Talking stick!

Montessori project peace table

Montessori peace education is actively promoted in our classrooms. Many symbols ( peace stones, peace roses, talking sticks etc) are used to emphasize this valuable virtue in teaching and modeling peaceful and positive communication in our classrooms. The peace education helps the teachers to remain aware of creating an environment that promotes peaceful individuals which requires they practice what they preach. For example: show kindness and speak respectfully to children, parents and colleagues etc.

Teachers busy making their talking sticks.

Our talking sticks circle - sun burst!

Dr. Maria Montessori once said: “Establishing lasting peace is the work of education; all politics can do is keep us out of war.”  Therefore, teachers ought to be the “Peace ambassadors” by demonstrating peace in our classroom, communities and the entire world as well.

During our recent basic Montessori in-house training, our participants made their own talking sticks symbol to encourage listening and speaking skills opportunities at their classrooms. Some joked how they would introduce the sticks to their spouse and families as way to enhance patience, understanding and taking turns while talking to each other at home.

Eventually, the teachers learned how to prepare a peace corner; table and garden as well as activities to encourage the children resolve their conflicts themselves without intervention of the adults.  The teachers also expressed the eagerness to introduce this important tool into their classrooms once converted into Montessori environments next school year.

Happily showing/celebrating our talking sticks

January 2015 updates:Basic Montessori Training at Mae Ra Moe Refugee Camp.

Happy belated new year! We are glad to welcome back all our readers. The year began with an exciting breath taking trip to Mae sarian District and further to the Mae Ra Moe refugee camp with a mission to provide basic Montessori training to the Karen Women Organization (KWO) pre-school teachers at the camp. On our way we were greeted with scenic sites, curvy roads, mountains, rivers and bridges etc. After our long bumpy and dusty journey we finally arrived at the camp security where we were advised to register our names before allowed to proceed.

Mae Ra Moe refugee camp journey

At the camp 

Next we ventured out to explore the camp and met with our translator who showed us various pre- schools at the camp.  We visited many rooms serving as classrooms though our attention was drawn to the largest KWO nursery classroom with over 150 children. The children had just finished having their lunch and were prepared for a 3 hour afternoon nap. At this time we had an opportunity to talk with 11 teachers who were busy watching after the children and we quickly realized the teachers needed skills to maintain a calm and peaceful classroom.

KWO nursery - nap time!

The following day we gathered together at one of the KWO classrooms which appeared to be well organized with a number of Montessori materials made and acquired by Paw Gay Htoo (KWO Education Manager) who had earlier attended one of the basic Montessori trainings in Chiang rai. Paw seemed quite passionate on the Montessori education approach and she has been keen to see the teachers understood and accept that each child is special, unique individual and beautiful gift entrusted into their care

Soon we began the training which was attended by 30 Karen state teachers. We focused on the Montessori classroom management, observation, lesson planning and record keeping, materials presentation and making among other interesting topics as requested earlier by the teachers.

Throughout the entire training period the teachers remained enthusiastic, asking questions and also fully participated in all activities.

Participants listening keenly -Lecture time 

Hands on material - Teachers practicing

More practice with  tissue rolls spindle material

We believe the training will ideally help the teachers and community members discover meaningful quality education and more importantly, our experience at the Moe Ra Moe refugee camp showed that the basics of the Montessori method works even in a refugee camp without the technical Montessori materials.

Nevertheless, our ultimate goal is that each child attending the Moe Ra Moe refugee camp pre-schools develops self-direction and acceptance, independence, attains interest and joy of learning and a sense of membership feeling in a social group and community at large.

Thanks to KLDF Montessori team. We made these materials through their guidance! 

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!