oceanstatemontessori

When Children Can't Go to School

Fri, 20 Mar 2020 22:34:17 GMT

With our remote learning plans being implemented due to COVID-19, we know many of our little friends will want to know why they can't go to school and see their friends and teachers. If you need guidance answering these sorts of questions from your children, our awesome teachers have put together the following FAQ that you might find useful.

How to talk to your child about why they can’t go to school

Answer only the question being asked.

Why can’t I go to school today?

School is closed today.

But why is school closed?

Sometimes we need to practice being safe by staying home.

Why?

Just like in your classroom at school, you practice being safe for different situations. Sometimes you need to be safe by going outside (fire drill). Sometimes you need to be safe by staying inside and practicing being quiet (a Montessori moment). Sometimes you need to be safe by staying home.

Why? Isn’t it safe to go to school?

Yes, school is safe.

Why can’t I go if it is safe?

Right now, we need to stay home so we don’t give any germs to our friends or get any germs from our friends. That’s how we need to practice being safe now.

When can we go back to school?

When school is open again.

When is that going to be?

I will let you know as soon as the school tells me.

With older children you can talk about how they can do their part by washing their hands and staying at home until it is time to go back school. You can also talk about how people in the government and medical fields are working hard to keep everyone safe and healthy. They have asked all of us to practice being safe by working from home.

Most of all, during this difficult time we simply encourage you to be compassionate — toward yourself and your children. We have never experienced anything like the current crisis, and all of us are pioneers.

For more resources, please visit: www.oceanstatemontessori.org/COVID-19_updates

Constructive Play

Tue, 10 Mar 2020 17:15:10 GMT

In the Extended Day classrooms, one of the most commonly used works are the building works, or things that induce “constructive play.” At a first glance, these materials may seem purely fun, but upon closer inspection it becomes clear just how much learning and growth can happen with this kind of play. From the giant set of outdoor blocks housed on the playground, to the bigger wooden blocks in the classroom, smaller magnetic tiles, and even play-doh and paper scraps, there is a wide variety of materials that children use daily that engage these constructive play muscles.

By working together, children hone their collaboration, communication, and problem-solving skills: “Where should we put this piece?” “Will this one fit there?” They practice making comparisons based on length, weight, and height; and use terms related to spatial awareness (above, below, beside, etc.): “Maybe if we put this one behind that one it will fit!” They also get to use those handy geometric terms they learn about in the morning: “Let’s use the cylinder for that part.” “How about we put the cube on top?”

While all of this is happening, the students are practicing their fine motor, gross motor, and hand-eye-coordination skills. They use logical reasoning to plan structures, figure out order, and learn about cause and effect. Best of all, they are being creative and imaginative with these open-ended materials! The same material one day may be a space ship, and the next day has transformed in someone else’s hands to a castle or a bunker.

In the end, they are often eager to share their creations, explaining what they’ve made and what obstacles they had to overcome to make it work. As outside observers we get to see the amount of hard work that goes into these creations and the pride that results when the task is completed. And all of it happens while they’re having fun!

“The environment itself will teach the child, if every error he makes is manifest to him, without the intervention of a parent of teacher, who should remain a quiet observer of all that happens.” - Dr. Maria Montessori

How Was Your Day?

Mon, 10 Feb 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Does this sound familiar?
Parent: “How was your day?”
Child: “Fine.”
Parent: “What did you do today?”
Child: “Nothing.”

As a parent of two children this was a common conversation on our drive home from school, and my frustrated response certainly did not encourage further conversation! Implementing some different strategies has improved my communication with my children regarding their day at school.

Here are some tips for engaging your child in conversation about their school experience:

• Ask your questions later in the day.
When you get home from a long day at work usually some time to decompress is necessary. The same is true for children. They expend a great deal of energy throughout the day and allowing them some time to relax will likely lead to a more in-depth conversation later.

• Ask specific questions.
Asking generalized questions will lead to generalized answers. Instead ask specific questions about the day.
What was served for snack today?
Whose turn was it for the calendar?
What did you play at recess?
Which work was your favorite?
What songs did you sing?

• Learn the language and material names used in the classroom.
A child may not have the necessary language yet to describe the work they did. Asking questions about specific areas or works in the classroom may encourage further discussion. Some common areas and works in the primary classroom include: 
Practical Life: scooping, pouring, squeezing, twisting 
Sensorial: Pink tower, broad stair, cylinder blocks 
Language: Sand paper letters, moveable alphabet 
Math: Spindle box, hundred board, bead cabinet 
Writing: Push pin, metal insets, name tracing, handwriting books

• When all else fails, trust.
There may be days you don’t get the answers you are looking for and you are left with an image of your child doing nothing all day. Rest assured that in a Montessori classroom rich with materials your child is learning every day. Whether as an active participant manipulating the materials, or as an observer soaking in what is around them, your child is always learning.

