Parent Volunteers – Observing in the Classroom

Every parent wants the best learning opportunities for their children. An early love for knowledge builds a foundation for a lifetime of learning. Observing and volunteering in your child’s Montessori classroom may help you to better understand the diverse learning environment.

Volunteering is different than simply observing. Asking to be a volunteer is usually the role of the teacher to a parent. Being an observer is generally a task where parents ask teachers if they can come into the classroom. Each one plays a vital role in your child’s education. Understanding the classroom environment allows parents the opportunity to incorporate learning into regular home routines. Most educators welcome the opportunity to show concerned parents the daily routine of the classroom.

Right to Observe In the Classroom

Volunteering and observing in a classroom allow you to learn about your child’s day. Failing to take an active part in your child’s education may result in problem areas in the future. In the Montessori school setting, parents are welcome to visit. Trying to accommodate parent observation requests, some classrooms actually come equipped with an adult sized chair just for parent guests.

If you are a parent who is denied the opportunity to observe the classroom, you must stand up for your rights. Ask why access to your child’s classroom was denied. Explain the reasons for wanting to observe the classroom. As a parent, you must take into consideration that your presence will be a disturbance in the classroom. Many teachers want to plan your visit to allow for the maximum exposure to the daily classroom environment.

Guidelines to Observing in Your Child’s Classroom

Every teacher has a specific time frame for the length of the classroom observation. Prior to entering the classroom, you may want to ask the teacher or educator the time allowed for observing. In order to understand the Montessori environment, try to observe for at least one hour. Remember to ask the teacher or staff about the other guidelines to follow.

  • Remember your role in the classroom is to observe. Carefully watching the interaction of your child and other children in the classroom will help you in understanding the Montessori learning environment.
  • Enter and exit the classroom quietly. Some Montessori teachers will introduce parent observers.
  • Montessori classrooms are busy with various learning opportunities happening at the same time. As a parent, you may want to just focus on your child. In order to fully understand the learning environment, you should also watch other areas.
  • Do not interrupt the teacher; simply take notes to ask questions later.
  • After observing, ask the teacher or administration staff for a follow-up conference to discuss any questions or concerns.

Observing in the classroom provides parents with opportunities to understand the interaction between children and educators. The Montessori learning environment is not like the traditional classroom. Observing the class in motion will help a parent understand the learning strategies of the Montessori model.  To visit a Montessori classroom in person, contact Montessori School in Newark today.  Schedule a tour and see how Montessori education is firsthand. 

Our Favorite Books for the Season

Holiday books are a perfect way to celebrate a season filled with various traditions. Getting children interested in books at an early age may result in a lifelong love of reading. Seasonal books add to the excitement of the holidays. Finding the right type of book for your child depends on your personal seasonal preferences. As you begin to search for seasonal stories, keep in mind the best way to peak your child’s interest is finding an age appropriate book.

Books for Age Two and Above

  • Christmastime by Alison Jay (2012) is a delightful tale of the different aspects of the wonderful Christmas season.
  • Little Blue Truck’s Christmas by Alice Schertle (2014) is a novelty book with lights. The book tells the story of the Little Blue Truck spreading Christmas cheer to various animal friends.
  • Peek-A-Who? by Nina Laden (2000) is a fun die-cut window book guiding children to a surprise ending.

Books for Age Three and Above

  • The Christmas Quiet Book by Deborah Underwood (2012) focuses on the quiet times of the holiday season.
  • The Not Very Merry Pout-Pout Fish by Deborah Diesen (2015) inspires the reader to realize true gifts only come from the heart.
  • The Christmas Wish by Lori Evert (2013) shares the story of Anja who wants to be one of Santa’s elves.

Books for Age Four and Above

  • A Bad Kitty Christmas by Nick Bruel (2011) tells a funny story on how a bad kitty finds the true meaning of the holiday season.
  • Daddy Christmas & Hanukkah Mama by Selina Alko (2012) shares the delights representing two seasonal traditions in one household.
  • The Little Elf by Brandi Dougherty (2012) tells the story of Oliver, a small elf with the desire to do the best job in Santa’s workshop.

