Giving Your Child a Gift ~ Montessori for the Kindergarten Year

Posted on by kathyscm
Santa Cruz Montessori Primary - Preschool and Kindergarten

Giving your children the benefit of their Montessori final Primary year is an irreplaceable gift. The foundation and exploration the children have previously experienced in their Primary class blossoms into a culminating experience in this final year. Here is what happens for five-six year-old children in a Montessori primary program: Children continue to thrive with … Continue reading Giving Your Child a Gift ~ Montessori for the Kindergarten Year

Seeing the True Child

Posted on by kathyscm
Santa Cruz Montessori Primary - Preschool and Kindergarten

How do we experience love coming to us from another?  Often people will say “this person truly sees me for who I am”.   One of the most important ways to “see” another is through listening and giving the other the gift of feeling heard.  We feel that this other person gets us, he “sees” us. … Continue reading Seeing the True Child

Teaching Children to Love

Posted on by kathyscm
Santa Cruz Montessori Wavecrest Jr High at Live Earth Farm

The purpose of the adult of the species, any species, is to ensure the success of the next generation. From bees to bears, from hyenas to humans, every adult’s job is to provide for the young. Someone did it for us. Now it is our turn to give back, ideally giving more than we were … Continue reading Teaching Children to Love

Your Presence Is Your Present

Posted on by kathyscm
Santa Cruz Montessori Elementary Garden

Do you ever worry about getting the “right” gift for your child or other special people in your life? Here are some gifts that come straight from the heart: The Present of Listening. How do we listen? We turn off our gadgets and focus on the person. We think in terms of their interests, dreams … Continue reading Your Presence Is Your Present

Giving our Children the Gift of Ten Little Words

Posted on by kathyscm
Santa Cruz Montessori Life Lab

At this time of year as we think about gifts for our children, sometimes the most important gifts are intangible. Montessori teacher and author Maren Schmidt writes in a “Kids Talk” column: “Being savvy in the social graces is called emotional or social intelligence. Emotional awareness and interpersonal skills are seen as significant factors in … Continue reading Giving our Children the Gift of Ten Little Words

Words of Gratitude & Thanksgiving

Posted on by kathyscm
Santa Cruz Montessori Primary - Preschool and Kindergarten

Our SCM staff and teachers would like to express our gratitude to SCM parents for sharing your children with us. We love your children and we love the work we do with them each day. From our staff and teachers’ own words, we are grateful for: Getting to witness the “ah-ha” moments students experience when … Continue reading Words of Gratitude & Thanksgiving

Normalization

Posted on by kathyscm
Santa Cruz Montessori Elementary

“How do you get them to do that?” Every now and then our school receives an unannounced visit from our State Licensing Analyst. Our analyst completes an inspection to make sure that we are following all childcare licensing regulations – everything from the expiration dates on the food in the refrigerator to the sign-in sheets … Continue reading Normalization

Oh that is so Adolescent

Posted on by kathyscm
Santa Cruz Montessori Elementary Music

The adolescent is defined as, “a person in the transitional period between childhood and adulthood”. However, the adjective “adolescent” may often be used interchangeably with “immature” or “foolish.” Dr. Maria Montessori did not see it this way. She believed that adolescents were deserving of the greatest respect as they make this great leap leaving childhood … Continue reading Oh that is so Adolescent

Eyes Wide Open

Posted on by kathyscm
Santa Cruz Montessori Primary - Preschool and Kindergarten

Being two years old is living with your eyes wide open! One of the delights of life (when you have the time) is taking a walk with the two year old in your life. You will discover many things you would otherwise miss: spider webs with drops of dew, a banana slug hidden beneath a … Continue reading Eyes Wide Open