Montessori Tides School – Jacksonville Beach, FL

The Montessori Tides prepared environment is equipped with special didactic materials that are, according to Dr. Maria Montessori, “keys to the world,” because she carefully designed them to make the world accessible to the child. They also aid the child’s psychic development toward functional independence. She found children who are “functionally independent” are happy, well-adjusted children that can think for themselves, do for themselves, and are disciplined enough to understand the consequences of their actions.

Dr. Montessori developed the Montessori Materials over 100 years ago. In 1907, in the first Montessori Children’s House, she began experimenting on the effective use of the materials by allowing the children to freely explore with them while she observed how they responded to them. Because their use had proven to be so successful, today Montessori Tides authentic school still uses these materials to implement

As you may have remembered from our last blog we are focusing on the beginning of a new year on our growth from 2011. Last time we marked the growth in the child at Montessori Tides School. This time we mark the growth in the school itself.

Detailing this growth goes beyond an outward or upward measure. After all, real growth begins inwardly. As I have watched the school progress throughout 2011, I believe there are definite milestones worth admiring. Two of these milestones we have already discussed and celebrated. First, was the joy of having our upper-elementary classroom restored. Second, in 2011 we celebrated our 25th year in Jacksonville Beach.

An old proverb states that “as the twig is bent, so grows the tree.”We know that early childhood training does, indeed, set the direction of

As 2011 draws to a close, it’s great to look back at a year as beautiful as it was extraordinary, detailing its many marks of growth. When gathering my thoughts to write this blog, I had a snapshot picture come into my mind.  In the snapshot I saw a hand marked measuring line. Similar to the one my grandmother has on the inside of her closet door. Each year she marked the height of her children, so she could see how much they had grown.This visual equivalent of growth began to resonate with me and I accepted to solely adopt this view is only the visible result of the unseen process that growth really is. When I think back to a family growth chart there is always a year or so where the measuring line appears the same, having an

Safety

First and foremost, when selecting toys for your children, make sure they are child-safe. Check to see if they have been manufactured with non-toxic materials, have no sharp or jagged edges, or contain objects that are so small that the child may possibly choke on them if swallowed. (Children as old as 3, and sometimes even 4, still occasionally will put objects in their mouth). Ideally, the toy is made with a “child-safe seal of approval”  and constructed of natural wood, since plastic products usually don’t last as long.

Age-Appropriateness

Toys also need to be developmentally appropriate, so that they challenge the child’s intellect, without being too difficult or too easy. (When a child loses interest quickly, plays with the toy poorly, or destroys it, it usually means that it is not serving a need in the child, and is therefore not

Concentration: The hand and the mind in purposeful activity

One of the most calming activities for a child is concentration. This does not include passive, non-participatory concentration such as watching television or watching videos. The action must be something, which is controlled by the child so she can repeat it as often as necessary, and it must challenge her body as well as her mind.

The choice of purposeful activity is not as important as the level of concentration brought forth. Deep concentration can occur while digging in the sand, washing carrots, stringing beads, coloring, or doing a puzzle. The Montessori adult gives lessons, which are well thought out, logical and clear; she creates an environment, which fosters work, and she is always on the lookout for a child beginning to concentrate. When this happens she protects the child from interruption