This month across Sarah’s Montessori, we have been focusing on extending children’s knowledge, encouraging independence and supporting readiness for transitions into their next rooms when they are ready 🌿
👶 Peter Rabbit have been exploring independence through activities such as making their own playdough, helping to add ingredients and mix. This supports children in beginning to follow instructions and to understand that actions have results. They have also started exploring more advanced Montessori resources, such as touch boards, helping to develop vocabulary and sensory awareness.
🧺 Tom Kitten have been continuing to build independence through Practical Life activities such as scraping their own plates, arranging flowers, pouring and exploring more advanced Montessori materials ready for their eventual move to Jemima Puddle Duck. Flower arranging is a lovely part of the Montessori environment, helping children learn to care for and respect their classroom while bringing beauty and calm into the room 🌸
🌱 Jemima Puddle Duck children are really showing their Care of the Environment and Grace and Courtesy skills, often choosing to tidy independently after messy activities or scrape their plates after meals without prompting! The children have also been exploring Montessori extensions using familiar resources, such as combining the Knobbed Cylinders and working together to solve problems and rebuild them as a team.
✏️ In Squirrel Nutkin and Mr Jeremy Fisher, there has been lots of continued school readiness learning through short interactive circle times, practising listening and group participation. The children have also been exploring Sandpaper Letters and the Large Moveable Alphabet to support phonics knowledge, letter recognition and early reading and writing skills in a hands on Montessori way.
🌍 Of course, alongside these Montessori focuses each room also follows child-led interests and topics. In Montessori, learning is deeply connected to the real world, so these interests naturally intertwine with explorations of nature, animals, culture, seasons, practical life and care for the environment.