After watching the videos last week, and learning more about the Montessori system, I realized that I think that it is a great system. I am a firm believer that children learn at different paces, and that they can only truly learn and understand a concept if it is something that interests, or is made to interest them. I liked how the Montessori system allows students to pick an activity that interests them, and then the teacher turns the "fun" activity into a learning opportunity.
In the text it talks about how the Montessori classroom has activities for "practical life experiences". The text also states, "As children develop the ability to take care of their own needs, they learn best from firsthand experience". I believe that at the Early Childhood grade level that this is extrememly important. In the four year old classroom that I observed, I loved watching the students in the housekeeping center. One parent came in and seemed upset/worried that her child played in the housekeeping center all the time, and wished that she would do something more constructive like work on her writing. I wished that I could have explained to her that one of the benefits of being part of a classroom where students can choose what they would like to do, is that they learn best because it is what they are interested in. Her child may have appeared to just be playing with dolls and playing dress up, but she was also practicing different roles, and socializing with her peers.
I believe that Montessori schools take into consideration, that as long as an activity is structured, planned appropriately, any activity can become a learning experience.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Heartprints
I love my field teacher. I feel as though I can not really explain why though. She is able to joke around with the kids, I feel as though she treats them as if they were all her own children, and that is a good thing.
Today she passed out conversation candy hearts and turned it into a lesson on "Heartprints". Heartprints are pretty much compliments. If a student ever says and insult or puts down another students they are required to give them 10 heartprints (compliments) because that is how many it takes to make them feel better. So back to the candy hearts. Mrs. K gave each student three candy hearts, and they talked about what the hearts said, and how to turn the two word phrases into a sentence that could be used to give someone a heartprint. After doing this for a while, the students wrote their sentences on hearts, and the activity was then turned into a math lesson on symmetry.
I was so impressed. She took a fun activity on being nice to others, and practicing complimenting their peers, and easily transitioned it into a math lesson.
I think that it was so cool the way she uses class time to teach them good manners and values, and they think they are just having fun.
This activity fits into our reading because it worked on their social and emotional development by helping to boost others self concept and self esteem. As each student told their peers a compliment, you could tell that they were so excited and proud that they were being told that they were a good friend, had beautiful handwriting, or that they were a great reader.
This heartprint lesson also helps the students to form a sense of community, for it forces the students to interact positively with their peers.
From the reading I learned that when toddlers want to play in a rough and tumble sort of way, it is actually considered a form of exercise. This sort of play does not serve to practice any sort of skills, but the text does mention that it helps them to read others body language and facial expressions. It is important, however, to monitor this sort of play so that the toddler does not get hurt.
Today she passed out conversation candy hearts and turned it into a lesson on "Heartprints". Heartprints are pretty much compliments. If a student ever says and insult or puts down another students they are required to give them 10 heartprints (compliments) because that is how many it takes to make them feel better. So back to the candy hearts. Mrs. K gave each student three candy hearts, and they talked about what the hearts said, and how to turn the two word phrases into a sentence that could be used to give someone a heartprint. After doing this for a while, the students wrote their sentences on hearts, and the activity was then turned into a math lesson on symmetry.
I was so impressed. She took a fun activity on being nice to others, and practicing complimenting their peers, and easily transitioned it into a math lesson.
I think that it was so cool the way she uses class time to teach them good manners and values, and they think they are just having fun.
This activity fits into our reading because it worked on their social and emotional development by helping to boost others self concept and self esteem. As each student told their peers a compliment, you could tell that they were so excited and proud that they were being told that they were a good friend, had beautiful handwriting, or that they were a great reader.
This heartprint lesson also helps the students to form a sense of community, for it forces the students to interact positively with their peers.
From the reading I learned that when toddlers want to play in a rough and tumble sort of way, it is actually considered a form of exercise. This sort of play does not serve to practice any sort of skills, but the text does mention that it helps them to read others body language and facial expressions. It is important, however, to monitor this sort of play so that the toddler does not get hurt.
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