In late March, our students organized and ran their first lemonade stand. It was a wonderful experience that enabled the children to interact with the community. It was great serving the people of Kyle and we are proud of our accomplishment. We had a blast!
A former student of La Casa dei Bambini was recently caught on video in a recent news feature. We are so proud of our students and what they go on to achieve!
Our fall Family Work Day was a big success. Everyone pitched in helping to spruce up the grounds and clean out our gardens. It’s fantastic watching children work alongside their parents. When our children see us giving time to an important cause, it teaches them to do the same.
As always it was wonderful to see new friendships being formed as well as graduates and their families stopping by to spend time with us on this important day. We love you, La Casa community!
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Where there are children, there are toys.
This is true whether at home or at school. Of course “toys” may look different in a learning environment than they do in a bedroom chock full of Barbies.
Although we do not use the words “toys” when referring to the learning materials you find in a Montessori classroom, these items are exciting and interesting to our students nonetheless. In fact, Montessori materials are integral to our classroom. Children work with materials in a specific order to learn a specific skill. But there is so much more to the materials we use!
Photo by Lindsey H. Lawson
Our Children Learn to Respect the Materials
Most of our materials are made out of wood, metal, and some out of glass. Children learn the proper way to carry and handle these objects with care.
Photo by Lindsey H. Lawson
The Materials are Self-Checking
Almost all Montessori materials have a self-checking capability so that children know if they have mastered the skill. For example, if a child is sewing and the cloth does not stay together, she will realize that it was not done correctly.
Photo by Lindsey H. Lawson
Materials Focus on One Skill at a Time
Instead of bombarding children with multiple concepts, students work on one skill at a time when doing each activity. That way, they are able to focus on complete mastery instead of partial understanding.
Photo by Lindsey H. Lawson
But, Lessons can be Presented at Different Levels
Although children work on one concept at a time, most materials are used to teach a variety of concepts at different levels. The binomial cube that a 4-year-old uses as a spatial exercise will be used to teach algebra in elementary school.
Photo by Lindsey H. Lawson
The Materials Use all the Senses
Children enjoy learning with their whole body. Montessori materials are created to help children develop not just their mind but all their other senses too. It is truly a holistic approach to learning.
Photo by Lindsey H. Lawson
The Materials are Appealing
Walking into a Montessori classroom is sort of like walking into a candy shop. Enticing colors, shapes, and sizes are visually appealing and make children want to explore and play with the materials.
Photo by Lindsey H. Lawson
The Materials Provide Concrete Mastery for Abstract Concepts
Concepts that adults take for granted, such as place value and volume, are actually abstract concepts. In a Montessori environment, children form the foundation for these concepts by working with hands-on materials that help the them make sense of the concept before being introduced to foreign words or problems on a worksheet. When the time comes for children to learn these concepts formally, their brains are more easily able to process and master the skills.
Without knowing what all the materials in a Montessori classroom are used for, it can seem a little bit foreign. We know that. Because we’ve been trained–and have over 40 years of experience using the materials–we see potential where you may simply see wooden balls. That’s why we invite you to contact us with any questions about the materials you see in this post or about our school.
Hey everyone,
The Christmas play and party is this Wednesday. Please remember to sign up to bring a food item. Also, keep in mind that the play will be at the community center in Plum Creek. The exact directions are: 450 Haupt, Kyle, TX 78640. The community center is by the bucket pool.
Also, we will have a professional photographer, Lindsey H. Lawson, at the play. She will take pictures throughout the performance as well as more photos afterwards (family shots and/or children). The photos will be available to purchase. To check out her portfolio, visit her site here.
Here are a few sneak peak pictures from one of the rehearsals this week. These pictures ARE NOT from Lindsey, just FYI! 😉
Photo by Lindsey H. Lawson
Photo by Lindsey H. Lawson
Photo by Lindsey H. Lawson
Photo by Lindsey H. Lawson
Photo by Lindsey H. Lawson
Our 2014 Thanksgiving Banquet was a great success! Thank you to Lauren and all parents who helped set-up and breakdown. The food was delicious and this year we had the perfect amount! It was wonderful to see so many moms, dads, and extended family gather at the school to celebrate all the wonderful blessings in our lives.
As always, we feel so happy to have each of your children in our lives. Getting to know them and all of you is something we very thankful for.
It isn’t unusual for elementary kids to spend a total of 20 minutes outside a day. Partially as a result of increased curriculum demands, even children in lower grades are required to spend a large part of their time sitting down.
As an independent early childcare facility, we are able to devote large periods of time for uninterrupted free play. Not only do our children love spending time outside, but research shows that playing outside positively affects our children in so many ways – physically, emotionally, and even academically.
I believe my favorite aspect of outdoor time is watching to see what the children choose to do. Yes, we have the usual playground equipment–slides, monkey bars, a hammock swing. But there are other options that go beyond the traditional playground. Our kids can:
Some kids choose to stay inside to continue working or take a break and return inside for a quick or leisurely–it’s up to them–snack. These options allow the children to learn about personal preferences and allow them to exert some control in their lives. It gives them practice making choices, however small, which can translate into more secure decision makers later on down the road.
As the weather turns cooler, we we still be outside. Barring dangerous temperatures or conditions, the kids get daily doses of fresh air, sunshine, and free time to simply play.
Here at Casa dei Bambini, it isn’t unusual to see children working on tasks that are usually reserved for adults. For instance, our students routinely, set their own tables for meals, use a broom or mop to clean up spills, and serve themselves snacks. Beyond that, many Montessori activities are real-life skills that adults use. Our children can learn how to sew, wipe down tables, make juice, and cut fruit.
It’s no surprise that one of our favorite activities is cooking. After all, who doesn’t like to play around with ingredients and end up with something yummy? One morning we made some scrambled eggs. Even our youngest children learned how to whip and stir carefully.
When one of our parents came in to help the kids make fresh fruit juice, the kids were thrilled. Not only did the children get to help pushing the fruits and veggies through the juicer–a pretty fun thing even if you are an adult–but they were able to try something they may not be used to drinking. Many of them were surprised to realize how good carrots and oranges taste when mixed together! 
