Monday, June 27, 2011

Observation

This week I am teaching Observation in the teacher training program.  While this will be most theory and different styles of observing I am always amazed at how the class goes. 

Course Description
This course will answer the question “What is Observation?” &“What is the role of the teacher?”.
Other areas to be discussed are normalization, interactions, what affects the atmosphere of the 
classroom,and how to manage observers in the room.  Also to be explored are the design and 
operation of a Montessori pre-primary classroom.   It will present useful ideas on scheduling and 
planning, preparing the environment and lesson strategies.

At the Completion of this Course the Student should be able to:
  • Arrange the classroom areas, sequence the materials in a natural progression and order
  • Develop an age appropriate curriculum, set goals, implement class plans, and develop seasonal subject themes
  • Develop skill in making materials for all areas of the classroom
  • Develop a technique of observation to recognize how the interactions in the classroom affect normalization
  • Develop skills to evaluate, reflect and formulate in written form what we observe
  • To internalize the social, emotional, physical, and academic development of a child to meet his/her individual needs
  • Develop awareness of how outside influences will affect the atmosphere of a classroom

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Leadership or Management

I'm teaching in the teacher training program tomorrow, five hours of Classroom Leadership.  The first couple of years I taught this course it was titled, "Classroom Management".  How to manage a room of 24-30 three through six year olds in a Montessori setting.  The name has evolved, the ideas behind it have not and I find myself still calling it Management.  I see it this way: the entire training course is a course on Montessori Classroom Leadership, but I am going to cover topics of management.  Covering topics about: scheduling, planning, discipline, communicating with parents, environmental design, conflict resolution, etc.

My texts are:
1.)  A Teacher's Bag of Tricks, Greg Nelson
2.)  Think of Something Quiet, Clare Cherry
3.)  Please Don't Sit on the Kids, Clare Cherry--recommended
4.)  Montessori in the Classroom, Paula Polk Lillard
5.)  Positive Disciple, Jane Nelson--recommended

Friday, June 10, 2011

Summer ?

Five more days of school (When I began writing this post--we finished up this morning).

Humphrey is thriving in her 3-6 class and Magoo is moving right along in toddlers at Montessori.  Does summer break really need to come and disrupt this great rhythm of life we have going?

Humphrey is a little sponge these days, trying to soak up any knowledge she can possibly wrap her little brain around.  Just this week she began the cubing chains, yesterday following an incredible temper tantrum before school, she working so diligently on the 4 chain that she didn't even want to take a break for snack.

 
She is extremely interested in age right now and is constantly asking others how old they are and then translating that into how many ten bars and units they are.  For example, "Mama is three ten bars and six units".

What this summer has in store for us...
  • summer camp at school (while I work)  the themes for the summer are: dinosaurs, pirates, fun in the sun and Eric Carle.
  • lots of swimming in the pool
  • play dates at the park or in our pool
  • U2 concert at MSU--the girls get to spend time with their cousins and grandparents that weekend
  • the birth of another boy cousin...baby Matthew, Humphrey is tired of waiting.
  • I have a new boss starting July 1 and The Montessori Teacher Academy to keep me busy.