Books for Age Five and Above

  • Letters from Father Christmas by J.R.R Tolkien (2013) shares the magical tales surrounding the adventures of North Pole living.
  • Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg (1986) unfolds the magical tale of being welcomed aboard a train on Christmas Eve.
  • How to Catch Santa by Jean Reagan (2015) invites the reader to enjoy the different tips for catching Santa on Christmas Eve.

Books for Age Six and Above

  • The Santa Trap by Jonathan Emmett (2012) tells a funny tale of a boy trying to capture Santa.
  • Barbara Parks’ tale of Junie B., First Grader in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells! (P.S. So Does May) (2009) tells the story of finding out your secret Santa pick is the class tattletale.
  • The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tee: An Appalachian Story by Gloria Houston (1996) shares the story of Ruthie who wants to find the perfect Christmas tree for the little town.

Every book has a way to invite the reader into a season filled with joy and laughter. Deciding on just one book may be a difficult decision. For extra fun, you can always go with the classic tale of How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss. The ending always makes you smile.

Montessori School of Newark can help your child excel in reading through Montessori education, where children are encouraged to work at their own pace and collaborate with others.  Call us today to schedule a tour and learn how Montessori education can be a fit for your family.

Fall Crafts to Make at Home

Fall is a great time for kids to get involved in craft activities. Even your youngest kids will eagerly jump on the chance to learn more about the beautiful colors of fall and what the season is about. A hands-on approach will help ensure your child gets the most out of the activities.

Nature Tray Sorting and Counting

A nature tray is an important part of Montessori activities, and even toddlers can benefit from using one. Gather up items that include leaves or flowers, pine cones, rocks, twigs, and other items you might find outside on a fall nature walk. Your child will enjoy sorting and counting these items, and the fun nature walk focus will help make the counting part more enjoyable.

Fun With Apples

Fall is the ideal time to pick apples and otherwise have fun with this favorite food. You might do these activities separately or as part of a bigger unit on the harvest as a whole. Visiting an apple farm to see how the apples are harvested is an exciting lead-up to other activities that involve apples. When you’ve brought home some apples, consider some fun snack preparation, such as making candy apples.

Fall Leaf Artwork

One of the nicest things about fall leaves and their bright colors is the fact that they are perfect for artwork, even with toddlers. Kids will want to spend time focusing on remembering the colors, and sorting through the leaves to make pictures of trees or murals. If your fall travels won’t take you near fall foliage, consider creating leaves from colorful felt that can form the basis for an art project. Making your own mural with a tree and allowing your child to help add the leaves makes the idea of fall come to life.

Pumpkin Scubbing and Painting

Pumpkin scrubbing is a good activity fro toddlers, especially after having had the chance to select a pumpkin. Regardless of whether a pumpkin will be used in food or as a decoration, scubbing will help your child get used to cleaning vegetables before use. As an alternative to carving, consider getting some non-toxic paints to help your child decorate a pumpkin.

Play-Doh Fall Math Activities

Play-Doh makes a perfect tool for creating countable objects to help kids learn. Learning trays that feature full-color photos of bight apples and pumpkins, along with counters and cards, help make learning simple, and counting and math fun for you toddler or preschooler. Using objects they are seeing a lot of during the fall will help counting come more easily.

Montessori School in Newark offers the perfect environment for creative children who learn well with hands-on activities. Contact us today to schedule a tour to see how Montessori education will benefit your child.

Fun Summer Math Projects for Toddlers

Before your toddler starts kindergarten, it is a good idea that they have some basic math skills. The summer before school begins, there are a few fun math projects that you can do with your toddler to help them learn these basic skills.

Counting With Egg Cartons

This is a great game to teach children to count, and you likely have all of the necessary items right in your home.

You Will Need:

  • An empty egg carton
  • A bag of M&M’s

Number the spaces in the egg carton from 1-12. Have your child place the number of M&M’s in each numbered hole. If they get all of the answers right, they can eat the M&M’s as a reward.

Number Recognition Game

This game will teach your child to recognize numbers 1-9. It is also fun.

