A Montessori Musing Place

Remember the first time you held a paintbrush or stood on a stage? Art activities in school bring joy, excitement, and crucial development to students. From painting to reciting poetry, these pursuits foster creativity, critical thinking, and emotional growth. In this article, we'll explore the importance, benefits, and types of art activities in schools, and how they enhance academic achievement. Get ready for a colorful journey through the world of art.

We’ve all heard it. The exuberant, sometimes worrisome, sound of a child repeatedly sounding the first letter of a word before FINALLY pronouncing that word.


“a - a - apple!”

     As many Montessori schools can attest, parent education evenings aren't always the best attended events of the year.  However, the Family Open House is one night that almost every family tries to attend.

     Family Open House is a chance for the students to demonstrate the lessons and materials that they use every day.  The Primary students pick and choose the activities they want to demonstrate, moving around the classrooms with their families in tow, much like they do during class time.















  

Looking around one of our classrooms the other day, I was reminded of how many materials (activities) are composed of teeny weeny pieces.  Then I was reminded - by the site of a brand new map, how many of those teeny weeny pieces go missing over the course of the year, so I thought it warranted a blog post.

Let's use this little piece as an example.  Seems harmless enough, doesn't it?  If it came home in a your child's pocket, it might not be seem that important.  Nay Nay!





 This little bead on a wire is a very important part of the math area in every classroom from Primary to Upper Elementary.  It can be found in the teen beads, the snake game, the bead stairs, and the bead chains, to name a few.



It is one.  The number from which most counting beings   Taken in context, that little red bead is very impressive and teachers notice pretty quickly when one goes missing.




Then there are the map pieces.  Some of them are very small and easily tuck into a pocket or lunchbox.  For instance, this is Sierra Leone although without the puzzle map of Africa, most people (including me) would have a difficult time figuring that out.


Map pieces are very difficult to replace and some children don't like working with one that has too many missing countries.




Then there are pieces like this.  A seemingly innocuous blue plastic triangle.  (I had one of the students put his hand beside it for size reference.)



It is the adjective symbol and without it, elementary students would not be able to parse sentences. (Well, they would but it wouldn't be nearly as much fun.)  Below is a picture of the grammar box with all the grammar symbols.  Lots of little pieces to go missing.





Some of these little pieces fall victim to a child's sense of order.  For example, years ago, as I was straightening up the shelves, I discovered that the no. 1 tile was missing from the addition strip board.


I searched high and low for days and sent messages home to the parents.  In the meantime, one of the six year olds made a replacement tile out of blue construction paper so he could use the material.  By the end of the month, I had reconciled myself to the loss.



However, as I was making the monthly change of the art cards I found the missing piece. Some little person had decided that the  blue tile belonged behind the art card in the plastic frame.  Mystery solved!


So, if any bits and pieces come home with your child from Montessori school, please bring them back.  You could be saving an entire country!

Another summer has flown by and it is almost time to start a new school year.

The teachers have been very busy making sure the materials and classrooms are all neat and tidy for the students.