Tag Archives: Montessori Morristown

Creating a Montessori Community

By Alex Chiu

Parents who choose Montessori for their children’s education hopefully find themselves embarking on an educational journey that goes beyond what their children learn within their classroom walls. An equally important aspect to Montessori education is creating a community among the children, parents, teachers, and administrators, and then extending this community to work together within their towns and cities. Just as the children learn the importance of caring for, respecting, and appreciating the people in their classrooms, Montessori schools try to extend this same sense of inclusion to their school parents and families and then branch out to work together with their neighborhood communities in a variety of positive and contributing ways.

At The Montessori Children’s Academy, we ring in the new school year with an informal Welcome Back Coffee where parents can meet one another and congregate at the school for a social gathering. It’s a great time for new parents to meet returning parents and glean some insights into what to expect in the coming days, weeks, and months. They might share helpful hints for smoother drop offs with their children or exchange phone numbers for playdates. It’s simply an opportunity to connect.

On a larger scale, MCA hosts an annual Harvest Family Fun Day at a park near the South Mountain Reservation. This celebration of the season includes a picnic, games, crafts, and other fun activities that all MCA families from across MCA’s three campuses can join in together. Not only does the Harvest Family Fun Day provide families with a fun way to spend a Saturday afternoon, it also allows children to see their teachers outside of the classroom and gives parents a chance to interact with teachers and other children and families in a relaxed environment without the demand of weekday schedules.

Additionally, MCA offers parents several Parent Education events throughout the school year. There is a book club for parents each year which focuses on one specially selected book with discussions led by MCA teachers who facilitate open dialogue and field questions from participants. The Parent Education Nights we host throughout the year each focus on different areas and materials of the Montessori classroom so that parents gain a better understanding of what is available to their children in the classroom, as well as learn the purpose of the lessons and the meaning behind the methods. The annual MCA Speaker Series is another evening event for parents, which features some of the most acclaimed professionals in their fields who come to share insights into a variety of educational and parenting topics. Past speakers have included Jonathan Wolff, Trevor Eissler, Carrie Donegan, Madelyn Swift, and Teresa LaSala, to name a few.

And another community-building endeavor is MCA’s annual outreach project. Each year, MCA selects a charity to support through classroom and community awareness about the charity, fundraising events, and meaningful connections with those involved in the organizations. In years past, we have focused our efforts to help Girls on the Run, Paws of War, St. Peter’s Orphanage, and Instituto Nueva Escuela. Last spring, MCA enjoyed a beautiful celebration of its ongoing work to make the world a better place in many ways both big and small, and we have found that our MCA families have come together so wholeheartedly to instill within our children the importance of helping others. Our MCA Lights the Way for a Lifetime of Caring event was truly a celebration of everyone’s combined efforts to not only support a variety of charitable organizations, but also to find joy in participating in such worthy efforts and making it a way of life.

Montessori education works best when we can build connections between school, home, and the greater community. This makes Montessori truly a way of life. And when children are able to move from home to school to the world at large where the values and expectations are aligned, the Montessori community and all of its members grow and flourish and work together even more beautifully.

Celebrating the International Day of Peace

By Alex Chiu

Once again, The Montessori Children’s Academy (MCA) will be joining with people worldwide to celebrate the International Day of Peace on September 21st. “Peace Day”, as it is sometimes referred to, began in 1981 when the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution to have “a day devoted to commemorating and strengthening the ideals of peace both within and among all nations and peoples”. In 2001, the organization officially chose September 21st as its fixed date for the celebration of Peace Day, and the tradition continues on today.

Each year, the UN chooses a theme for the celebration, and this year’s theme is “The Right to Peace”. In our homes, in our schools, in our communities, and in our world, we hope everyone aspires to peaceful living. However, we know that peace isn’t always or easily achieved. Still, peace is something that we can all work towards with effort, practice, and guidance. Learning how to be peaceful is central to what we hope to pass on to the children we serve at MCA not just on September 21st, but every day.

Montessori education, at its core, incorporates peace education across all areas of the curriculum. From the very beginning of her research and educational practice, Dr. Montessori sought ways to educate the ‘whole child’. Every aspect of Montessori’s work was geared toward helping children in order to help the world because she believed that children were the ‘promise of the future.’ Most of us would agree with that sentiment today, and thankfully, we have Dr. Montessori’s guidance and time honored traditions to know how we can work best with children to facilitate a more peaceful world. Montessori’s educational methods and the materials she so carefully constructed aimed at providing children with ways to develop important skills and to work through challenges. The Montessori philosophy incorporates the essential ingredients needed to foster not only discovery and learning, but also peace within the child, peace within the classroom community, and ultimately, peace in the world. From Montessori’s teachings and example, we know the importance of preparing an environment for children where they learn about order, self-discipline, grace and courtesy, respect, kindness, empathy, problem solving, character, and global awareness, in addition to their academic lessons. This type of learning, this way of addressing the ‘whole child’, certainly is a path to peace.

