THE MONTESSORI TOOL BOX - THREE PERIOD LESSON

Last week we looked at the #1 tool in every Guides tool box, which is observation. I hope you took a minute at home to observe your child! Now let's take a peek at another tool Guides use every day in their work in the classroom - the three period lesson. 

Dr. Montessori developed this as a universal standard to guide how we present new information to children. The first period or stage is a brief demonstration of the concept. In a language lesson, for example, "this is a triangle". In math work, "this is how we do division". The second period is typically the longest of all. Here the child, with guidance as needed, works with materials to explore and gain understanding of what we introduced. The final or third period is a check of understanding. In the language lesson, we might ask "what is this?" When the child responds "a triangle" then we know they are ready to move on with the next lesson. 

In the Montessori classroom, children spend the majority of their time NOT in a lesson. They spend it in the second period, that of active engagement and exploration. This is quite a departure from more traditional education methods but it is a better way for children to learn. Give the idea a try at home! Invite your child to join you in the kitchen and introduce a kitchen tool to them. Say "this is a masher" and demonstrate how to use it. Then invite your child to mash potatoes with it. Setting this up when your child is young will prepare the way for them to learn all the fun things later, like how to use the mower or drive the car. Those days are coming!

SUMMER CAMP SIGN UP IS LIVE!

Summer Camp at CMS starts June 3rd and ends July 26th. Casita & Children's House students can enroll for one month or all summer. The YMCA camp enrolls weekly. We also have some special weekly camps for Upper El and Adolescent students. Click on the links below and browse around for more info.

• Casita & Children's House students sign up here with CMS for camp
• Elementary students sign up here with the YMCA for camp  ***NOTE: The YMCA sign up for CMS begins on week 2 of their summer program. They have other locations offering camp the week of May 27th.  Please go by the dates listed to ensure you are signing up for the weeks you want. 
• Adolescent & Upper El students students can sign up here for 4 weekly camps from our Nova Guides. Each week has a different theme!