You Will Need:

  • Bag of balloons
  • Laundry basket

Blow up 9 of the balloons. Number each balloon and place them on the ground. Give your child a number and have them find the balloon that coincides with that number. Have them place the balloon in the laundry basket. This time, give the child a number again and have them find it in the laundry basket. When your child finds the balloon, they can pop it.

Counting in Nature

This game will give your child a chance to get some fresh air while they are building their math skills.

You Will Need:

  • A notebook
  • A pen

Before your nature hike, make a list of things in nature for your child to find. The list should include one item, then two of another item, three of another item, and so on. The game ends when your child has found all of everything on the list.

Grocery Shopping Fun

You can make your weekly grocery shopping trip, and turn it into a learning game.

You Will Need:

  • A supermarket trip

While you are shopping, but your child in charge of putting items in the cart. For example, you can tell your child to get 5 cans of vegetables. They would need to count out the 5 cans and put them in the cart. You can even add some subtraction to the game, and tell your child to get 7 potatoes, and then take 3 away.

Funny Money

This game will not only teach your child to count, it will also introduce them to money and budgeting.

You Will Need:

  • A package of play money
  • Post-It notes
  • A sharpie marker

Write money amounts between $1 and $9 on several Post-It notes and stick it on various items around the home. Have your child choose the items that they want to buy, and pay you for each item with their fake money.

The Day Star Montessori Children’s Learning Center applies the educational philosophy and methods of Maria Montessori, M.D., a renowned Italian physician and child educator. For our Montessori children math is more than rote memorization. Our children learn the base 10 system with cube material that is properly scaled. For more information on math for toddlers, contact us today.

 

Three Magnet Activities for Kids

Magnets are a fun learning activity for your child.

Teaching how they have a North end and a South end can be both entertaining and interesting as your child learns how they repel each other. Gathering different items and placing them in a tray to explore which are attracted and which aren’t is also a great learning idea. Use different items such as pencils, paper clips, eraser, and other small items can provide simple but educational time for you and your child. These are three other magnet activities for kids.


Going Fishing

This is a great activity to create for your child they can play with you or even all by themselves. Attach a magnet to the end of a stick. Using a shallow box place a variety of different items inside. Use some items that are magnetic such as paper clips, small scissors, screws, or any other smaller objects the magnet will have the strength to lift. Include some items that are not magnetic such as; pencils or small plastic toys your child plays with.


If your child is playing alone, he or she can simply see how many of the objects they can remove by ‘fishing’ them out. If they are playing with a partner, have each player call out what they are going to remove, then attempt to lift it out. They can continue ‘fishing’ out the items until all those the magnet will attach to are out. The one with the most ‘fish’ will have won the game.


Magnet fun with pipe cleaners

Pipe cleaners are great to use with magnets and your young child. You can create ‘a wand’ by attaching a small rectangular magnet found at a craft store to a popsicle stick and then make a face on one side. You can even paint the creation to give it more of a character look. Using plastic eyes and a pom-pom nose will give it personality.


Cut assorted colors of pipe cleaners into 1 1/2 inch pieces and place into a bowl. When your child dips the ‘magic wand’ or personalized character into the bowl they will be amazed at the ‘hair’ their wand character comes out with.


Painting with magnets

Using the character you created in the previous activity, have your child paint a design. Place a piece of paper inside a shoe box with a few drops of different colored paint placed on it. Place a slightly bent paper clip on the paper. When your child moves the ‘magic character’ created underneath the box they move the paper clip through the paint to create a unique design.


The Montessori School in Newark applies the educational philosophy and methods of Maria Montessori, M.D., a renowned Italian physician and child educator. The Montessori concept of education allows children to experience the joy of learning at an early age.  To learn more about our Montessori Primary and Kindergarten program contact us to schedule a tour.

Summer Camp Education

A Montessori Summer camp is a combination of fun and learning for primary and elementary aged students in a nurturing educational environment that adds so much more in the way of also having outstanding experiences. Campers range in age from 2 to 12, and they do not have to be currently enrolled in a Montessori school to participate in this unique summer adventure.

