Montessori Environment: Redirecting Versus Distracting

Montessori pre-school and elementary school classrooms are carefully prepared to be in sync with the students’ needs and interests, making it a unique space that children can explore as they choose. However, no matter how child-centered a classroom is, there are still bound to be behaviors that challenge or disrupt the space and become an obstacle to all students’ learning. When students exhibit these behaviors, like interrupting the teacher’s presentation or distracting other students during work time, it is the Montessori teacher’s job to address the behavior. Here is a look at two strategies that may also be familiar to any parent who has needed to address the behavior of their young child.

6 Tips for a Successful Montessori Preschooler

For many children, beginning Montessori preschool is the first time they are expected to be apart from their parents. The transition may be difficult at first, but you can make it easier by following a few professional tips.

Nurturing Inner Motivation in Montessori Elementary School Children

Unlike traditional public schools, the Montessori elementary school relies on intrinsic motivation to guide children. If this seems unusual to you, think of intrinsic motivation as the thrill of winning or success, and external motivation as working under the threat of consequences. The former comes with its own incentive to achieve even more while the latter has no incentive beyond escaping punishment or empty praise.

Instilling Confidence in Montessori Preschoolers

Instilling personal confidence in children is an important part of the Montessori preschool. Helping your preschoolers feel better about themselves gives them the confidence to take action, the ability to see the better qualities in others, and the confidence to attempt new things and experience new situations.

What Children Learn in Montessori Kindergarten

In Montessori, kindergarten is when your children advance into “big kids school” and put the concepts they have learned in preschool into practical usage. Basic concepts like letters and numbers transform into reading and addition, children are introduced to the sciences, and their socialization skills are refined into etiquette and responsibility.

Transitioning from Preschool to Montessori Elementary School

Moving up from preschool to the more structured environment of Montessori elementary school can be stressful for your children because it involves unfamiliar changes in location, interactions, and routines. To make the transition easier, you can take some steps to remove some of the apprehension from the equation.

Montessori Preschool Anxiety: Making Drop-Offs Less Painful

The first days attending Montessori preschool can be painful for both parents and their children. In order to minimize the stress of being dropped off at preschool, we recommend introducing your child to the teachers and staff before school begins to promote familiarity, as well as following some of these other tips on making drop-offs less painful.