An Introduction to Elementary Movements Receiving your children The infant arrives in the Children’s Home having already seen the Elementary Movements performed countless times at home by her family, but performed inconsistently, hurriedly and whilst many other activities are happening. The performance of Elementary Movements by the Directress gives the opportunity for the infant to …
Purpose of Exercises of Practical Life
Independence The infant’s independence is such hat she has already succeeded at being weaned, learnt to talk, walk and run, she knows what she needs to continue developing and if given the necessary freedoms and supports she will follow her ‘inner guide’ to greater physical and psychical independence. Independence is granted to other animals instinctively …
Presentation (Demonstration)
The Directress gives presentations of the materials as a response to an acute need which arises from the child’s Sensitive Periods and her Will to act, so the child gives her full attention, her Absorbent Mind ensures that she is able to pick up many details and having acted on her tendencies for …
Introduction to The Exercises of Practical Life
When the infant enters the Prepared Environment of the Children’s House they do so with accomplishments in Communication, the Mathematical Mind, Sensorial Awareness and Co-ordination. They are able to walk, talk, carry objects and care for themselves, they have absorbed many daily activities which take place in the home. At two and a half the …
Details of Exercises for Practical Life
The materials used in the Exercises for Practical Life have the following characteristics; They are familiar everyday objects, likely to be found in the home, the infant will have seen them being used and will be able to use them outside of the Children’s Home. They reflect the local culture and social environment, this helps …
Adult Responsibilities
It is the responsibility of the Montessori adult to prepare, maintain and develop the materials in accordance with the child’s arising needs. The adult must remember that the child is working for her own intrinsic goals and is not goal-oriented. The adult’s aim is to establish a positive and constructive connection …
The Silence Activity
Perfect silence makes a tremendous impression, it is much more significant than simply not talking, perfect silence is the cession of all movement, including involuntary ones. Montessori uses the term silence to mean the inhibition of all movements, to do this we must establish a degree of comfort, so that we are not fighting the …
Giving a Presentation
Presentation (Demonstration) The Director gives presentations of the materials as a response to an acute need which arises from the child’s Sensitive Periods and her Will to act, so the child gives her full attention, her Absorbent Mind ensures that she is able to pick up many details and having acted on her tendencies for …
Observation
Observation Notes Unlike usual classroom teachers, the Montessori adult has a dual role of observer and teacher. To offer Assistantial Assistance and be Child Centred the Directress must take her cues from the child and for this she needs to observe the infant in her most natural state. From these observations the adult can form …
The Four Planes of Development
Montessori’s vision for development includes the whole human life, from conception to death, to account for the formation of man she divides the first 24 years of life into 4 planes, after 24 years an individual continues to develop. Once each plane ends the phase preceding it becomes hard to re-imagine and the learning, or …