Montessori Decimal System

Teachers' hand -made golden bead materials - Presentation tray

Montessori Mathematics approach is unique for many reasons. The daily life provides the young children with mathematical awareness concept. Children normally hear words like - “you are 2 years old now” or its 7.00 o’clock” etc. Mathematics materials presentations begin with the quantity, then the symbol and finally the association between the quantities and symbols. Introducing the presentation tray In my Montessori training, Montessori math materials were my adorable activities.Therefore today I just wanted to share our recent work with the golden bead material. One incredible thing about the Montessori math materials is the sensorial exploring aspect on them. This material introduces the child to decimal system,quantity and place value through activities in the operations of addition, multiplication, subtraction and division. Many resident teachers at our converted classrooms have been considering for a long time on purchasing this piece of material which seemed rather expensive. In our recent in-house refresher training we reviewed on the presentation steps for this material and introduced the teachers on the ways of making less costly bead material. The teachers celebrated the idea since they were sure of teaching the material to children in the near future at their classrooms. Baan Pangkorn School resident teacher building the - Bird's eye view/45 layout bank materials in card layout order.

Mae sot and Chiang rai - In-House Refresher Courses

“The teacher’s task is no small or easy one! He has to prepare a huge amount of knowledge to satisfy the child’s mental hunger, and he is not, like the ordinary teacher, limited by a syllabus”. Dr. Maria Montessori

Like students, teachers also need to learn and refresh their knowledge to succeed in a world that is changing rapidly. They need to be prepared to educate the needs of the child in their development.

Early this month, 54 eager resident teachers from our previous Montessori converted classrooms attended our annual in-house refresher courses at Mae sot and Chiang rai respectively. Together they spend happy hours deeply engaged in the listening to lectures, watched materials presentations and learnt how to give the presentations as well.

This year our in-house refresher course was uniquely designed with variety of lessons to lift our spirits and our minds and to help participants fully understand how to recognize and examine the child’s preparation to writing, observation, the key role of the peace table (or corner) in the classroom, creating that dynamic and vibrant learning atmosphere, grace and courtesy among other interesting topics.

With all the materials readily in the room, the teachers had an opportunity to practice during the training sessions, review, discuss and share ideas together. The participants also gained challenging and interesting material variations and extensions activities that will fully involve the children in their learning abilities

The lifeprep foundation team was also featured during part our training sessions and they highlighted on the ways of improving the teachers' teaching skills through fun- play to children as part of their daily learning activities. The team also introduced the Dr. Richard Haugland materials and instruction which emphasizes on Thai and English Languages skills as well as mathematics. Please read more at http://www.schsf.org/

“The real preparation for education is the study of one's self. The training of the teacher is something far more than the learning of ideas. It includes the training of character; it is a preparation of the spirit.” Dr. Montessori.

Mother’s Day Celebrations

Kneeling down for mothers

Annually the Mother’s day is celebrated at different calendar dates in every country. In Thailand, Mother’s day is a special day celebrated on the Queen’s birthday, August 12^th.

A hug for mother

Last week we celebrated Mother’s Day at all our Montessori converted classrooms. We explained to the children on the importance of this day and read them stories related to mothers and mother figures. The children learned on many ways to appreciate and pamper their Mothers at home.

Throughout the week this was a wonderful time filled with preparations for this special day. The children were involved in the rehearsing of songs and poems which expressed their love to their mothers and mother figures. Eventually, all the mothers were invited to the schools and classrooms, the children kneelt at their mothers’ feet as they paid respect to their mothers and presented flowers and cards -some had tears flowing freely as a sign of appreciation. Later special food was also served to mark this special day. Happy mother's day!

A flower for mother and a big smile too!

Teacher preparation center (TPC) training in Mae sot

Recently the KLDF Montessori team provided a 3 day in-house Montessori based training to 75 Burmese teachers in Mae sot district. The training focused to provide the teachers with Montessori classroom management skills, understanding the child development periods/stages, creating a beautiful learning environment, being a good role model (teacher) and how to make applicable teaching aids using recycled materials based on the Montessori principles.

A week earlier we collected all the necessary materials like discard card boards, threads, plastic lids/bottles, scrap papers and various natural objects.

Each day we designed some of the Montessori based materials in the math, language and Art. Throughout the training, teachers (participants) portrayed great enthusiasm. Most of them learnt and discovered the importance of using readily available materials found around their surroundings, to make learning aids with less or non-costly materials/object by also implementing the Montessori principles.

The clip below covers the training activities as they took place. Enjoy watching!

Pounding activity



Pounding activity



In Thailand and throughout South-East Asia   – Som tum (green papaya salad) is a classic Thai dish, made from pounding the ingredients using the mortar and pestle. In our Montessori converted classrooms we included this Practical life activity to train the children fine motor skills, concentrate and master the skill of pounding. We began by collecting so many eggshells, rinsed and dried them and brought them to our classrooms.  The children found this activity so exciting, and they all began bringing eggshells from home each day.  

Coordination and concentration

Scooping and transfering the eggshell content

The children enjoy smashing eggshells carefully without dropping any bits! For most of them this is Som tum pounding as they imitated their parents. Later, they use a spoon to transfer the content into a bowl which they extend the activity to a perfect art work by gluing the grounded eggshell dust onto paper.

Likewise, the children sprinkle the egg dust into the flower pots in the classroom environment to enrich the soil.

Most children are familiar with the Practical life activities and are naturally drawn to them through their keen observations. The child watches and copies the parents perform these activities hence grow a desire to experience with them. For children, there is something unique and exciting about the tasks that adults consider ordinary.