My Montessori Experience

Tue, 14 Jan 2020 15:27:36 GMT

Wow, it’s been about nine and a half years since my last day at Ocean State Montessori School! It seems like almost yesterday that I was playing with the number chains, solving math problems, and learning to read, even though it was nearly a decade ago. Montessori was such a memorable experience to me for many reasons. One of these reasons being my fantastic teachers, Ms. Leah and Ms. Elly. Your two teachers taught me the fundamentals of education; how to read, how to write, how to add numbers, and so on. That was nine and a half years and I still remember every little detail. It takes two fantastic people to leave an impression like that on a student. All of you are very lucky to be going to this school with such amazing teachers, faculty, and education. Soon you will be standing in my shoes, reminiscing about the great times you had and the people you met. One of my closest friends to this day I met on the playground of Montessori. This is a perfect time to try new things and talk to new people you normally wouldn’t talk to, so go ahead and do it! You never know, but you may meet someone who will be a close friend in 9 years! School may seem challenging now, but appreciate the time you have with your teachers and the wonderful environment you’re in, because you won’t have a similar educational experience to the one you’re receiving now.

Labels, Labels, Labels

Fri, 06 Dec 2019 15:17:35 GMT

If you ever see me in my car, you’ll know that I drive a Subaru Outback. How do you know that’s what it is (besides the fact that it’s adorable)? Because my car is labeled “Subaru Outback”. You might even be able to tell where I bought my Subaru Outback—there’s a label for that too.

I have labels on all the spice jars in my pantry. I might not use half of those spices, but they look really nice on the shelf, and when I find out someday how to actually use marjoram, I’ll know just where to find it.

We just had our first Parent Education Night of the school year...and we all wore our labels.

My dogs have labels, in case they get lost.

We are a society that labels. We label for identification, for clarity, for advertisement purposes, for bragging rights (“I’m a big sister!” tee shirts).

In a classroom, labeling makes the difference between finding your child’s jacket (that he left on the playground) hanging neatly on his hook rather than having to dig through the lost and found basket. Labeling means that your child will not be frustrated by trying to put her classmate’s size 4 boots on her size 6 feet because they are both the exact same shade of hot pink. Labeling means that everyone who brings in black snow pants from LL Bean will be able to put on the right ones even in the mass confusion that is “getting ready for recess” in the winter time. Labeling means the right Knuffle Bunny goes home with the right child.

So please label everything that you can—coats, hats, sweatshirts, boots, shoes, slippers, maybe even socks, and underwear. But not your kids; we really do know who they are!

Putting on a Coat Independently

Thu, 07 Nov 2019 18:55:28 GMT

“Teach me to do it myself!” could well be the refrain for the preschool child, and working towards independence is extremely important for your child. Putting on their own coat independently is one way your young child can feel competent, and a child who feels capable without needing to rely on Mom and Dad for everything is a child who is developing self-confidence.

We use a technique called the “Montessori Flip” in our classrooms and we wanted to share it with you as the weather turns chillier.

1. Ask the child to lay her coat down flat on the floor. (The inside of the jacket should face up).
2. Ask the child to put her toes by the tag...
3. Then crouch down and push her hands in the sleeves .
4. The child stands up fully, lifting both arms simultaneously up. She uses momentum to lift and flip the coat over her head.
5. Adjust the coat, if necessary, and...
6. Zip it up!

There’s a song that goes with the sequence. To the tune of “There were ten in the bed and the little one said roll over, roll over” sing the following: “Put your toes by the tag and your hands in the holes, flip it over! Flip it over!”

That last step, zipping the coat, can be tricky for young fingers. We guide the child by standing behind their body so they can clearly see the zipper. We initially hold our hands over theirs so they can get the feel for the resistance that’s needed as the zipper is pulled up. As we guide the child’s hands to insert the pull tab into the slider head we sing (to the same tune): “You put the worm in the hole and hold on tight, zip it up! Zip it up!”

Another trick is to refer to the pull tab as a banana that goes into the monkey (you guessed it, the slider head) then the monkey climbs a tree (the zip gets zipped up!). Talking about a cheeky monkey can add some well needed silliness to a sometimes frustrating task.

You can further foster independence at home by installing some low hooks for your child to hang up her own coat –they can be independent in putting away their outside wear, or a dowel in your coat closet at child height so they can hang their coats on hangers.

