Every August, after weeks of preparation by our wonderful teachers, we welcome returning students back to school. They return to a classroom with many of the materials they know well from last year, and some new stuff to spice up. And so they did return last week. After weeks of preparation it’s so refreshing to see the kiddos eagerly attack their learning materials.
We see this by watching their hands at work. There is so much to do: from the five-year-old building complicated pyramids, to the four-year-old receiving his first writing journal or the 3-year-old rushing to her favorite pink frames. A great example (photo above) is cutting strips of paper. For a 3-year old, the simple act on it’s own is fun! It is also a wonderful way to develop the coordination that will soon be necessary to hold a pencil and correctly write letters and numbers.
“The hands are the instruments of human intelligence.”
–Dr. Maria Montessori
This week, we welcomed our eager new 2-year-olds. They watch the older kiddos intently, trying things out, they are all so quietly focused… Little by little they venture to a shelf that appeals to them, to try things out. That attractive little puzzle, the large beads that go on a string. Containers to open and close and bowls of water to pour. It’s a rich environment, and they are absorbed completely into it.
“The transition from one state to the other always follows a piece of work done by the hands with real things, work accompanied by mental concentration.”
Dr. Maria Montessori