These activities also provide the foundation for success in the Montessori classroom, and in addition the child to gain control in the coordination, build independence, self-esteem, increase concentration and adapt to his/her social society. Generally, these activities satisfy the child’s needs for meaningful activity and respond to the child’s special periods for development. (Sensitive periods).

Wonderful Learning Journey

It is that time of the year again when our thoughts, energies and efforts turn towards preparing for the conversion of new Montessori environments. In this school year, we are involved with conversion of 6 new classrooms 2 in Chiang rai and 4 in Mae sot areas with a total of 206 children.

The beginning of a new school year is an exciting time for everyone as we meet new friends, new parents, new teachers and new environments. In the Montessori classroom, this is the time for transition and definitely the time when teachers try to settle new children in. Grace and courtesy are always helpful lessons that assist the children to begin build their independence.

At our current 6 classrooms, we spend the first week orienting the children- showing them the various important places around their environment for example where to find drinking water, toilet, places for their shoes and bags etc. We also showed/ demonstrated as well as modeled small group lessons. We emphasized on how to greet a new friend using eye contact, how to say thank you, how to invite a friend among other social relations.

At the moment the children are on a wonderful learning journey and as we all know, Montessori classrooms focuses more on the process than the finished product........ therefore would like to welcome our readers to relax, enjoy and take every moment as we watch the journey unfold.

Please enjoy our before and after classroom setting up video below:

Recent Updates.

The prepared environment goes far beyond child sized furniture and equipment. As Montessori teachers, the first thing is to prepare ourselves so that we may guide and assist the children to learning on their own interests and pace.

Khomloy Montessori project has continued to deliver in-house training to various resident teachers and teacher staff. Recently, we conducted two week Montessori basic training to 22 teachers from different schools and organizations. The training focused on the Montessori philosophy and was also organized to provide the teachers with knowledge to enable them guide the children and be observers with ultimate goal to remain unobtrusive as possible.

Please see some clips of the activities below: 

It was such an exciting moment as the teachers portrayed positive and open minded individuals with a true believe in Montessori philosophy.

Congratulations!

Just graduated!

After an industrious year of hard working we have come to the conclusion of our largest converted Montessori classrooms in Mae sot. Baan Tha aad Montessori children graduated with a colorful ceremony last week. Although it is not a common practice for the pre-school to graduate, this ceremony was meant to mark the end of the school year of children’s time in kindergarten and transition to grade one.

The young students stood happily to recognize this special day with joy and laughter as they celebrated their accomplishments. The ceremony was attended by parents, relatives of the young graduates, friends and teachers who gathered to witness this truly proud day.   



This was also an exceptional great journey for our teacher trainers, and we believe that we have contributed to helping the Burmese migrant children become independent and gain self-confident. Most of them have become passionate learners, and therefore we would like to wish them the very best of luck as they join grade one in the next school year.

Cultural experience - The ASEAN flags.

ASEAN flags

In our recent trip from Mae sot we noticed colorful flags hanging beautifully each town, school and government office that we approached. We had seen the flags before but nothing significant had ever crossed our minds. Yes! We are talking about the Association of Southeast Asian Nations – ASEAN flags. This includes ten countries – Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam, Myanmar, Brunei, Cambodia, Philippines and Laos. Their main goals include improving the economies of member countries, as well as protecting and peace between the neighboring nations.

Dr. Maria Montessori was a strong advocate of peace education for children, and therefore needed children to develop as members of society and as independent individuals that support not only life but a good way to live.

Besides, ASEAN also calls to come together to ensure their young citizens in the classroom become aware of the many connections that bind them together.



Working with ASEAN flags matching cards

Immediately I imagined how beautiful the children at our classrooms would enjoy exploring the ASEAN community as part of their cultural lesson. I wrote the lesson plan and shared with my colleagues on how we could develop materials for the lesson. We introduced the lesson to a small group of children and later to individual child. We began our study by enriching the children with experience of the culture in which they are familiar before expanding to other cultures and places.

We brought pictures of ASEAN countries and their respective flags.  The flags brought a special attraction to the children. We learnt and discussed each flag as much as the children interests could hold. Later, we noticed the children physically engaging their “hands on material”. Some chose to practice walking carefully on the line with the flags and amazingly most children have mastered the flag’s names and colors as well.

Colouring the Thailand flag

The children have learned to appreciate the similarities and difference found around the ASEAN community, by recognizing the uniqueness found in food, music, greetings, holidays or festival celebrations, animals, plants, landforms, special religion or culture traditions as they make comparisons of their lifestyles with others. The lesson has also promoted an understanding to value difference in dressing, color, thoughts and physical appearance among others. The children have become more positive in their social skills approach in appreciating and strengthening their friendship with their peers and teachers from the ASEAN community and other countries in the world.

Happy New Year - 2014!

Happy new year and a warm welcome to our readers. I hope you had a restful holiday. Now we are back, and we would like to thank you for reading and following our previous blogs.

As we take time to appreciate what the new year brings, we intend to take you through a series of activities and happenings at our Montessori project this year. First we are happy to mention most of the students at our various Montessori converted classrooms have internalized in their works and a commendable number of them have mastered their number operations and reading simple Thai sentences with much ease. We have also added more advanced works on our shelves to cater for the children development interests and challenge them too.

The second week of the January we had so much fun sharing gifts on the national children’s day celebrations which is observed allover Thailand.

This year we expect to increase the number of the current over 50 converted classrooms in our project to 6 more new classrooms at both Chiang rai and Mae sot areas. We also anticipate to network with other organizations and expand the Montessori project inside Burma and the environs.

Best wishes to all and keep reading our updates this year…

Thanks