"If teaching is to be effective with young children, it must assist them to advance on the way to independence. It must initiate them into those kinds of activities which they can perform themselves and which keep them from being a burden to others because of their inabilities. We must help them to learn how to walk without assistance, to run, to go up and down stairs, to pick up fallen objects, to dress and undress, to wash themselves, to express their needs in a way that is clearly understood, and to attempt to satisfy their desires through their own efforts. All this is a part of an education for independence."
—Dr. Maria Montessori

Freedom Within Limits

Thu, 05 Sep 2019 13:58:51 GMT

Freedom within limits. What does that mean? It sounds like an oxymoron. Too much freedom in a classroom creates chaos while too many limits are stifling.

For a child to develop skills to know how they learn best, to have ownership over their own education, to be independently curious, to follow their interests, to seek out information, to challenge themselves, to struggle through challenges, to experiment and fail, and to learn for the sheer love of learning, they must have freedom to explore.

In a Montessori classroom, children must have privileges to move, choose, make mistakes, take their time, have responsibility, problem solve and repeat work. This autonomy is built into the Montessori environment, curriculum and work time. However, independent and self-directed learning is only possible if there are clear parameters and expectations in which the child’s exploration is done. These are the limits -or rules- of safety and respect. Our students are taught to be safe and respectful with themselves, with others, with the materials and with the environment.

“To let the child do as he likes when he has not yet developed any powers of control, is to betray the idea of freedom... Real freedom, instead, is a consequence of development; it is the development of latent guides, aided by education.” —The Absorbent Mind, Maria Montessori

In our community, students have the right to say how they feel but the responsibility to be respectful. Learning the social skills necessary to get their needs met while respecting the feelings of others is a major part of the primary curriculum. This is done mostly through modeling and grace and courtesy lessons. These lessons help the children independently navigate social situations.

The prepared physical environment and the teachers act as the child’s guides in the classroom, helping them understand the limits and reminding them of their benefits. These are the rules of freedom. For example, we push in our chairs to be safe. What would happen if all our chairs were left out? We are not instructing a child which chair to sit in, but we are instructing the child to be a thoughtful member of a group, no matter where they choose to sit. Students are taught to return work to the shelf where it belongs and to make sure it is ready for the next person. What would happen if we didn’t do this?

The Montessori environment is prepared very carefully. The work materials are well ordered and have a purpose. Each item is specifically designed to teach a concept or skill. The work has a built-in control of error, or self-correction, that allows the child to work independently.

Learning to intrinsically follow the rules because it benefits everyone and everything around us is one of the foundations of a classroom that can function cooperatively and peacefully as a harmonious place of learning. If we have the freedom to move, explore, talk, collaborate, teach, discover, make mistakes, take responsibility, help others, accept help, practice patience, delay gratification, and repeat a process as many times as we need, we learn how to do these things intrinsically. In a Montessori classroom, children are not doing these things to get a sticker or toy or to avoid a punishment – they do them because they benefit themselves, others, and the environment in which we live. Freedom within limits teaches children how to become responsible, respectful, confident and independent learners.

“The child who has never learned to work by himself, to set goals for his own acts, or to be the master of his own force of will is recognizable in the adult who lets others guide his will and feels a constant need for approval of others.” — Education and Peace  , Maria Montessori

Summer Learning - How to Keep Your Student Engaged Out of School

Mon, 30 Jul 2018 12:59:02 GMT

The start of the summer tends to line up with the end of another school year. And you know what that means: summer vacations, planning childcare, scheduled activities and more. Making sure your children have fun in the sun doesn’t mean they can’t learn while they’re doing it! Instead of babysitters and streaming cartoons, here are some fun activities or opportunities to keep your child’s mind geared towards learning year-round.

Gardening

Whether it’s the “I can do it myself!” phase for 0-6 year olds, or the “I can think it myself!” for the 6-12 year olds, gardening is a great opportunity for learning. Not only can they learn how plants grow with a proper mixture of sun, nutrients, and water, but they can also practice personal responsibility and being in charge of watering the garden or houseplants. You can build off of the garden for different crafts or learning: learning about butterflies and drawing or coloring new ones, teach them about vegetables and healthy eating, and more! Fruits & vegetables by the end of the summer is a tasty way to show the results of hard work.

Libraries

Summers are the busy time of year for libraries, as most offer summer programs for children and teens when schools get out. Visiting the Weaver or Riverside libraries can encourage that self-directed learning as they pick out books, help them practice reading, and help with that tricky bridge of abstraction—switching from concrete to abstract thinking. There’s always story times that can be fun for the little ones as well!

