Moving and need to find a new school

finding a school

Question

We are moving. How do I find a great Montessori school in our new location?

Answer

There are three main routes I can recommend to help you find a school. First, just do an internet search for Montessori School near your new local. Get familiar with the names of the schools that exist. If there are none, maybe you should start one!

Next, ask around. A school's reputation means a lot and asking people who already live there (the librarian, your realtor, etc.) can give you a lot of information.

Third, go to the website for the Montessori association in that area.

March 20, 2023 by Maitri Admin

What do we offer our four-year-old who is starting to read?

Question

My son is four and understands the sound form of alphabets. He can also read simple three letter words. But we want to increase his reading abilities. What is a good way to start?

Answer

Excellent question. You can expand the phonetic words he's able to read with our phonetic reading cards (level 1 and level 2) and phonetic activity cards

If he doesn't know his phonograms/key sounds yet, you can introduce the phonogram alphabet. Once he knows those, encourage him to phonetically spell any word he wants by using the phonogram alphabet alongside the traditional movable alphabet. It is this practice building words and expressing their own ideas that really helps children love language. From there you can,... 

March 05, 2023 by Julia Volkman

Wedding Photos in Geography Cards

Question:

I'm wondering if you are aware that all of your 'wedding' photos in geography folder set 2 are heteronormative. If you have plans to adjust that I would love to hear about it. I felt the need to remove that theme from my folders. Otherwise I think the set is great! Thank you so much.

Answer:

Thank you for reaching out about this. We put a tremendous effort into choosing equitable photos for all of our geography cards. As you can guess, this was no easy undertaking! It took three years and many reviews with teacher trainers to iron-out the themes and photos that present an accurate portrait of cultures and people around the world. For each continent, we tried to represent proportionally the peoples on that continent. We were definitely not able to cover all of the gorgeous variety that makes up all of humanity. We did our best and hope that these cards are a starting point for greater conversations about the issue you raise.
February 27, 2023 by Julia Volkman

Which phonograms should be in the phonogram folders?

phonograms

Question:

I just bought two sets of phonogram booklets at our AMI/USA refresher. We love them! I'm wondering if you've ever made "sh" and "ch" and if it would be possible to have those two added to the set? Thoughts?

Answer:

Hooray! I'm glad they're working well for you! We intentionally don't include the sh or ch because the phonogram folders are meant to teach spelling variations, not phonograms. And yes, sh is also spelled with the ti(on) and ci(on) variations. However, those are not in Muriel Dwyer's book and it's not necessary to teach every spelling variation, just enough so we give the child confidence that they can crack the code on the rest.

 

The folders that are included all include common spelling variations in English, that's why we have a folder for j, s, and e (even though they aren't phonogram).

 

Here's a list of the folders and the spelling variations included in each one.

    Folder Key Sound

    Spelling variations

     ai ai, a-e, ay, ei
    au au, aw
    e e, ea
    ee ee, ea, e-e, ie, y
    er er, ir, ur
    f f, ph
    ie ie, i-e, igh, y
    j j, ge, gi
    oa oa, o-e, oe, ow
    or or, ore
    ou ou, ow
    oy oy, oi
    s s, ce, ci
    ue ue, ew, oo, u-e

     

    Again, you don't have to worry about teaching every possible pattern of spelling variation in English; that would be an overwhelming task. Instead, we just show the children enough examples to convey that English spelling follows some rules but also requires flexibility and practice. The rest comes with reading and writing experience.

    We hope this helps!

    February 22, 2023 by Julia Volkman

    Which phonograms are the right phonograms?

    Questionphonograms in montessori

    I purchased the Nienhuis montessori cursive sandpaper letters. The set includes 17 letters. It does not include the "ng" sound but does include : "er" "wh" and "au". Which one's do I need?

    Also, do you ever offer multiple sounds, like the way "g" can be both "guh and juh" or do you just stick to one sound? I've wondered this, particularly with many of the vowels. I should also teach "y" as making the sound "ee" because we also have "oy" that makes the alternate sound, right?

    November 29, 2022 by Julia Volkman

    Is my 10-month-old's development on track?

    Question:

    Infant questions

    I am raising two children. My daughter is 4 years old. My son is 10 months. He is not crawling. The difference between them is 3.5 years. But the feeling and state is like becoming a mother again for the first time.

    I recently noticed that he is more right sided. He can eat from a spoon. Little by little, he discovers the joy of movement. He really likes water.

    I suspect that difficult experiences I had while I was pregnant had an impact on his development (he had a pinched nerve in his neck at 6 months ). It seems to my husband that he is a little slower than his sister. My experience shows that boys mature a little slower and that is neither bad nor good. That's just the way it is. However, I don't know how to help him grow fully further - self-confident, brave, independent...

    It scares and obliges that the first year of the baby is the most important... How not to miss it...

    Maybe you can give me some advice on how to help my son grow up? There are only girls around...

    November 09, 2022 by Julia Volkman

    Homeschooling Three Girls

    Question:

    Good evening I have recently completed my AMI 3-6 Guide training and have three daughters at home ( 6 months, 2.5 and 4 years) and I have started setting up our basement with the intention to homeschool and wanted a bit of guidance as the space is not a typical classroom size. I’m leaving most of the practical life work upstairs near the kitchen but wanted to create sensorial language and math downstairs.

    November 07, 2022 by Julia Volkman

    Where to start with 4-year-olds

    Question

    starting montessori with 4-year-olds

    I understand that each child develops at a different speed. However, I was wondering if you have (or can recommend), content appropriate for the age of 4.5/5? I will be starting a new job as Nanny/Governess to twin girls of 4.5 and as i have only recently started my Montessori training, I am looking for content that will really help bring structure to the support I provide.

    October 31, 2022 by Julia Volkman

    Origin, history, methodology in albums?

    Question

    montessori teacher education

    Your albums does not consist of the first stage of teaching, Origin, history, methodology and application. Why is that?

    September 05, 2022 by Julia Volkman

    Phonogram Folders & Pink, Blue, Green series

    Question:

    phonograms

    I'm wondering if the phonogram folders kit correlates with the pink series in montessori or the blue or the green?

     

    August 18, 2022 by Julia Volkman