The Goal

The goal is to strengthen the imagination, stimulate creative talents, foster friendships, teach new skills, and give unforgettable memories. It is an exciting chance for children to explore unique experiences and to follow their personal paths of curiosity and creativity while they also have the freedom of summer activities.

Additional Benefits to the Child

  • Encourage the normal desire for independence.
  • Have them obtain a high sense of self-esteem.
  • Awaken the child’s imagination and spirit.
  • Develop the self-discipline and kindness and courtesy to other people.
  • Help the child to learn how to observe, question, and then explore ideas independently.
  • Be exposed to diversity and connect with children of different nationalities and cultures who they may not normally meet.

What is included?

Activities are age appropriate, and there is special attention given to every camper’s individual needs.

Music, art, literature, and outdoor adventures are in every camp. The elementary program for campers 6 to 12 years old adds visual and performing arts, science experiments, foreign culture and language, math, drama, building things, exploring nature and the environment, sports, fitness, swimming, cooking, playing games and other team-building activities, time management skills, and learning about accountability and responsibility. In addition, there is usually a weekly Trip Day to local museums, attractions, a zoo or wildlife preserve, an amusement park, or hiking on nature trails and through forests and valleys.

Campers work both independently and in groups. Montessori instructors and a teaching assistant comprise the staff, give experienced guidance and care, and are dedicated to the support of growth in every child. Presented is a balance of group projects and times when children can choose their own activities.

Learn More

Camp Montessori experience is a continuation of your student’s regular Montessori education with an emphasis on fun and holistic youthful activity.  To learn more about our Montessori summer camp, contact us to inquire about our two week sessions.

Sensory Roller Painting

Montessori principles base learning on a child’s natural development in a well-prepared, enticing environment. Children love the opportunity to explore the world around them. Montessori instructors use children’s natural curiosity to build upon interests and desire for knowledge. According to Montessori principles, children have an absorbent mind with individual interests and needs.

Hands-on activities inspire and teach children by engaging all of their senses. By pursuing every opportunity for hands-on learning, a young child will have actual experiences prior to learning the concepts or names of objects. Art especially messy art is one of the best opportunities to engage in the senses.

Sensory Roller Painting

Sensory roller painting can be done in different ways. For example, securing bubble wrap around rolling pins or other circular objects provides a perfect opportunity for administering paint to large pieces of paper. As watch the project unfold, you may just view children at play. The project is actually an integral part of learning. The project enhances the senses of touch, smell, and hearing.

Creativity and Imagination

Painting with various colors and textures enhances creative expression and develops the child’s imagination. Creative expression helps with cognitive development. Children want to explore and think about the project.

Linguistics

Young children are learning new words every day. Sensory activities help children learn a new vocabulary. The names of colors, shapes and textures are just some of the new words that can be incorporated into the project. .As children work with others around the sensory table or art area, discussing the project will enhance communication skills.

Fine Motor Skills

When using rolling pins or paint brushes, children are using fine motor skills as part of the application process. The continuous use of fine motor skills helps in the development muscles in the hands and wrists. As the muscles develop, an increase in hand and eye coordination will be fine-tuned. The simple sensory, art project also aids in the development of concentration which will help in later stages of learning.

Social and Emotional Sills

Under most circumstances, more than one child will want to learn how to do the sensory rolling painting project. The involvement of other children actually helps in the learning process. When working alongside peers, children develop social and emotional skills. For example, introducing new paint colors or other textures to the project will help in teaching children to wait their turn. As children engage and experiment with colors, socialization will increase throughout the work area.

Sense of Achievement

By finishing a sensory roller painting project, children gain a sense of achievement which boosts confidence levels. The excitement of completing a project will inspire a new sense of wonder to explore with further activities.

Of course, the project is a fun activity. When children have fun, the process becomes part of the learning experience.

If you would like more information on how sensory roller painting activities or other art related projects can help your young children learn, please contact the Montessori School in Newark for a tour. One of our highly trained instructors will be more than happy to answer all your questions about our kindergarten Newark program.