Written by Directress Cindy Genin Do any of you remember the game, Guess Who? It was one of my favorite games when I was younger. How about the game Headbands? This is a game that is fun for the whole family. In all of our classrooms, we have two very similar works on the shelves; the Mystery Bag and Guessing Game. The Sensorial […]
Author Archives: Diana Betts
Twenty Reasons to Keep Your Child at Westshore Montessori for Their Kindergarten Year
Courtesy of The Montessori Children’s Foundation, adapted from Cindy Thomas Kindergarten is not the start of schooling. By five, most Montessori children will begin to read, and many will be introduced to multiplication and division. The third (or Kindergarten) year is the time when many of the earlier lessons come together and become permanent parts […]
Montessori Kindergarten Makes Leaders Out of Young Learners
The human hand, so delicate and so complicated, not only allows the mind to reveal itself but it enables the whole being to enter into special relationships with its environment. –Maria Montessori I am often asked, “Why Montessori for the kindergarten year?” You may be familiar with my answer: You chose Westshore Montessori School for your […]
Montessori at Home: Nature as Teacher
by Toddler Directress Shun Shun Cui When I entered the Montessori classroom my first time, I was attracted by the natural materials. All the materials in the classroom are closely related to nature or our adult functional life, such as wooden plates, small stones from the river, and real glasses. Those natural materials provide children […]
Simple, Natural Materials for School and Play
by Directress Nancy Wu “Play is the work of the child.”“He does with his hands, by experience, first in play then through work. The hands are the instruments of man’s intelligence.” – Maria Montessori I remember once seeing a commercial on television showing a doctor’s prescription for a child that reads, “play.” I wholeheartedly agree with this […]
Montessori at Home: Freedom of Choice
by Directress Cindy Genin A typical misconception of a Montessori School is that, “it is one of those schools where the children are able to do whatever they want at any time.” People imagine chaos in a room where children are not regimented. A good rebuttal to this false idea comes from Dr. Montessori herself: One […]
Montessori At Home: Freedom of Movement
by Directress Jessica Hrytzik Humans often think of our bodies and minds as two separate mechanisms doing work all their own. The body does physical tasks that build strength and cardiovascular health. The brain does mental tasks that build intelligence. These statements are true in the scope of general abilities of the body and the brain, […]
Montessori at Home: Patience
“Miss Nancy, Miss Nancy…” As I give a lesson to a child, another child calls for help from the other side of the classroom. Or, a student keeps tapping my shoulder to get my attention when I am working with another child. The inquisitive child just can’t wait, they need the attention now! This is […]
Montessori At Home: Respect All Aspects of Your Child’s Life
by Sarah Riggle, Program Coordinator The following are tips for parents on how to integrate the Montessori philosophy into your home life. This can become a part of a growth and independence mindset, a way to holistically raise your child that is rooted in respect and care. Keep in mind that “care” does not mean […]
Montessori At Home: Communicating With Your Toddler
by Shunshun Cui, Toddler Directress I remember when my oldest son David was a hungry toddler. I asked him if he wanted a banana or an apple for his snack one day. He chose the apple. I gave him one, and he started to cry and yelled that he didn’t want it. I asked why, […]