Importance of Extra-curricular activities - SV Montessori School

Friday, November 21, 2014

Children who are involved in sports get higher school grades, have an increased sense of self-worth, and are more likely to complete high school than children who are not involved in sport. Apart from this, the increased physical activity makes children healthier and fit. The participative kids have stronger social networks than children who do not participate in sport. Calaveras Montessori has always encouraged these activities but parents too need to make kids understand its importance by encouraging them for the same.
The list of benefits that extracurricular activities bring is unending but it is equally essential to see how children could be most effectively in these activities.
Here are a few tips to consider:

Extra-curricular tip # 1: Be a role model

Parents are the primary and closest source of inspiration for children. If children see them enthusiastically practice an instrument or indulged in some activity, they will surely follow.  So, lead them through example.

Extra-curricular tip # 2:Create a supportive environment

On free days or weekends take out the sports related items from the store and make the most of then by indulging kids. Even musical instruments like a piano, keyboard, guitar, violin etc will add to their learning and once interest is developed they are likely to take it forward. This will also help keep children away from other unnecessary distractions.

Extra-curricular tip # 3: Encourage your child

Encourage kids to participate in the events as well as other activities at school. Look for opportunities for your child to extend herself. See if s/he would like to be involved in the after-school dance class or choir.

Extra-curricular tip # 4: Social Support

Let children be part of a team that seems to increase motivation. This also helps them to learn socializing with more kids while enjoying and learning. So, if the friends of child are participating in a particular activity then motivation is required from parent’s end to encourage joint participation. This motivates the kids to always stay involved in creative stuff.

Extra-curricular tip # 5: Be involved yourself!

W3hen you yourself are involved in the activities, then kids are ought to take interest. So, positive attitude regarding the activity is a must on part of parents. We get the chance to provide encouragement and feedback, pass on our feelings about the value of the activity, and teach important skills. Participate with the kids wherever you get a chance as this give kids more motivation to continue the activity even when parents are not involved.

Calaveras Montessori offer a wide variety of extracurricular activities from outside programs to help kids learn while enjoying.

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Montessorian – a mother’s Journey for finding the right school (Montessori)

Monday, October 27, 2014

It’s my personal experience that I would like to share it with everyone. When I was pregnant with my son, Ethan, I had many dreams for him. Every day he grew in my belly was another moment spent day dreaming of who he will become. I was excited to show him the ropes and get him through the bumpy roads of life, but little did I know, he was going to take wheel and I was merely a guide, the GPS.

Most of the dreams I had for him were pretty typical, lift head by 3 months, crawl by 5 months, walk by 11 months, and talk by 12 months. He didn’t even pop out yet and I had his first year entirely planned out, all thanks to my piles of baby books and years of child hood education and experience under my belt. It wasn’t long before I started fantasizing about what school he will go to, what sports he will join, what college he will attend, the list goes on and on.
The big day came and my son was born. There he was, full of life, curiosity, and joy.And here I was a nervous wreck! One of the things I did to help calm myself was imagine all the goals I had planned for him, and think about how I work towards that.
Few months had passed, and now my son is 5 months old. He was strong enough to lift his head, but didn’t show signs of crawling anytime soon. I freaked out. “How come he isn’t crawling? I gotto do something about it”

Through my research no longer as a student, or therapist, but now as a mom, I stumbled upon the Montessori Method. The more I learned about Montessori, the more intrigued I grew. I am not exactly sure what caught me, whether it wasthe deep respect teachers had for the children, or that the children were able to manipulate the materials and learn through their own experiences, or that the teachers followed each child as unique individuals! I saw my little Ethan in a different light. Instead of looking at him as a future Ivy League scholar, I saw him as a child full of wonder and mystery. I shifted my feelings away from who he was supposed to be based on my preconceived notions and accepted he will be who he is meant to be.