And so we celebrate both the International Day of Peace as well as the values of Montessori education this September 21st! As is tradition, everyone at all three MCA campuses will participate in singing “Light a Candle for Peace” at 9:30AM. Should you like to mark this special day in a very simple way, you might consider taking a moment of silence at 12:00 Noon to join in the efforts of the organization Pathways to Peace to create a “Peace Wave” along with millions of others around the world to honor and inspire the work we all are called upon to do in order to be peacemakers.

As Dr. Maria Montessori said “Times have changed, and science has made great progress, and so has our work; but our principles have only been confirmed, and along with them our conviction that mankind can hope for a solution to its problems, among which the most urgent are those of peace and unity, only by turning its attention and energies to the discovery of the child and to the development of the great potentialities of the human personality in the course of its formation” (The Discovery of the Child).

May we all work together to create a world where everyone everywhere is able to enjoy and exercise their ‘right to peace’. And may we all help our children learn how to carry on this important mission. Wishing you all a happy Peace Day!

For more information about the International Day of Peace and other peace initiatives, check out these websites:

http://www.un.org/en/events/peaceday/
www.singpeacearoundtheworld.com
http.://internationaldayofpeace.org
pathwaystopeace.org

A Matter of Trust

By Alex Chiu

Trust. This is a good word for the beginning of the school year. Parents who have chosen to send their children to a Montessori school have already shown that they have trust in the educational philosophy. Now, as September is upon us, it is time take a deep breath as we send our children off to school and to also trust our children, their teachers, and ourselves.

The start of a new school year is always filled with anticipation, and sometimes anxiety, by students, parents, and school personnel. Everyone is excited for new lunchboxes, new learning, and new growth. But many are equally nervous about a new beginning. For parents of new students, there may hesitation about being away from their children for what may be the first time, or concern about how their children will fare in a new classroom with new faces and new routines. Families with children returning to school also face uncertainties and may feel some apprehension about what the new school year will have in store.

But this is where trust comes in, and especially trust in Montessori. At The Montessori Children’s Academy, parents can trust that their children are in the care of well-trained, dedicated teachers who believe in the Montessori Method and adhere to the principles set forth by Dr. Montessori. The teachers fully appreciate that parents entrust children to their care during the school day. They model respect, patience, kindness, and curiosity, and they work diligently to individualize the learning that takes place in order to follow each child from where he or she is to wherever it is that he or she wishes to go. Of course, everyone in each classroom goes through the ‘normalization period’ where they learn how to work together as a classroom community. The groundwork for the year is laid as the classes talk about classroom guidelines, expectations, and goals. Separation issues may ensue for some, but again, parents are asked to trust that the teachers (and the other children) will work together to make every individual in the class feel safe, secure, and excited to be at school. Parents must trust that even if this takes some time, it happens, and if their help is needed, they will be invited to help in the process!

Montessori parents also can trust that their children will have the opportunity to learn and grow in a nurturing environment that has been specifically designed just for them! The carefully designed materials invite the children to explore how they work, and each material offers many levels of learning. Montessori classrooms are an oasis for children. Everything is just their size, and each item on each shelf is carefully and purposefully placed. The children learn a sense of order as they are shown how to take an item off of the shelf, how to use it, and how to return it so it is ready for the next friend who wants to use it. They learn responsibility and how to care for their environment which they share with their friends and teachers. They learn to take pride in the work they do and in the way in which they do their work. Parents can trust that the levels of learning are many. Additionally, they can trust that children in the Montessori classrooms learn not only important academics but also social skills, leadership skills, and higher-level thinking skills that they will carry on with them wherever they go.

Finally, parents need to take a moment, take a breath, and trust themselves. Especially for parents with first time students, trust that you are sending your child on a wonderful, joyful journey. As children begin their education, and move forward with each subsequent year, they have the whole world opened up to them. Parents can trust that they know their children best. They are their children’s first teachers and have already set a foundation on which their children will build their personalities, experiences, and education. Trust that you are sending your children into the world where they will learn, grow, contribute, share, develop, struggle (yes!), overcome, persevere, question, discover, and so much more. Trust that there is a wonderful school year ahead!

Farmers Markets and Montessori

By Alex Chiu

August is perhaps one of the most colorful months of the year, especially if you take some time to visit any number of local farmers markets in the area. Fruits and vegetables in rainbows of hues fill the baskets and tables, inviting a closer look at their beauty. Who knew there were not only red and yellow tomatoes, but orange, purple, and striped ones, as well?! Beets, red and golden, inspire something new for the upcoming week’s menu. Cauliflower, bright white, neon green, or even purple, might find its way into new family recipes. The variety of fruits and vegetables available at this time of year is such a welcome sight. Some are common and well known and loved—something to enjoy and savor again and again. Others are surprising and completely different, and they welcome us to give them a try, offering us a chance to find a new favorite to include at our tables at home.

