Montessori Happenings

Welcome to the Montessori School of Flagstaff School Blog. To filter by campus, use the links on the sidebar (desktop) or below (mobile). Want to check out a campus? Contact us to schedule a school tour.

What Children Learn in Kindergarten

Details: Published: Friday, 01 July 2022 18:35

In Montessori education, the culmination of early childhood learning is the kindergarten stage, and later, a successful transition into the elementary program. Dr. Maria Montessori designed the primary program this way, creating a three-year process where children ages three to six stay with the same teacher in the same classroom. The third year, the kindergarten year, becomes a vital period when all of the past year's experiences reach fruition, and a student's deeper learning begins to come together.

So, what can students expect to learn when entering a Montessori school at the kindergarten age? When they reach this stage, the expectations and privileges in the classroom increase, and kindergarteners are encouraged to take on more complicated work. As with the Montessori curricula, the kindergarten stage is designed to develop the social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development of the child.

Five Elementary School Activities That Build Self-Confidence

Details: Published: Monday, 20 June 2022 18:35

In the years leading up to elementary school, children are growing rapidly, physically, mentally, and emotionally. They are learning new things by interacting with the world around them and developing a sense of who they are and where they fit into it all. When children reach elementary school, many big changes take place, changes that can either help or hurt the image of self the child had been crafting.

How will they acclimate to their new surroundings? How will they do in their studies? How well will they get along with their peers? These are just a few of the concerns parents have as they watch their children transition into elementary schooling in the Montessori environment. Parents, guardians, and other adult role models can help to boost confidence in elementary-age children by supporting feelings of competence, independence, and value.

The following self-confidence activities present an engaging way to build confidence and self-esteem in elementary school children. By incorporating these activities that teach social skills, problem-solving skills, and assurance, you can help your child prepare to navigate the new issues elementary school brings.

A Montessori Teacher's Role in the Classroom

Details: Published: Thursday, 02 June 2022 18:00

When you imagine the role of a teacher, what comes to mind? Perhaps you think of lesson planning, classroom management, instructing intricate math lessons, and scoring vocabulary quizzes. The role of a Montessori teacher is unlike the traditional ideas we have of instructors and is more like a gentle guide.

Dr. Maria Montessori said the greatest indication of a successful teacher is their ability to say, "The children are now working as if I did not exist." In a Montessori program, teachers do not believe it is their job to lecture and deliver information to their students.

Instead, Montessori instructors guide children in the general direction of growth and provide them with the tools children need to find the knowledge themselves. An impactful Montessori teacher is a lifelong learner who seeks to instill their love for learning in their students.

So, what is the role of the Montessori teacher within the classroom, and how does this benefit your child on their learning journey?

Summer Activities to Keep Your Preschooler Engaged in Learning

Details: Published: Tuesday, 24 May 2022 18:00

Summertime is upon us, and this means the heat is here to stay, nature is in full bloom, the sun is out later and later, and your little ones are home with you during the day instead of in their classrooms. Undoubtedly, your preschooler has much more spare time in these summer months, and with that, you may be wondering how you can keep them engaged, entertained, and growing over their summer break.

These long days and warm nights create the perfect environment for your preschooler to learn and explore, as they do in their Montessori classroom. Here are some fun activities to keep your preschooler immersed in their Montessori learning over the summer.

How Does Montessori Build Great Leaders?

Details: Published: Tuesday, 10 May 2022 18:00

Think of someone in a leadership role that inspires and impresses you. Maybe a benevolent president, a motivating activist, or an inventive entrepreneur came to mind. While some are born leaders, like Martin Luther King Jr. or Stephen Hawking, it is not a talent you must possess from birth. Leadership is a skill that can be taught and developed.

Growing leaders is a primary focus of the Montessori method. The aim of producing individuals who can lead confidently and justly is not about creating the next famous inventor or a business owner. The true goal is to help you as a parent to raise people who demonstrate characteristics that bring a positive influence into their world.