After having started my position as a teacher in the infant Community then Director in a Montessori School, I saw ALL children differently. Suddenly the parents who came to me with suggestions of “my child must read by 3 years old” seemed silly. But really, that was me not long ago. Asking Ethan, or any children, to conform to my ideals is like “Judging a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”-Albert Einstein.
When making the big decision of deciding Montessori or conventional schooling—it was natural for me to choose Montessori because “Montessori is an education for independence, preparing not just for school, but for life” –Maria Montessori. That was what I wanted for Ethan, to learn without fear of reprimand and freedom to explore individual interests while building up confidence. He is now a toddler; with much to say, do, and share. I let him take the wheel, and guided him to the destination of his journey.

About Milinh Villanueva

I have been working with children since 2003, with ages ranging from 6 weeks through Kindergarten, and developmental abilities ranging from typically developing to special needs. I have a bachelor’s degree from San Jose State University reflecting special and childhood education. My Montessori certification is nearly completed with all coursework and I am eager to start practicum. Not only as a Director, but also as a mother of a child who attends Montessori school, I believe in the Montessori philosophy wholeheartedly. For me, the Montessori Method is more than just an approach to learning academics; it is the way to developing the child as a whole taking into account their physical, emotional, and social growth.

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Behavior Would you like to hold my pocket?

“Would you like to hold my pocket?”
This is a technique we use in our schools that is very effective. As a parent or visitor of the school, you might see one or more children walking around with a teacher with their hand in the pocket of the teacher. Both teacher and child can be successful with this method of discipline in the classroom or playground. It in no way harms the child nor humiliates them in any way. The child is right there with the teacher who can continue to work with other children, therefore, the misbehaving child is also not monopolizing the time of the teacher as well. Many times, a child will only have to hold the pocket of the teacher once. The next time she gives him a choice to either correct behavior or hold the pocket, they generally correct the behavior.
Here is how we use “holding my pocket”
When a child has made a poor choice: Give the child the opportunity to correct is the most important thing. Below conversation between Johnny and his teacher
Teacher: “Johnny, please sit properly in circle”
Johnny does not listen
Teacher:”Johnny, please sit properly in circle or you may hold my pocket”
Johnny either corrects behavior or not. If he does not immediately
Teacher: “I see you have chosen to hold my pocket”
Have Johnny stand up and hold your pocket. Only do this for one minute or less. If he refuses to hold your pocket, gently hold his hand, be sure to be at his level, so if he drops to the floor, you are not pulling on him. You might say Johnny, you are going to hurt yourself, please be careful” Wait until he is ready to hold your pocket. If this becomes a battle of the wills, wait it out. Eventually if you are consistent, he will hold your pocket. Tell Johnny, “hold my pocket for the count of 5″ Then show him on your fingers what that means. Once he on his own holds your pocket, count to 5. Then ask him if he is ready to return to the group. (If this is distracting to the group, quietly move away from the group of children.)
The next time Johnny challenges one of the ground rules of the group, you can quietly ask him “Would you like to hold my pocket”? He likely will correct his behavior on his own.
Consistency is the key with this method of discipline; the key is positive reinforcement of the correct behavior
Allows child total control of himself
Does not humiliate or degrade in any way (if your words remain positive) not just used as a threat or empty threat.
Child can choose to correct behavior quickly; some children just need a visual reminder (point to your pocket, make eye contact)
Child maintains contact with adult – this is positive
Adult does not forget about child, and with the child walking around with adult using the pocket, the adult has free hands
If the child drops to the floor, adult is not pulling on child
Pocket Rules
Only one or two fingers go in pocket
Hand does not go all the way into pocket
Child is not to pull on adult’s clothing
If adult does not have a pocket, find a waistband or something to hold on to. Reinforce rules about not pulling on clothing.
An adult can have up to 4 children on “pocket”. If there are more than 4 children at a time on pocket, it might be a good idea to review program and other activities going on in the classroom or outside.​
–Colleen Noll

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25 Reasons to Keep Your Child in Montessori through the Kindergarten Year

Friday, September 26, 2014

Every year thousands of Montessori parents whose children are about to move up to kindergarten face a common dilemma. Do they allow their child to remain in a Montessori environment or do they transfer their children to a more traditional kindergarten program. Although there are plenty of issues that factor into this important decision, most Montessori administrators, educators, and parents will agree that perhaps the most compelling factor for most parents has to do with basic economics. Simply put, their child can attend a local public school kindergarten program free.  Although each family must make this decision on their own, we offer a number of thoughts which should be considered before transferring a child in the kindergarten year.