Exploration

What child doesn’t want to spend time running around outside when the weather is warm and the skies are clear. Finding nearby parks and trails to explore is that balance for both. Give them the opportunity to feel the breeze and bring a native plants & animals book to see if they can spot them. Parks like the Rose Larisa Memorial Park also offer fun history about Rhode Island.

Home Clean Home...

Wed, 11 Apr 2018 16:31:32 GMT

How to Make Household Chores Fun for your Kids

Maybe it’s just us, but we strongly feel that the word “chore” is given a bad rap. The term implies a task that is taken up unwillingly. It often refers to a household duty that detracts from something you, or even your children, would rather be doing instead. Why vacuum the living room when you could be enjoying a good book on the couch? The kids are in the middle of watching a movie — do they really have to fold the laundry?

This approach to a household chore is negative and unproductive. A more positive way of examining household jobs is to see them as how they are essential to making your living space function properly. By making chores engaging and entertaining for your children, you are encouraging the development of a healthy family environment centered on shared responsibility. Additionally, children are naturally interested in activities they have witnessed — including chores! Dr. Maria Montessori knew this and incorporated what she called “Practical Life Exercises” into the Montessori classroom. If your child is a Montessori student, most likely he is already folding laundry, cleaning up spills, watering plants, washing dishes and more. (And he's likely enjoying the process!)

"The children of three years of age in the 'Children's Houses' learn and carry out such work as sweeping, dusting, making things tidy, setting the table for meals, waiting at table, washing the dishes, etc . ... This has a truly educational, not utilitarian purpose . The reaction of the children may be described as a 'burst of independence'..." ~Dr. Maria Montessori, Childhood to Adolescence

Here are a few of our favorite ideas on how to split up household tasks amongst your family to promote both independence and teamwork.

Explain the Purpose

Telling your children why taking out the garbage helps the household function, or explaining how picking up their toys makes the house look nicer will make them feel part of the team that is your family. They know that if they are helping make your home beautiful and functional, that they are a valuable asset to your team while giving them the control to handle tasks themselves.

Turn Chores into Playtime

Turn household tasks into a creative game that your children want to participate in. For example—do you need your child to dust the furniture? Have them pick their favorite music so they can dance while they do that. How about folding the laundry? Become robots or action heroes with them and even re-create dialogue from their favorite movies—these things will have them looking forward to helping out!

Switch Up Routines

If your child wants to try a chore that they haven’t previously done before, such as helping prepare dinner, then you should encourage them to try it. (With your supervision of course!) Trying new things or having them help you with your chores is a valuable learning opportunity.

These life lessons on how chores can be positive tasks that promote teamwork and independence shouldn't just happen at home - they also need to happen at school. That’s where Ocean State Montessori is proud to come in. Our classrooms constantly present students with opportunities to develop practical life experiences, and challenge them with engaging tasks.

Chores Charts and Accomplishments

Reinforcing these life lessons will further develop a sense of responsibility that everyone helps out, and a sense of accomplishment for when the task is completed. Sitting down and creating a chore chart with your children allows them to be creative and have fun doing it, and involves them in the decision process of what needs to be done and why.

As each child complete their tasks, they can fill the chart in with silly drawings or fun stickers. This only encourages them further in adding to the chore chart, even asking to help with new chores. The more the chore chart fills up, the more colors and stickers fill the page. When the chart is complete, they can see for themselves how much they have helped out and bask in their newfound independence and the pride of a job well done!

For more information on how Ocean State Montessori promotes your child’s development and independence throughout the school day, call 401-434-6913 or email office@oceanstatemontessori.org to schedule a tour.

Educational Family Day Trips in Southern New England

Wed, 28 Mar 2018 12:36:27 GMT

Looking for activities that will keep your kids busy on the weekends or during spring breaks? Give their energy some focus by taking your family on these educational day trips in Southern New England.

There are plenty of great museums bringing history to life, entertaining outings with hands-on learning opportunities, and dazzling artwork displays. Here are just a few educational kids activities your whole family will enjoy.

Museums

Museum of Natural History and Cormack Planetarium

The Museum of Natural History is Rhode Island's only natural history museum and is home to the state's only public planetarium! The museum has served as a unique educational, scientific and cultural resource by offering exciting exhibits and programming that provide ways for children and families to learn about our world and its people.

Museum of Work and Culture

For the local history buff in your family, the Museum of Work and Culture shares the stories of those living in Rhode Island’s mill towns in the late 19th and 20th centuries. Your kids can experience what life was like through nine immersive exhibits, audio and video presentations, hands-on activities, and more.

