who launched a revolution so long ago that is still going strong; thank you Dr. Maria Montessori!

Until next time-

Kathy Raymond

P.S.  If you want to see some interesting videos on the amazing brain and education, check out Dr. Hughes’ wesite at www.buildingbetterbrains.com

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.