Parent Talks at VdM
Parents of children in their second year in the Children's House (ages 4 to 5) were invited to Guide Reghan McAuley's Parent Talk, "All Things Math!" Reghan discussed the progression of work with the math materials in the Children's House as children begin with a foundation of base numbers and grow into work with decimals and linear counting. Reghan presented a variety of math lessons, including every child's favorite, the Bank Game.
Children's House Guide Heather Steinman and Elementary Guide Megan Eilers joined forces for their talk, "Bridging into Elementary," for parents of children in their culminating year of the Children's House. They talked about what to expect as the child moves from primary into elementary and how Montessori curriculum is uniquely designed to support this transition. Heather and Megan presented several materials, such as the binomial cube, that cross over between the primary and elementary environments and how the lessons around these materials change to introduce new and expanded concepts.
The purpose of this talk is to help parents understand the similarities and differences between the primary and elementary years (or the first and second planes of development). We talk a lot about the different characteristics of the children during these stages and how the two environments are designed to support their needs. An overall theme that tends to emerge is that [Montessori offers] just the most amazing continuum for the children!Heather Steinman
Parents of elementary students were invited to discuss art, history and language in the Montessori elementary curriculum. Guides Sarah Moscicke and Rebecca Callander discussed how the elementary environment is designed to encourage exploration in these subjects and how they are interwoven for a broad and rounded education—a cosmic education. Parents also worked hands-on with clay, crafting pinch pots, while discussing specific topics such as spelling and how history is taught in the classroom.
We are so appreciative of our guides and our parents, who make these events and our community so strong. The next round of Parent Talks will be held on Thursday, March 26.
Resources and suggested reading:
Writing into Reading:
- 5 Reasons Why Writing Helps Early Reading
- The Secret of Childhood by Maria Montessori
All Things Math!
- Building the Mathematical Mind
- Everyone Should Learn Math the Montessori Way
- The Absorbent Mind by Maria Montessori
Bridging Into Elementary
Elementary Curriculum