Warwick Center for the Arts

Fresh on the heels of reconstruction, The Warwick Center for the Arts aims to unite the community through a variety of arts activities. Exhibits, art camp for kids, and workshops will help bring out your child’s inner Rembrandt.

Outdoor Educational Activities

Looking to get your kids outside? These outdoor educational destinations will have your family learning and having fun under the sun.

Roger Williams Park Zoo

Get up close and personal with the animals in one of the oldest zoos in the country at Roger Williams Park Zoo . What started as a small animal collection in 1872 has now grown to the home of more than 160 animals in natural looking surroundings. Other activities include rides and an ever-expanding list of special events.

Save The Bay

With a hands-on experiential learning approach, Save The Bay environmental educators introduce families to everything Narragansett Bay has to offer. Your child can discover local marine life through Seal Watch Cruises, Bay Adventure Boat Trips, BayCamp, and the Exploration Center and Aquarium.

Green Animals Topiary Gardens

Delight your kids with a trip through the Green Animals Topiary Gardens . Featuring over 80 pieces of topiary, your kids can explore living plants sculpted into birds, animals, geometric shapes, and ornamental designs.

To feed your child’s hunger to learn even more, Ocean State Montessori School fosters independence, self-esteem, and a lifelong love of learning for children in preschool through sixth grade. Learn more about providing a strong education for your child by visiting the Ocean State Montessori School website or calling 401-434-6913 .

Homework: Montessori Style

Thu, 15 Feb 2018 14:35:48 GMT

Activities to do at home that support the learning that happens at school

So often in our conversations with parents, Montessori teachers are asked, “What can we do at home to help our child succeed in school?” We’d like to take this opportunity to discuss what “homework” can be done to support what our students are doing in their classrooms.

Our goal is to make homework practices meaningful and effective. As with the work in our classrooms, our desire is that homework is child initiated. However, we also encourage that homework become a collaborative practice among the family based on the interests of the child. One purpose of completing homework that is separate from the task itself is to create productive work habits outside of the classroom. Inside the classroom, the students’ work expectations are rigorous and therefore, homework should not derail the stamina they are building up each day. Children should want to learn from their work, rather than feel burdened by it. Montessori has never advocated for giving an assignment and expecting it back by a certain date. Instead, Montessorians like to see that homework is incorporated into the child’s day at home, rather than be a specific task, squeezed into everyone’s already busy schedule because it “has to get done.”

As a true extension of the work done in the classroom, homework should support the areas of reading, language, math and practical life skills. Please consider the following suggestions and ideas to incorporate into your child’s daily routine as their “homework.” Find the things that excite and motivate your child to learn.

Reading and Language:

Read together. Take turns being the reader and the listener. Read books, magazines, comics, newspapers, menus, signs….there are unlimited options all around you!
Visit the library.
Keep journals or diaries.
Write letters, postcards, or even just notes to each other or to friends and family.
Play games with their spelling words. Search for them while you are reading or out in the community. Try playing the Popcorn game with them (ask your OSMS elementary student, they know what the Popcorn game is, and if not, here's a brief explanation: http://alonganderson.blogspot.com/2012/04/popcorn-spelling-game.html )

Math:

Practice fast facts in all operations, especially addition (up to 20) and multiplication (up to the 10s table). Make up stories about the numbers that are meaningful and interesting to your child. While we encourage them to memorize these facts, try to avoid teaching tricks and short-cuts. Those abstract methods will be addressed later on. Please note that in Montessori classrooms, we teach addition and multiplication before subtraction and division.

Practical Life:

Encourage your child to help out in the kitchen. Reading (or even creating) recipes is a great way to connect language and math as well!
Practice shoe tying! There are lots of neat tricks and methods that can make this daunting task easier.
Have your children participate in caring for living things at home, whether it’s your pets, your plants or your outside environment.
Visit museums and community events.
Explore volunteer options as a family.
Participate in sports, or a music or art class.
Encourage independence whenever at all possible. Tasks may take longer, or need to be done more than once, but in the end, your child is becoming a problem solver and an active learner, which makes them more prepared for the challenges they will face as they grow older.

New Year, New Approach - Resolutions for Parents

Mon, 05 Feb 2018 15:36:18 GMT

When it comes to your child’s education, it’s never too late to change your perspective or change your approach. The beginning of the year is always a great time to take into consideration what it is that you’d like to be better about - it could be exercise, eating healthy, reading more, etc. The same consideration can be taken on how you approach education and supporting your child’s academic life. Here are some great tips to make a difference with your parenting resolutions.

