Hill Point Montessori, Author at Hill Point Montessori

Engaging summer activities for your preschooler

May 19, 2019 By Hill Point Montessori

Summer is here, and so are the many opportunities to enjoy the outside with your preschooler. This season also offers a multitude of fun and creative ways to extend learning into the outdoors by utilizing basic Montessori pre-school lessons. Two of the learning areas, in particular, practical life skills and sensorial learning, are easy to translate into engaging summer activities that both you and your preschooler can enjoy.

Practical life skills

The purpose of this Montessori learning area is to gain confidence and mastery in completing simple tasks that improve the environment they are in while working on small motor skills, creativity, problem-solving, and focus. A natural extension of this in the outdoors is creating and tending a garden. Whether you have access to a spacious yard, a community plot, or a sunny window sill, gardening is an activity that can last all summer long. Your preschooler can help you choose which plants to grow, sort seeds by size, draw a map of your plant locations, and get their hands dirty making the perfect soil mixture. Your preschooler can also be in charge of the watering schedule, either helping you to water or filling their own watering can and tending to the plants on their own. Once you have a thriving garden bearing the fruits of your labor, you can introduce another activity: preparing tasty summertime recipes. Preschoolers can arrange the toppings of a garden veggie pizza, or pick, wash, and destem berries to be served with shortcake. It can be an engaging problem-solving activity to think of the vegetables, fruits, and herbs that are ripe in your garden and then think of the favorite foods they can make with them, or you can create a whole new recipe together.

Sensorial skills

In Montessori schools, it is paramount to learn through all five senses, and there is no better place to do this than in the outdoors. Water activities are a great way to cool down and experiment with the unique sensorial qualities of water. Water tables, kiddie pools, or even a couple of buckets are natural tools for unstructured sensorial play: dunking and floating objects, practicing pouring water from one container to the another, and generally splashing around. Another simple activity you can do with your preschooler is a sensorial scavenger hunt. Your scavenger hunt list can include items such as “something that is green,” “something that is fuzzy,” “something that smells pretty,” “something that tastes sweet,” and so on. The scavenger hunt is endlessly adaptable to whatever outdoor environment you have access to, and you and your preschooler can take turns creating the scavenger hunt list. Additionally, these activities can also grow with your preschooler and become more challenging by incorporating Montessori elementary school’s five great lessons, such as elements of the timeline of life or the story of the universe.

How to decide which Montessori school is right for you

April 17, 2019 By Hill Point Montessori

There are thousands of Montessori schools across the globe and the Montessori method has only gained in popularity over the years since it was first practiced in the early 1900s. With so many children and their parents benefiting from a Montessori education, you may be considering if a Montessori preschool or elementary school is right for your family. It is a valuable consideration, and one that doesn’t need to be complicated or overwhelming. There a few simple steps you can take to find a Montessori school that fits your expectations and needs.

Learn about the Montessori method

One of the first and most important steps in your search is to familiarize yourself with the various aspects of the Montessori method. This method of education is guided by a specific philosophy that has multiple unique but intuitive tenets and there is a great deal of literature on the subject including Dr. Maria Montessori’s own publications. The Montessori method includes some key features such as the prepared environment of the classroom, the overarching structure of the school day, special learning tools like the Montessori bells and the pink tower, and the role of the Montessori teacher, which does differ from that of teachers in more traditional classrooms.

Observe a classroom

Now that you know what it means for a school to claim the designation “Montessori,” you can ask the schools in which you could potentially enroll your child if you may have an opportunity to observe a classroom. Feel free so spend more than a cursory five minutes while on a tour, instead really sit back and watch. This is a chance to see if the classroom is prepared according to the Montessori method, if the teacher demonstrates knowledge of the underlying Montessori philosophy through their classroom guidance, and how the students interact with each other, the classroom environment, and their teacher.

Honor what you know works for your family

The last step, and the one that can offer the most beneficial insights in your decision making, is to recognize and honor what works for your family and to check the Montessori elementary schools against that criteria. You are the expert in your child’s educational needs and will know best if the school offers the right degree of structure, if the teachers have a compatible teaching style, or if their approach to the Montessori curriculum will spark a love of learning in your child. It is important to also respect your family’s logistical requirements, such as commuting and transportation needs, compatibility of the school schedule with family schedules, and tuition costs and available scholarship options. In the end, go with your instinct, as it is the most honest, authentic guide.

Montessori Philosophy: Teaching the Whole Child

March 24, 2019 By Hill Point Montessori

For Montessori elementary school teachers, they are not just a guide in the academic development of their students, their aim is to teach the whole child. This approach springs from the Montessori philosophy and method of education, which was developed by Dr. Maria Montessori in the early 20th century. Dr. Montessori created her approach through years of teaching and research, and it is further demonstrated in its century of successful practice in schools across the world and across diverse cultures. The Montessori philosophy holds that children are naturally curious and eager to learn, and can engage in self-directing learning given a supportive and intentionally prepared learning environment. Further, it champions respect for the child as a whole individual and support for their physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development.

Physical

The prepared environment of the Montessori classroom is a space designed for children to move, be comfortable, have access to what they need no matter their physical strengths or challenges. The room is arranged so learning tools and classroom amenities are within reach and children are encouraged to sit, stand, spread out on the floor, or generally adopt whatever posture feels good for their bodies. This fosters bodily attunement while the curriculum engages them in physical activity and helps to develop coordination.

Social

The social development of children in Montessori education is one of its most significant benefits. Teachers demonstrate kindness and respect and practice conflict resolution while children learn how to collaborate on their many group projects. The mixed-age groups of the primary, lower, and upper elementary programs fosters leadership and mentorship skills and builds dynamic relationships across a diverse classroom. Additionally, the focus on care for the environment – the classroom environment and the broader definition of the word – translates to an attitude of stewardship of communal spaces, both small and large.