In Montessori schools, for classes of all ages, leadership skills are a built-in part of complex lessons that assist in cultivating leadership qualities in students. Some well-known Montessori alumni include Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin, NBA Champion Stephen Curry, and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.

While there are many definitions of what makes for a great leader, the Montessori method nurtures numerous leadership qualities that work toward the ultimate goal of the Montessori philosophy, educating the whole child.

Here are a handful of aspects of the Montessori method that inspires leadership qualities within our students:

What is a Prepared Preschool Environment?

Details: Published: Friday, 06 May 2022 18:00

Dr. Maria Montessori studied the extraordinary way young learners acquire knowledge and the notions of their evolving minds. Montessori, realizing the shapeable nature of children's minds, suggested that instructors prepare a tailored environment. Then, placing the child within it, she found it gave them the freedom to live in it, absorbing what they discover there. These well-maintained classrooms, or the prepared environments, became a staple in the Montessori method.

The vision of the prepared environment has an elevated focus on order, directly relating to the remarkable way in which young children inherently understand and retain knowledge. The impact of the prepared environment in the Montessori preschool classroom allows young learners to build the base of a life-long love of learning and take pride in their findings. The ambition of the prepared environment is to render the growing child independent of their parents and other adults. It is a place where preschoolers can do things for themselves without direct help from adults. In doing so, the preschooler becomes conscious of their power.

So, what is a prepared environment exactly? A prepared environment is a classroom atmosphere that emphasizes:

7 Qualities to Look For In an Authentic Montessori School

Details: Published: Monday, 04 April 2022 18:00

When deciding where to send your child for preschool, it is necessary to choose a program that best fits your child as an individual learner. The best programs will see your child as an individual, nurture their interests, and encourage their unique growth.

The Montessori Philosophy encourages children to develop their observation skills through activities that use the five senses, kinetic movement, spatial refinement, small and gross motor skill coordination, and concrete knowledge that leads to later abstraction.

At The Young Children’s Community, we encourage Montessori education at an early stage in the child’s development. Our nurturing setting is perfect for establishing a foundation that unlocks your child's mind to the world around them.

The authenticity of the preschool program you are enrolling your child in is important, too. How can you know with certainty that the Montessori programs you are considering are implementing the Montessori Method? Read on to find out how to spot an authentic Montessori program that aligns with your child's growth and aspirations.

7 Ways to Reinforce the Montessori Method at Home

Details: Published: Friday, 25 March 2022 16:40

In regards to your child’s education, it is essential that the lessons absorbed in the classroom are continued outside of the school environment. Children are naturally eager for knowledge and want to discover and develop their interests and talents in a way that feels true for them. A Montessori school can provide your preschool student with the tools to access their highest learning potential, but it is important that these tools are used at home as well.

There are a number of simple ways to support the Montessori Method at home, keeping your student engaged in their learning and allowing you to join on that journey alongside them. Here are 7 ways you can reinforce the Montessori philosophy in your home.

Psychology Today: Montessori Children Often Turn Into Happy Adults

Details: Published: Monday, 10 January 2022 20:21

According to an article in Psychology Today, a recent study has found many long-term psychological benefits in adults linked to Montessori education as a child: "A new paper published in Frontiers in Psychology provides more evidence that a Montessori education may be superior to traditional methods of education, especially on measures relating to students’ long-term psychological health and well-being."

"...people who had spent at least two years in Montessori had higher well-being than people who never went to Montessori... We also found that the longer one had attended a Montessori school, the higher their level of well-being.”

Read the entire Psychology Today article here.

While we have always prided ourselves on serving the whole child, intellectually, physically, emotionally, and socially here at MSF; we know that supporting social-emotional development is especially important during these unpredictable times.

Robotics Club Success!

Details: Published: Monday, 10 January 2022 19:58

Montessorians

Congratulations to the students and staff who have put hard work and dedication into our Robotics Club this year. In December, both teams, The Gear Guards and The Montessorians, competed in the Flagstaff FIRST LEGO League qualifier regional competition.