Montessori Newsletter
Volume 4
Published by Montessori Homeschool
In This Issue . . .
Introduction to Language Part Two
New Montessori and Homeschool News
Science Fun
Family Travel
 |
C. Ochsner |
“Introduction
to Language” an excerpt from
COSMIC EDUCATION
by Ursula Thrush Part Two
Practical Life:
Social behavior, grace and courtesy, and
the knowledge and muscular
coordination to deal with various situations daily, are the techniques
of living. It is a help
toward independence, but also toward being a better person to be
with, because a person
who is sure of himself has time to consider others.
There is an enormous gap between knowledge
and practice. . . . This gap is
self-confidence. Self-confidence is to be attained through experience,
and has to be
gotten into the unconscious by practice. In a Montessori [environment],
self-confidence
is built up through the exercises of practical life, and the constant
practice of grace and
courtesy; and its expression is encouraged during circle time, particularly
with the
various exercises, starting with circle time [or group time] as
the child learns to
participate and share his[her] thoughts, [show and tell, sing songs,
or do a puppet show].
(Self-expression.)
Sensorial Materials
Here the child is given language for concepts,
concepts which will bring order
into his mind and eventually allow him[her] to be very precise in
his[her]
expression. Remember again, to give the experience first and
then the name, and only
then go into gradation.
Vocabulary
The increase of vocabulary is divided into
two stages, the pre-reading and the
reading stages. In the pre-reading stage the young child’s vocabulary
is increased by
words which [s]he hears also in stories, poems, songs, and nursery
rhymes. These happen
at circle time.
Classified Cards
An enormous amount of words are accumulated
through the work done with the
classified picture cards. The classified cards just like the sensorial
materials give
clarity and order to the child’s mind, because after learning the
name of something [s]he
can classify it. The words thus accumulated find free oral expression
during the news
period, the question and answer period, and the I Spy game. These
games help the
child’s language development also in other ways.
The I Spy game makes the child aware of sounds.
The question game makes the
child aware of logical thinking. Now, when this indirect preparation
has been done, we
come to the symbol of the sounds (letters and their phonetic sounds),
the sandpaper
letters, and then the moveable alphabet. this moves the child o
the second stage of
vocabulary development, namely the reading stage.
Once the child has exploded into writing
[usually at 4 or 41/2], having gone
through the proper foundation of indirect preparation, the reading
stage is reached easily
and joyfully.
Ursula Thrush was the directress (and founder) of The Montessori School of the Golden Gate and Montessori Teacher Training Center in San Francisco, as well as the chair of the Peace Education Task Force of the Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education. She has developed Peace 101 for classroom education. Her writings have been widely published in Montessori publications.
Browse the Reading
and Phonics Room!
Science exercises are extremely important in a Montessori environment. They are the earliest introduction of the child to the concrete experience of the process of physics. However, we are not teaching physics in the earliest stages (3-6), we are only sowing the seeds of interest: seeds of awe and wonderment at the phenomena of nature.
Science experiments are the very essential and integral part of the fundamental need of Maria Montessori's "cosmic education." They have a two-fold purpose: to arose the child’s interest and to give her the sensorial tools with which to classify her experiences. Introduce them to the child and them stand back, observe, and let her draw her own conclusions.
Here are some science books we think you might be interested in!
The
Science Explorer Out and About : Fantastic Science Experiments Your Family
Can Do Anywhere! (Science Explorer Bk 2) by Pat Murphy,
Ellen Klages, Linda Shore, Jason Gorski (Illustrator)
Zap
Science : A Scientific Playground in a Book by John Cassidy, Paul Doherty,
Pat Murphy
100
Best Family Resorts in North America : 100 Quality Resorts With Leisure
Activities for Children and Adults (4th Ed), by Janet Tice, Jane Wilford,
Becky Danley
Travelmates
: Fun Games Kids Can Play in the Car or on the Go-No Materials Needed
by Story Evans, Lise O'Haire
NEW MONTESSORI & HOMESCHOOL NEWS
AOL new MONTESSORI MESSAGE BOARD: America On Line just added a new Montessori section to their Electronic School House Forum. . . . "but due to the Elect. School House regulations, we are unable to accept posts with advertising. Advertising free materials is OK but anything with a cost attached will not be posted. . . . If you are an AOL member, you should be able to get to it by going up to "Go To", scroll down to "Keyword" and type in Montessori. Then hit return. If this doesn't work for you, let me know. Hope to see you there." Pat: ESHPat@aol.com
INTERNATIONAL
MONTESSORI SOCIETY, Your membership includes:
4 quarterly issues of the Montessori Observer,
providing you with news and information about the current development of
Montessori education; and an in-depth study of special topics to improve
your own practical skills in Montessori teaching. Two issues of the Montessori
News, the Society's eight-page newspaper containing information of many
Montessori programs, services and resources. Discounts on all Montessori
publications, materials and conference registration. Society program information
about such learning opportunities as teacher education through correspondence,
consultation and conferences.
Locate news and information
about the International Montessori Society on the internet at: http://www.wdn.com/trust/ims
or Contact the Society by e-mail to: havis@.erols.com
INTERNATIONAL MONTESSORI SOCIETY
912 THAYER AVE. #207
SILVER SPRING, MARYLAND 20910
TEL. (301) 589-1127
HOMESCHOOL CENTER: "A new chat
room for homeschoolers. This is a great way to make new contacts
in the WWW homeschool community. "
http://www.homeschoolcenter.com/homeschoolchat.html
(CHRISTIAN)
END