Leave Your Work Life at Work

This is easier said than done in an age where our work emails are on our phones. However, setting a time when you’ll stop checking your email and instead will check in with your child can make a world of difference. Even if your child doesn’t have homework (as is the case with most Montessori students), go over what he learned today and leave the emails until tomorrow.

Read More

Are you looking for a way to get your child interested in reading? Read with her. Even if she is able to read on her own, reading with your child (or even reading your own book while she is reading hers) fosters a passion for books and learning that will carry on throughout her lifetime--and it benefits you !

Remember Patience

Sometimes it’s easy to forget that a little patience goes a long way, especially after a busy day of work or errands. Whether helping with homework or just being a parent, showing patience (even if you’re faking it) can help reduce stress and foster a stronger relationship with your child.

Create a Daily Schedule

Develop a routine with your child and get him into the habit of being a proactive learner. Not only does it put your child in a frame of mind to focus and learn, but it also gets you into the habit of making regular time with him well. Even if he doesn’t need help, use the time to read together, tell family stories or do an experiment that supports what he's learning in school!

Talk with Teachers

Don’t fear Parent-Teacher conferences - staying in regular contact can help you pick up on what’s happening in the classroom, what your child might be enjoying or having difficulty with, etc. And for Ocean State Montessori School parents, don’t forget to check your mail pocket daily for important information, newsletters, etc.

The first few months of the calendar year are always a great opportunity to refocus on the positive changes you want to see in your life, and the same can be said for the changes you want to see as a parent. If you’re looking for a new opportunity for your child, consider visiting the Ocean State Montessori School , and don’t forget to read A New Parent’s Guide for further tips. You can also call 401-434-6913 or email office@oceanstatemontessori.org if you have any questions about Ocean State Montessori School’s programs, pedagogy or how the school partners with parents to create an academically excellent, interdisciplinary Montessori experience that nurtures each child's intellectual curiosity, connection with the natural world, academic accomplishment and social and emotional growth.

Sources:

https://www.parents.com/parenting/better-parenting/advice/10-real-mommy-resolutions/

https://www.brighthorizons.com/family-resources/e-family-news/2012-ten-new-years-resolutions-for-parents

What Should You Consider When Selecting a School for your Child?

Mon, 08 Jan 2018 18:12:56 GMT

There are few decisions you will make in life as impactful as where your children go to school. Not to put more pressure on yourself, but determining where your children will receive a quality education is a decision that will influence them through the rest of their lives. It really is a domino effect. Choosing the proper school at the preschool level leads to your choice for elementary school, which then impacts your decision on high school. Their performance and extracurricular activity participation in high school will open a door to their college decision, which will then lead to the career path that will make them happy and successful throughout the rest of their lives.

Every child is unique—deciding on your children’s education path is certainly not a “one size fits all” solution. On the contrary, you are their parent, and know your child better than anyone else. You know your children’s strengths, where they can grow, and what kind of educational environment will be best suited for them. But no matter how much you know and love your children, deciding on a school can still be an overwhelming prospect.

Here are a few things you as a parent should consider when selecting a school for your child.

Do Your Homework Before You Visit Any School
It’s important that you read about each of your possible schools carefully before scheduling an in-person visit. We recommend you examine each school’s profiles on review websites, such as GreatSchools.org , Yelp.com and the school’s Facebook page . However, reviews only get you so far—speaking to other parents, checking your local newspaper for articles about area schools, and carefully reviewing promotional materials published by each school will also help you to find out if a school is potentially a good fit for your child. Only when you get a good impression on a school’s academic offerings and reputation should you book a tour of the school.

Ask the Right Questions and Get the Right Answers
Choosing the right school for your child is all about getting proper answers to your top questions. We recommend you have a firm understanding of a school’s mission, their pedagogy and teaching philosophy, average classroom size, approach to disciple, parent community, and their options for extended day programs and enrichment activities.

Pay Attention to the School’s Features
How do the classrooms feel—do they give off a friendly or stern vibe? Are students allowed to move freely around the classrooms or do they sit still at desks? Do the teachers seem engaged and knowledgeable? What credentials do the teachers hold? Are the facilities clean and well maintained? Although you should never judge a book by its cover—the outside of a school may look dreary or dim, but the classrooms inside could be bright and vibrant—you must pay attention to all of these aspects when visiting a potential school for your child. There is no one right way of doing it—only you can determine the correct impressions to these observations.