As strange as it sounds, walking through a farmers market on a Saturday morning elicits images of a Montessori classroom. The markets are filled with colorful, carefully cultivated, and specifically chosen items, made available for us to explore, investigate, and learn from as we take our time moving from one stall to another. Our senses are awakened to the colors, flavors, and textures before us, and who can resist the beauty and opportunity within each market item? The markets are also a place for community. We meet the farmers, learn from them, and share our experiences. We might provide feedback about last week’s purchases, describe a new recipe we tried with some of the grower’s ingredients, or ask questions about additional benefits or usages for what they have brought to the market. We learn together. We see how we are different, how we are the same, and how we are connected in it all.

Similarly, Montessori classrooms invite students to do the same sort of exploration and discovery as they entice students with their carefully prepared materials specifically developed by Dr. Montessori to support child development. The materials are heirlooms of her teachings passed on to promote the growth of new generations. The Montessori materials, intentionally pleasing to the eye, draw the students’ attention and invite them to use them as they delight their senses and develop new skills. The Montessori classroom, like the farmers market, is also a community. Students and families come together to learn, share experiences, ask questions, and develop personally. Montessori students, teachers, and families also grow together as a community, acknowledging one another’s strengths and needs, and working together to promote growth in all.

So, as the summer continues on, consider taking in a farmers market or two with your child. Identify what’s familiar, and find out more about what’s new. Enjoy the fruits of the season, and make some discoveries about nature together. Before you know it, school will be starting up again. And when September arrives, even as the produce available at the farmers market changes and begins to dwindle, you can be assured that with the start of another school year, the fruits of Montessori education will continue to flourish and grow all year long.

Summertime Extensions for Exploring the Cultural Area

Montessori classrooms truly give students the world. The Cultural area of the classroom is filled with flags, globes, and maps which allow students to travel to places beyond their classroom walls. Montessori students learn about geography, land and water forms, and climate, not to mention the customs and cultures of people from around the world. Exposure to these cultural aspects opens the minds and imaginations of students. They discover the similarities and differences between their own country of origin and places worldwide. Through their cultural studies, they also gain an appreciation for things that are unfamiliar to them, and this appreciation of ‘other’ lends itself to developing understanding of and respect for all people, all cultures, and all places.

Summer is an excellent time to use the Montessori Cultural area as a springboard for continued learning. Because many of the students have already been presented with lessons in map making and simple research, parents can challenge their children to extend their cultural discoveries at home over the summer holiday. Even if your family is planning a ‘staycation’ this summer, you can all travel virtually through your participation in some of these Cultural extensions.

1. Discover your roots. If your ancestors came from other countries, summer might be a perfect time to find out more about your family’s history or about your family’s country (or countries) of origin. Public libraries generally have children’s books about places around the world, so check out a few related to your family’s own ethnic background.

2. Taste something new. As an extension, you might enjoy trying out a new recipe from one of these places. Involve your child in planning the dish, shopping for ingredients (and there are some ethnic markets that are like a trip to a foreign land in and of themselves!), and then together prepare and taste something new!

3. Map your neighborhood. Keep those cartography skills sharp and have your child create a map of your neighborhood or town. Challenge your child to identify the major landmarks (school, library, police station, favorite playground), and invite him or her to draw out the paths from home to each of these important places in your area.

4. Design a family flag. The children have learned that nations can be identified by their flags. They also know that each state in the US has its own flag. Why not design a special family flag? Think about things that are important to your family and include symbols representing those things on your family flag. Design it first on paper, and if you’re really ambitious, create an actual fabric flag to wave proudly at home!

5. Identify the land and water features you visit. Again, even if you don’t leave home, your child can look at maps of where you live and practice identifying what land and water forms are displayed on the map. Not only do we have the Atlantic Ocean along our NJ border, but the state is filled with rivers, lakes, and mountain ranges to identify.

6. Research a destination. If your family is planning a getaway to another city, state, or country, include your child in the planning, and research some of the history, geography, and culture of the place you will be going.

7. Keep a travel journal. Keeping a journal on a family trip is a wonderful way to have your child document the trip, and it is something that your child can then share with family and friends upon returning home. Drawings, notes, and collected items such as ticket stubs, photographs, or brochures can build a wonderful keepsake of your vacation.

Whatever your summertime plans, your child can continue to discover the world through a variety of activities, even from the comfort of your own home. Happy Exploring!