by Amanda Edmondson, Head of School “The environment must be rich in motives which lend interest to activity and invite the child to conduct her own experiments.”–Maria Montessori Montessori is a philosophy of education which integrates the child’s planes of development into the materials, design of the classroom, and the structure of each day. In our Elementary classroom through the somewhat drastic …
Montessori Phonics
by Danielle Hines “I feel very proud of me.”–TMS student receiving their first book at school Over the past six years, we have seen many “proud” moments at TMS–a Toddler recognizing their name card without their picture, a child completing their first map, or perhaps some of the proudest, when a Primary child receives their first reading book to take …
Teaching Civility at Home
by Danielle Hines “Human kindness has never weakened the stamina or softened the fiber of a free people. A nation does not have to be cruel to be tough.”–Franklin D. Roosevelt This week was mid-term elections and it gave us all a wonderful opportunity to teach the children about civility and honoring our civic duty as Americans. But with …
Creating a Montessori Playroom
by Danielle Hines How much is too much stuff? As we enter the holiday season (yes, it’s coming!), it is a wonderful time to reevaluate our homes and all the collections of legos, board games, TV character figurines, and tablet apps. We know it is extremely hard to limit the things in our household in regards to things your children love or …
Our Favorite Parenting Books
written by Danielle Hines, Lead Toddler Teacher Here at Tuckahoe Montessori School, we pride ourselves on being readily available sources for our parents. Along with years of experience working with children, we keep our Parent Library stocked full of resources that we have read and use in our classrooms. These books cover many topics from toilet training to the …
Transitioning to School: The Montessori Way
by Danielle Hines, Lead Toddler Teacher “Never help a child with a task at which he feels he can succeed.”–Maria Montessori Those long, summer days are coming to an end and schedules are beginning to look more consistent. Children crave consistency. Maria Montessori stressed the importance of routine when developing young minds, but it is hard to have a consistent …
A New Home For Tuckahoe Montessori School
The next chapter in the history of Tuckahoe Montessori School is about to begin! With the start of the 2017-18 school year, we will open our doors at 6818 West Grace Street, welcoming TMS students and their families to a beautiful, wooded, and centrally-located campus just two miles from our current location. Our new home will allow us to expand our …
In Praise of Shelves
Parents who are new to Montessori classrooms often remark on the beauty of the space, noting the order and the arrangement that facilitates independence for even our youngest students. Many are seeking methods of bringing some elements of the Montessori classroom into their own home routines, and our first suggestion is often the simple addition of low, easily accessible shelves …
Teatime: Grace and Courtesy for the Very Young
Our annual Mother’s Day Tea hosted by the Toddler Program is one of the highlights of the TMS Calendar. Mothers and their young children gather in a beautiful space to spend time in one another’s company. The enjoyment for adults and children is always so remarkable, and is, delightfully, replicable in the home. Teatime with a toddler — it’s a simple …