As a parent, you want your child to have the very best. Part of that means giving them an exceptional education that they will carry with them forever. If you think Ocean State Montessori School would be a good fit for your child, please consider attending our upcoming Open House on January 18th from 9 am-11 am or scheduling a tour. Call 401-434-6913 or email office@oceanstatemontessori.org for more information.

Making Snack Time Fun and Rewarding

Tue, 02 Jan 2018 15:22:05 GMT

Snack is typically a favorite activity in the primary classroom. Everyone loves a good snack, but just as appealing is the independence that happens at snack time. First, the children get to decide when they are ready to eat and if the snack is something they like. Then they get to decipher a menu and serve themselves. After eating, (and doing dishes another favorite) not only is their physical need of hunger met, but their internal need for independence is satisfied.

Below are some ways to encourage independence through snack time at home.

Your turn for snack? Enlist the help of your child in preparing snack for their friends. Primary students are great at peeling cucumbers and carrots, using an apple cutter, or slicing strawberries.
Be creative! There are endless possibilities to create kid friendly snacks, that your child can prepare (I must warn you that Pinterest can be rather addictive). Have your child put fruit on a kabob, turn those apple slices into a race car by adding cut grapes with toothpicks for wheels. Use a small cookie cutter to make shapes out of bread and cheese.
No time to make a snack? Adding steps for independence can make snack time more rewarding. Include cream cheese with bagels so children get to practice using a butter knife. Add granola with yogurt, giving children the option of making a parfait.
At home keep portioned snacks in an area that your child can reach. Keep milk or water in a child sized pitcher so they can serve themselves a drink.

There are plenty of great ideas online to make snack time fun and rewarding. Try searching the following phrases on Pinterest for some excellent snack inspirations: "Snacks kids can make, Kid friendly snacks, and Child food preparation ideas - Montessori"

Things to Do With Your Kids this Holiday Season

Wed, 20 Dec 2017 17:18:08 GMT

While having your kids home for the holidays can be fun, it can also be hard to find things that will keep them occupied for the duration of their vacation. Most parents will go into vacation with confidence when it comes to keeping their kids busy, but kids can burn through activities faster than you think. Below you’ll find a few activities to do to keep your kids busy during their holiday vacation!

Find Activities in Your Community
During the holidays, there are usually many different things going on in your community that you and your family can take part of. If you’re looking for activities to take your kids to, you can check your local papers or community centers to check out all the fun events going on. Kidoinfo.com and Hulafrog.com are excellent resources for parents in the Providence area as well!

Public libraries can also be a great source of entertainment. Not only can you use the library as a resource to find events, there are also many events that happen at the library itself, along with computers and small reading areas. Libraries also often have storytimes for toddlers and young children, which can give parents a breather.

Staying at Home
If it’s logistically easier for you to stay at home with your kids and find fun ways to entertain them that way, here are a few ideas you could try out:

Read, Read, Read : Reading is an adventure! Pick their favorite book out from the bookshelf and cuddle up with some blankets the fireplace or windowsill. Better yet, make some hot cocoa or tea to enjoy while you read.
Get Cooking : find a recipe that all the kids will like and agree on, and make it with them! You can buy the ingredients beforehand (or take them shopping with you) and have them help you make the meal with you! This can inspire them to eat new things, and will also get them helping you in the kitchen.
Play Dress Up : this is also a great way to clean out any old and unwanted clothes you don’t wear anymore. Your kids look up to you, and will enjoy getting to dress up in your clothes, even if you don’t want them anymore.
Put on a Puppet Show : create your own puppets out of socks and write their own play, and they can even dress up and use props from around the house. If you have a camera, you can even record it for memories that will last a lifetime.

All of us here at Ocean State Montessori School hope you have a wonderful holiday!

Screen Time and Your Child

Tue, 12 Dec 2017 14:08:55 GMT

Imagine a child alone in a home with bowls of fresh fruit and vegetables on the table which are mysteriously replenished each morning. At first the child is quite satisfied with their meals, and knowing a bit about nutrition and fitness from health class, they even feel a measure of satisfaction from their lifestyle. One day while exploring the space, however, the child opens a door into a room filled with boxes of candy.

Eating five Snickers bars is inadvisable and will probably make you feel a bit ill. Perhaps child regrets their ill-advised spree and go back to the fruits and vegetables the next time they are hungry. The child eats a lime and discovers that it isn’t as pleasantly sour as that apple flavored lollipop. What was once the subtle flavor of the banana doesn’t seem to taste like anything at all. Nor does the apple taste sweet. The effort of opening up a pomegranate or pineapple which once piqued their curiosity and whetted their appetite now seems numbingly inconvenient.

