ANGIECHAN'S BLOG

In Montessori School it is very common that all young children know the names of seven continents by working with the Jigsaw Map of the World. Because Maria Montessori thought that it is importnant to have the children learn about the world.

Jigsaw Map of the world is one of the material/activities which aim to let children learn the name and give a sensorial impression of the relatives size and shapes of continent.

We also have a song during introduce the name of seven continents.

North America, South America,
Africa, Europe and Asia.
Don’t forget Australisa,
Don’t forget Antartica,
North America, South America,
Africa, Europe and Asia.

大部分傳統的幼稚園不會教五大洲七大洋，因為在幼兒教育其中一科叫做「課程/Curriculum」其中一個編排課程的原則是以孩子為中心。
「地理」這個課題若果編入教程一定會被批評不是以孩子為中心，提不起他們學習動機，他們不會明白……等等。若果以此作課題交功課及導師一定不合格。

但是MOntessori認為讓孩子認識其他國家是必需的，當中涉及到她的理念-society of cohension因為她是經歷過第一及第二次世界大戰的人，她希望透過 教育孩子可使世界和平……

當我觀察孩子操作教具是他們是感興趣的、他們對世界的認識是比起一般傳統學校的孩子較多，個人認為給孩子一些非以他們為中心的課題未嘗不可!

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• The child has been introduced the 3 period name lessons of number rods and cards before this activity is introduced.

• The child is counting and grading the number rods.

In Montessori Math area, Number Rod is the first material to introduce to the child. It aims to let the children to learn the quantities from 1-10.

In the pictures the children is working with number rods and cards.The direct aim of this activity is the association between the quantities and the written numeral from 1-10.

• Lastly, the child is putting the number cards to the corresponding rods.

The child via repeat counting the number rods then grading them from 1 to 10. And lastly put the number cards to the corresponding number rods to achieve the aim of the activity
She spent nearly 20 minutes to complete the activity by herself.During whole process she was claim and concentrate on the work.

In traditonal local school is hard to have this kind of individual activity. All children learn in the large class size and teacher is hard to figure out individual problem.

That’s why I love using Montessori way to inspire the children!

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As there are some parents asking how to manipulate Knobbed Cylinders with their children, below is part of the information about how to present the material in front of children, I hope this would help ^^

因為有家長問到如何操作以下是部份資料希望可以幫助到家長 

Material

The 4 wooden blocks of cylinders, each containing 10 cylinders with knobs, fitting into its respective holes (sockets) in a given block.

Block 1: The cylinders vary in both diameter and height. Each cylinder increases or decreases by 0.5cm on each dimension from the preceding one. The tallest cylinder has the biggest diameter.

Block 2: The cylinders vary in both diameter and height as in Block 1, but the tallest cylinder has the smallest diameter and the shortest has the largest diameter.

Block 3: The cylinders vary only in diameter. They are of the same height. Each cylinder increases or decreases by 0.5cm in diameter.

Block 4: The cylinders vary only in height. They are of the same diameter.

Presentation

• Introduce the exercise to the child and show the child how to carry the cylinder block.

• Slowly remove the extreme left and right cylinders by holding the knob with the thumb, index and middle fingers. Place it on the table use the right index finger to point at the bottom of the cylinders.

• Put back the cylinders into their respective sockets.

• Remove each cylinder from left to right placing them in a mixed fashion in front of you. 

• Lean forward to look into the empty sockets of the cylinder block.Carefully place each knobbed cylinders back to its sockets, starting from left to right.Place the cylinder block back to the shelf and invite the child to carry out the exercise.

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Knobbed Cylinder aiming to refine the children’ precepion of dimension. Such as size, depth, etc.

There are four sets of knobbed cylinder which are deisnged into different grading of size/ depth. Througt putting the knobbed cylinders into the sockets the children can obtain the preception of dimension.

Unlike traditional way, when teachers introduced this kind of absract concept, most of them are using picture card or other daily objects which are not prefectly designed.

