Entries by StAndrewsBoss1

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Montessori Moments: Each individual is valued

An education capable of saving humanity is no small undertaking: it involves the spiritual development of man, the enhancement of his value as an individual, and the preparation of young people to understand the times in which they live. —Maria, Montessori, Education and Peace Maria Montessori believed in peace. In a speech on the very […]

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Maths: Odd & Even numbers

Montessori’s Odd and Even maths activity (sometimes called Cards and Counters) introduces the abstract concept of odd and even numbers visually, making it easier for little minds to grasp. It is usually introduced after children have become familiar with number concepts taught in: 1)Number Rods, 2)Sandpaper Numbers, 3)Spindle Box and 4)Memory Game Montessori lessons. All […]

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Autumn-themed activities for Montessori families

The golds, reds and browns of autumn signal the transition from summer to winter. The days slowly get darker and the weather a little cooler. September (in particular) is an incredible month; still warm, not too wet (yet) plus it’s conker season! Here are some fun family activities that we enjoy doing at St Andrew’s […]

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Practical Life: Food Preparation

Working in the kitchen is a wonderful way to include children in everyday family activities; not only will children learn practical life skills but they will be engaged on a sensory level, too. If this is something you’d like to do more of at home, the first step is to prepare an environment for your […]

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Practical Life: Transferring objects

There are many fun activities that children can do to develop their fine motor skills but one of the favourites in the Montessori classroom is transferring objects. This is something that keeps little ones occupied for ages and can certainly be easily done at home. There are three activities that we’d like to demonstrate; here’s […]

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Chores for small children

What we think of as “chores” Maria Montessori thought of as daily life or practical life skills. The benefits of children helping out around the house has been well researched and documented; it teaches responsibility, independence and importantly, represents a model of team work and cooperation, as family members work together. Children love to help. […]

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Ten tips on how to manage coronavirus fears in the early years

Life during the Covid-19 pandemic has been strange and difficult but the return to school for many children in the early years group is, hopefully, a welcome step. Little ones will be able to reconnect with their friends and teachers, and although precautionary measures mean that school might seem slightly odd, the familiarity of friendly […]

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Practical Life: Water Pouring

In a Montessori classroom, the water pouring activity is the first follow-on from the Dry Pouring lesson where children learn the skill transferring dry goods from one jug to another. To practice water pouring at home, you will need: two jugs, a tray (that a child would be able to carry from a shelf to […]

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Toddler self-hygiene – washing hands

Maria Montessori was a trained physician and sought to teach children at an early age how to incorporate the practical life skill of personal hygiene into their daily lives. As well as nurturing an understanding that being hygienically safe and healthy is important for their well-being, we want children to be independent in all of […]

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Practical Life: Tying Frame

Learning to tie a shoelace is one of the most exciting milestones for a child (and a parent, too!) but it takes time to learn, requiring much practice before perfection. In Montessori classrooms, we use a bow-tying frame, which involves the replication of a lot of precise steps but, as a tool, has shown itself […]

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How to include screen time in a Montessori lifestyle

The more time our children spend with screens, the less time they spend interacting with others or in hands-on, creative play, which are both proven to be important for learning. Screens were invented in an era that came after Maria Montessori developed her learning methodology but what we do know is that Montessori-style learning encourages: […]

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Language: Matching

Matching pairs is a game that children love to play – there is likely a version in most of our homes and if not, it’s quite easy to create your own playing cards using postcards or stock images, as long as the paired images are identical. All you’ll need for this activity is a clear […]