One of my favorite pleasures as an educator is to impart an idea to children of what it was like to live in different times or places. In a recent discussion in the Upper Elementary room, some students were shocked to learn that sugar was not a common foodstuff until the 19th century. “So their food wasn’t ever sweet?” a student asked. I explained that they thought their food was sweet when they had honey or fruit. They simply didn’t know what they were missing.

Many times while studying history with elementary students a student will bring up previous generations’ lack of television or video games. It is an understandable reaction; screen time has become as integral part of their live just as cane sugar has, and with similarly complicated consequences.

As the rate of technological and social change quickens, the truth is that gadgets and their use are changing faster than scientists and sociologists can study their effect.

It is clear, however, that screen time has measurable effect on the social, physical, academic, and emotional lives of children. In the new guidelines by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the hard limits are as follows: No screen time for children under two. For children 2 to 5, less than one hour. It gets more complicated for older children. “Children today are growing up in an era of highly personalized media use experiences,” they write, “so parents must develop personalized media use plans for their children.”

As adults, our thoughts and reactions are to a degree determined by the neural pathways we’ve reinforced by repeated use. It is for this reason why frequent complaining leads to a more negative mindset. It is why our negative reactions to stress are so difficult to root out. Conversely, it is for this reason why practitioners of silent contemplation, meditation, and prayer report a great inner calm.

Now, imagine the mind of a child, incredibly plastic and still under construction. The pathways they use now are already developing into what will become the most well-worn and easily travelled paths in their mind. If the child’s entertainment diet is passive and of low quality, that may contribute to certain problematic attitudes in the classroom. Foremost is the idea that fun is effortless and gratifies instantly. Difficult tasks are not seen as opportunities for growth but as unpleasant obstacles to be avoided.

The Mayo Clinic notes that, “it's crucial to monitor the shows your child is watching and the games or apps he or she is playing to make sure they are appropriate. Avoid fast-paced programming, which young children have a hard time understanding, apps with a lot of distracting content, and violent media. Eliminate advertising on apps, since young children have trouble telling the difference between ads and factual information.”

Just as we humans love fatty, salty food due to our primordial craving for those two rare nutritional needs, we love distraction, gossip, and vicarious violence. Our interest in novelty and the lives of others were once the advantages of our long ago ancestors that allowed them to excel as humanity raced out of the horn of Africa to explore the world. Those same qualities, deep and dormant in our brains, are what keeps us and our children glued to screens until we turn off the blue light late in the evening and wonder why we can’t sleep.

This is no accident. The companies that make apps and video games are using this knowledge of neuroscience to design addictive programming. For children, that means making things faster, brighter, and louder. It means replacing humor based on language and context with non-sequiturs and silly voices. It replaces the metaphorical and the analogical with the literal. In short it replaces engagement with frontal brain function with tickling our basest instincts.

It is this kind of programming a child was thinking about when they told me recently that they didn’t like movies because they were too long. If a movie is too long, what will they think of a novel?

From a teacher’s perspective, the three things that screen time largely replaces is reading, sports, or unstructured play. The importance of the first two is beyond question, but first a word on unstructured play: it is the fancy scholarly term for what happens when you are consumed with some task and you look out the window to see your child playing with the cat, the neighbor, two rocks, and a stick. Whether or not there is supervision it is child-driven, child-planned, and child-centered. There are no rules, or if they are rules they are made up on the fly as two or more children learn about collaboration, communication, and compromise in real time. It is a child’s social education. For a child of 2-5 years old, it is at least as important as reading.

For the older children at our school, the most important task is that they develop a love of reading and the practice of it. Reading builds the knowledge of vocabulary and spelling which frees up time for that student to focus on other interests during the school day. It improves memory and analytical thinking skills. It assists the child’s development of focus and concentration. In the Montessori classroom this is called “normalization”. The normalized student is not bored or overwhelmed but can assert their own will to learn on their own terms. In the home this could simply be a child who is comfortable with silence.

How does one reduce and control screen time in their own home? There are as many answers to that question as there are students at the school. What is essential, though, is for the child’s parents to agree on a plan for their child’s diet of screen time and to cooperate in firmly enforcing the limits which are set. The child may be bored at first, and that is okay. The cultivation of the ability to endure boredom is linked to the practices of patience and tolerance. They may devour a book or go turn over rocks looking for bugs. They may count the bumps on the popcorn ceiling. It is okay. It is in that quiet that our truest natures reveal themselves. It is where we can hear the still, small voice of our conscience. Not everything good is easy. Not everything good is loud.