Today we celebrate the legacy Dr. Maria Montessori brought to the world.
Maria Montessori was born on August 31, 1870 in Chiaravalle, Italy.
Montessori stressed the importance of supporting the independence of the young child. She believed if you prepared the environment for children to become successful and collaborate with one another they will learn to work together.
Children have an innate sense of peace and natural understanding of social justice that leads to change. When given freedom and guidance, children begin to learn there is an opportunity for growth and understanding through conflict. Creating a classroom that is respectful, inclusive and celebrates diversity in all forms continues to spread the message of peace and understanding that Maria Montessori wrote about in her books and articles.
“An education capable of saving humanity is no small undertaking; it involves the spiritual development of man, the enhancement of his value as an individual, and the preparation of young people to understand the times in which they live.”
-Maria Montessori
Maria Montessori created the Montessori materials so children could make discoveries through the manipulation of didactic materials. As our world changes, it is important to give children opportunities to discover and practice social situations and emotional experiences.
Social-emotional development such as self-regulation, symbolic thinking, language development and positive self-talk supports the child as they become a productive member of their community. Children can use manipulatives to practice using words to describe feelings and learn that emotions are a natural part of life.
The emotional matching game is a fun addition to your classroom. Use
these cards to help children learn how to name emotions and describe emotions. Students can play the game through matching the cards. Then, invite the child to practice with friends or in a mirror by making different expressions and naming them. The ways you can use these real photo emotional cards are endless.
A finger maze is the perfect activity for children who are upset. This simple tactile activity keeps your student concentrating on something other than what has upset them. A marble is sewn into the fabric and moving the marble through the maze is relaxing.
This beautiful wood puzzle has affirmation petals to support positive self
talk and open conversations about emotional and social growth.
By using the "I am" center piece and the affirmation petals, children can easily share about themselves. Download this Affirmation Lesson Plan to use in your classroom.