Also you will note that the each material is in single color/ attribute becasue Maria Montessori wanted to isolate the difficulites whenever introduce the concept.

This is the reason why her method can keep going on to this modern society.

• This is the how we hold the knobbed cylinder. So another aims of working this material is helping the children develop their pencil grip.

• 此教具另一目的是幫助幼兒的小肌肉發展。

感官教具Knobbed Cylinder

主要讓孩子透過操作些教具可感受到面積, 容積; 大小，而不是傳統上的透過老師講學而獲得的知識。本人認為Dimension的概念十分抽象，所以很喜歡用Montessori的教具介紹這些抽象概念給孩子。

可能你也會留意到為什麼Montessori的教具為什麼這麼單一？跟其他在百貨公司所見到的玩具不一樣，其他的玩具好colorful也有不同的形狀等等。

大家要知道Montessori稱這些為教具(working material)而不是玩具(toys)，所以我們Montessori Teacher經常提醒小朋友”We are working with in not play with it.”

再者各教具有primary goal希望孩子透過操作而逹到教學目的。而Knobbed Cylinder的焦點就在Dimension而唔是顏色，所以不要批評說她的教具不吸引孩子。

• 當孩子掌握基本操作後，他們很喜歡自己探索(explore)，如圖。

•  One of the children putting the small knobbed cylinder into the biggest socket and said “It doesn’t fit, Ms angie” Then he similed and removed all the unfit knobbed cylinders put them into the right sockets.

• The other children, she was very concentrated on examing whether the big cylinders can fit into the small sockets.

• Lastly children can work with all sets of knobbed cylinder in one go.

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Spooning Activity.

Aim to let children know how to use a spoon and lead them to be independent.

Indirect aims are reniforce fine motor skill, eye hand coordination, reading skill.
The order of transferring the marbles from the bowl to the other container with compartment is from top to bottom and left to right.
It is easy to set this kind of activity for your child by your own.
Appropriate age to introduce is 18 months above.
生活自理範疇

不需要解釋大家也明白這個活動的意義所在。對，讓孩子獨立。怎樣才可以令孩子獨立？首先，孩子能自己處理他日常生活需要的技能。例如：進食。

用匙滔物，大致等於孩子用匙自行進食。當他踏入一周歲時，家長可嘗試讓孩子自行握匙進食。在日本的Montessori School 那裡的孩子在兩歲時已經可以set table及自行進食。

最近，一個在學校工作的Auntie跟我講，在自理能力最棒的是日本人而最差的是香港人。我想是因為香港的family一般都有Helper.

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Tradition birthday parties always focus on gifts, cakes, candies, ballons, games……etc
A Montessori birthday celebrate takes a different approach.

Children are given a first impressionof the relationshiop between Earth and Sun and learnt that a year is the period of time takes for the Earth to circle the Sun Once.

Song we will sing in the birthday party and the child carries the earth walk around the candle of light.

(Tune: The farmer in the dell)

The earth goes round the Sun.
The earth goes round the Sun.
Twelve months in the year when (Child’s Name) turn one.

Then we will have the parents to tell a short story about the child 1st year.

Do like the same until reach the ages of the birthday’s child.

End the party by having the child to blow out the candle and we will have birthday song.

For the overstimualted parents and children in HK it is very hard to introduce a Montessori Party to them. Someone said “It is boring!!”
Will you try this kind of party for your children’ birthday?

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What a silly teacher I am……

Today, a child came with a pair of beautiful sandals. However, these sandals were hurting her feet. Then my co teacher removed her sandals and ask me to wrote on the communication book to note her parents.

What I wrote is

Dear Parent,

E’s feet are hurt because the sandals so we let her bear feet in the classroom………………………………………..

Regards,

Ms Angie

When I came back home I realize what the big mistake I have made. So embrassing ><, I am thinking how can I explain to the parents and the co teacher tomorrow. Please don’t ask me write in such a hurry, I have to prepare mind.

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