1.) Does your child love school and can’t wait to go every day? If so, consider yourself lucky. Why tinker with a winning school situation when so many families are frustrated and disappointed?

2.) Your child has waited for two years to be one of the five year old leaders of her class. The kindergartners are looked up to as role models for the younger students, and most children eagerly await their opportunity to play this role.

3.) The third year, the kindergarten year, is the time when many of the earlier lessons come together and become permanent part of the young child’s understanding. An excellent example is the early introduction to addition with large numbers through the Bank Game.  When children leave Montessori at age five, many of the still forming concepts evaporate, just as a child living overseas will learn to speak two languages, but may quickly lose the second language if his family moves back home.

4.) As a five year old, your child has many opportunities to teach the younger children lessons that he learned when he was their age. Research proves that this experience has powerful benefits for both tutor and tutoree.

5.) As five year olds, Montessori children normally go on to still more fascinating lessons and more advanced Montessori materials, such as the Stamp game.

6.) The Primary Montessori curriculum is much more sophisticated than that found in most kindergartens.

7.) Having spent two years together, your child’s teachers know her very, very well. They know her strengths and areas that are presenting challenges.

8.) Your child already knows most of her classmates. She has grown up in a safe, supportive classroom setting. 9.) If your child goes on to another school, he will spend the first half of the year just getting used to the new educational approach.

10.) Montessori math is based on the European tradition of unified mathematics. Montessori introduces young children to basic geometry and other sophisticated concepts as early as kindergarten.

11.) In many Montessori schools, five year olds are beginning to read the Junior Great Books; kindergartners in other schools may be learning to recognize letters and numbers.

12.) Five year olds have a real sense of running their classroom community.

13.) In Montessori, your child can continue to progress at her own pace. In traditional kindergarten, she will have to wait while the other children begin to catch up.

14.) Even in kindergarten, Montessori children are studying cultural geography and beginning to grow into global citizens.

15.) In Montessori, five year olds work with intriguing learning materials, like the Trinomial Cube instead of coloring books and insipid basal readers.

16.) With the Land and Water Forms, he’ll learn about lakes, islands, isthmuses. Straits, capes, archipelagos, peninsulas, and other geological forms, rather than circles, squares, and rectangles.

17.) In art, she’ll learn about Picasso and Renoir, rather than learn her basic colors.

18.) In Montessori, your child has been treated with a deep respect as a unique individual.  The school has been equally concerned for his intellectual, social, and emotional development. Unfortunately, despite lip service to the contrary, this is often not the case in traditional classrooms.

19.) Montessori schools are warm and supportive communities of students, teachers, and parents. Children can’t easily slip through the cracks!

20.) Montessori consciously teaches children to be kind and peaceful.

21.) In Montessori schools, learning is not focused on rote drill and memorization. Our goal is to develop students who really understand their schoolwork.

22.) Montessori students learn through hands-on experience, investigation, and research. They become actively engaged in their studies, rather than passively waiting to be spoon-fed. 

23.  Montessori is consciously designed to recognize and address different learning styles, helping students learn to study most effectively.

24.) Montessori challenges and set high expectations for all students not only a special few.

25.) Montessori students develop self-discipline and an internal sense of purpose and motivation.

If you still have any doubt, spend a morning observing in your child’s class and compare it with a morning in a kindergarten class in the other school you are considering. Sit quietly and take mental notes.  The differences may be subtle, but most likely they will be significant. Then project your child into the future and ask yourself how the positive differences you observed in the Montessori classroom might help shape your child to become the teenager, and later the adult, you envisioned for your child’s future.

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