Emotional

Children in a Montessori Pre-school gain confidence and a sense of independence as they are encouraged to meet their own needs, as they gain competence in skills, and as they take charge of their own education and satisfy their curiosity. They also naturally develop self-esteem as each school day they are valued and treated as a unique individual, as well as greater emotional intelligence as they are immersed in the dynamic social relationships of the classroom.

Cognitive

The Montessori curriculum introduces children to a broad spectrum of educational topics: from astronomy and botany to writing and zoology. This educational range and the emphasis on self-directed learning encourages children to be active seekers of knowledge who practice self-correction and self-assessment as a means of gauging progress.The Montessori method of education seeks not only to teach, but to help children become engaged, responsible, respectful adults who think of themselves as lifelong learners.

Hill Point Montessori in West Hills, California offers 3 programs – Primary for Ages 3-6; Lower Elementary for Ages 6-9; and Upper Elementary for Ages 9-12. Montessori education groups students according to their abilities, unlike traditional education where students are grouped by age. This allows students to work together and collaborate throughout their learning journey as they guide each other. Schedule a tour of our preparatory school to learn more about the programs offered.

Character Development in Montessori Education

February 20, 2019 By Hill Point Montessori Leave a Comment

One of the many benefits of Montessori education is the character development that naturally occurs as a function of its unique approach to learning and education. Maria Montessori felt that children possess the inherent capacity for respect, independence, and a love of learning, and the practice of the Montessori Method lends itself to the cultivation of children’s innate positive characteristics.

Respect

One of the cornerstone principles of the Montessori Method is respect for the child. This is demonstrated in the classroom when children are met at their unique and individual developmental stage and are treated as experts in their learning process. Instead of being seen as incomplete and in need of governance, children are seen as whole and capable humans with an immense capacity for growth. Montessori teachers demonstrate the kindness they want to cultivate in their students by helping them do and learn for themselves. By giving ownership of their education to the students, the teachers empower them to make choices that are beneficial to themselves, their peers, and the classroom environment. Children observe and practice integrity, responsibility, and empathy – the fundamentals of respect.

Independence

The Montessori classroom is prepared in a way that encourages children to develop autonomy. The amenities of the classroom, such as sinks, bathrooms, cleaning supplies, and items for food preparation are all made accessible so children can meet their own needs. The room is kept uncluttered and organized so children gain confidence in their ability to explore and navigate it without assistance. The curriculum, from primary to upper elementary Montessori programs, allows children to direct their learning and dive deeper into their interests as they gain greater and greater competence in language, mathematics, practice life skills, and other subjects. Their growing abilities and eventual mastery fosters self-esteem and shows the benefits of self-discipline.

Love of Learning

Maria Montessori believed children can educate themselves if provided with supportive teachers and a prepared environment. She thought children have an innate curiosity and learned best through unimpeded, direct interaction with the world around them. Montessori education leverages these characteristics to empower children to learn what they love, and come to love learning. For anyone, it is a gratifying experience to wonder, ask a question, and seek out and find the answer. No child is too young to enjoy that experience and to start a lifelong practice of leaning into curiosity, a practice that can begin in the Montessori classroom.

Using Small Groups to Promote Learning during the Upper Elementary Years

January 30, 2019 By Hill Point Montessori

Small Group Upper Elementary Hill Point Montessori

The Upper Elementary Program typically has students who are aged 9 to 12 years and who are poised to advance the studies and skills they’ve acquired in the previous two programs. In these classrooms, they will go deeper into culture, grammar and sentence analysis, language mechanics, vocabulary, writing skills, biology, zoology, botany, geography, meteorology, astronomy, chemistry, mathematics, and fine arts. In order to cover such a wide range of subjects in a manner that cultivates independent learning, the lessons are organized around research projects and small group projects in which students can teach and learn from each other. Here are a few examples of small group lessons and projects that promote learning.

Foreign Language

Upper elementary students extend their command of foreign languages. This is done very effectively in small group learning as opposed to the traditional structure of a teacher presenting language concepts. Small group learning allows students to practice communicating in the foreign language as they learn new words and grammar. These group structures also allow students at different levels in language fluency to support others in the group. Overall, this promotes confidence in learning a language through conversation, which is often the greatest barrier to learning a new language.

Geography

Small groups can also provide students experience in how to divide work within a group to collectively reach a goal. Effective work segmentation in a group is a necessary skill that students will use throughout their careers and Upper Elementary small groups provide a strong foundation for this skill. One example is working on geography projects. A small group of students may work together to create a tour of a region or country that they can present to the class. The group can divide up this work by history, food, geography, or other elements and collaborate to integrate each student’s work into a cohesive tour of the area.

Math

Math lessons are particularly suited to small group work. Students begin to learn more complex mathematical concepts in Upper Elementary and mastering these concepts is fostered by small groups. As there are multiple ways to conceive of and solve mathematical problems, self-guided learning allows students to develop their own approach to math. In small groups, students can help each other work through new concepts by explaining their own approach to a problem and listening to how other students approach the same problem. Additionally, small groups can support students at different mastery levels by learning from others, which in turn provides the opportunity for students to explain concepts to others. This combination of roles within the group reinforces students understanding of the material and provides opportunity for students to be exposed to different approaches to learning mathematical concepts.

In West Hills, California, Hill Point Montessori is a preparatory school for children ages 2-12. Our Upper Elementary Program consists of students ages 9-12, who are independent thinkers that work together to further expand their knowledge. Students utilize small groups and learn to exchange ideas in a collaborative manner. Schedule a tour of our Upper Elementary Program today.

Admission: (818) 635-4009