The Montessori Classroom

A brief introduction to the Montessori classroom. Enjoy! 

The Montessori Classroom: "The Three Year Cycle" from zac potterfield on Vimeo.

WELCOME New UMA Students!

September 15th - the start of the new school year at UMA

Welcome new students!

We are all on this exciting journey together

For a lifetime!

ENJOY THE PROCESS

The Staff at UMA

~Committed to help and to guide you along the way~

"The training of the teacher who is to help life is something far more than the learning of ideas. 

 It includes the training of character; it is a preparation of the spirit."

 Dr. Maria Montessori

Children's Quote

Summer Newsletter 2012

Montessori and Art

It's all about process. 

Here is another beautiful Montessori example of opportunities for art in the classroom. It involves a specially prepared environment with the freedom to choose, explore, and express. (It does not involve learning to color within the assigned lines with mandated colors, with the focus on the final product.)

The end result...well, this picture speaks for itself.

A still life drawing by Addison: "My grandmother brought this doll back from India." Look at her self-assured posture and the pride and joy in her face!

As Daphnea Solomon, owner/director of Children's House Montessori - Tupelo, Mississippi, stated: "Addison brought out her best features :)"

And as Brittany Collins Johnson, Addison's Mom, responded: "That's my girl!!"

So much to be proud of, all around. Thanks, Addison, Brittany, and Daphnea for sharing.

Montessori Quote: Child and Activity

Why Montessori?

Silence...

Food for thought...

How Many Teeth?

Does anyone know how many primary teeth a child has and how many permanent teeth an adult has? This activity, contributed at the 2012 PNMA Sharing Fair, is a great way to find out, using the Montessori Golden Beads! 

THE WORKSHEET...

Below is a worksheet that can be used in conjunction with this exercise. Download the full-sized version (by clicking "free downloads" on UMA sidebar on the right), laminate the sheet onto sturdy cardstock, and then provide a dry-erase marker for tracing the dotted letters.

Another great idea...

PLAYDOUGH TEETH 

language

Happy Mother's Day!

"Children and mothers never truly part - Bound in the beating of each other's heart." 

~Charlotte Gray 

History of Mother's Day

In the United States of America Mother's Day was first suggested in the year 1872 by Julia Ward Howe who wrote the words to the Battle hymn of the Republic as a day dedicated to peace. She would hold an organized Mother's Day meeting in Boston, Massachusetts every year.

It wasn't until in 1907 when Anna Jarvis, from Philadelphia, began a campaign to establish a national Mother's Day. Ms. Jarvis persuaded her mother's church in Grafton, West Virginia to celebrate Mother's Day on the second anniversary of her mother's death, the 2nd Sunday of May. By the next year Mother's Day was also celebrated in Philadelphia.

She and several of her supporters began to write to ministers, businessman, and politicians in their endeavour to establish a national Mother's Day. In 1910, the governor of West Virginia proclaimed the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day and a year later every state celebrated it. It was successful as by 1911 Mother's Day was celebrated in almost every state. President Woodrow Wilson, in 1914, made the official announcement proclaiming Mother's Day as a national holiday that was to be held each year on the 2nd Sunday of May.

©Photo: University of Leiden - Horticultural Center by Trudy Coumou Shepard