Daily Rhythm
Learning is not only about circle time, crafts, stories, numbers and ABCs, it truly is about feeding the children's imagination, creating opportunities for wonder and discovery, and achieving a positive self image, most important for the school years ahead.
I have created a program that sparks daily Nature engagement and invites to new experiences. Our daily rhythm resembles a Montessori-Waldorf Hybrid, and Forest School learning, in an environment that encourages the little ones to grow their independence and succeed through self-help, creativity, play and age appropriate learning.
We play, learn, bake, sing and dance, laugh, hug, exercise our kindness and grace and explore the world in safe, nurturing, and creative ways.
Nursery Rhymes
Children learn through pleasant and engaging activities. I encourage all children to play together, share and communicate graciously with respect.
For TODDLERS that are yet non-verbal, I may introduce sign language, one sign at a time. At this stage, I put a lot of emphasis on consistency, freedom and discovery.
We sing a lot of rhymes to enhance vocabulary and follow a syllabus on Rhymes and Songs highlighting our routines, seasons, our world with its continents and oceans, celebrations, phonetic sounds of the alphabet...
Our inspiration for toddler activities comes from the Montessori-Inspired "Life Practical Skills" helping us exercise concentration, motor skills, eye-hand coordination, self-reliance, self-control, food preparation, and much more...
Albert Einstein said "Logic will take you from A to B. IMAGINATION will take you EVERYWHERE."
There are many benefits in blending Montessori-Inspired Life Skills activities with Waldorf-Inspired celebrations and imaginative play, story-telling, seasonal songs, poetry, seasonal celebrations
The children have endless opportunities to explore their surroundings with hands on sensorial activities and art. I blend Montessori-Inspired independent activities with age appropriate demonstrations and child-led discovery throughout the day.
For PRESCHOOL ages, I introduce letter sounds, numeracy, shapes, patterns, in preparation for school. We continue "Growing Up" Montessori by introducing Sandpaper Letters and Sandpaper Numbers, Use of the Movable Alphabet and Pink Series when the children are ready, Numerical Rods and Montessori Math Bead Stairs, Cycle reading cards, Intro to science (Anatomy, Botany, Zoology, and Geography, Solar System, Constellations, Oceans, Continents), coloring Flags of the World, use of nomenclature cards, matching and sorting games, pin-poking, our learning opportunities are endless.
Early Reading and Math Program
We learn words, letters and numbers not only through our songs, story times and learning circles, but also with Montessori Sandpaper Letters, 'I Spy' (Phonics) Baskets, Sound Object Baskets, advancing to Word Series and The Movable Alphabet, when interest and ability are present.
Early math concepts are introduced through concrete materials, games, numerical rods, spindles, Montessori math beads, moving into abstract material as soon as it becomes age-appropriate learning.
early reading
math games
We enjoy structured and unstructured daily activities, participate in Outdoor Classroom events and enjoy fun picnics in the summer. Our activities are planned within weekly, monthly and seasonal rhythms.
The Debated Importance of Free Play
What is knowledge, without emotional context?
Although we try to keep our routine consistent and our days structured and filled with learning opportunities, I see child-led play as a very important learning experience for children. In order to exercise their imagination and understand their emotions, we dedicate most of our time exploring the children's interests, passions, and curiosity.
All children are encouraged to work and play together, demonstrate courtesy, take turns, share and respect their little friends.
The Montessori-Inspired courtesy and manners lessons I teach, become the kids' second nature and are always acknowledged during play time, learning time, meals, and social outings.
Children are exposed to various activities, that encourage both fine and gross motor skills, during directed and free play.
"Fine motor control is the coordination of muscles, bones, and nerves to produce small, precise movements. An example of fine motor control is picking up a small item with the index finger and thumb. The opposite of fine motor control is gross (large, general) motor control. An example of gross motor control is waving an arm in greeting. Gross motor skills involve the large muscles of the body that enable such functions as walking, kicking, sitting upright, lifting, and throwing a ball."
Our Daily Rhythm
8:00
children arrive, child-led play/activities
9:00
Montessori & Waldorf Inspired activities
Learning Circle/ Songs & Finger plays/ Kids Yoga/Art
morning snack/ setting up/ cleaning up together/Life Practical Skills
[group lessons, puzzles, creative story tables, Waldorf-inspired story baskets, music, art] Work Period/ Play /Outdoor Time/ Experiences [we are so fortunate to have forest trails and a whispering brook on our land] weather permitting, we go outside every season, every day
12:00
lunch/ setting up/cleaning up together/ nap/rest preparation and toilet training/routine 1:00-3:00pm quiet/rest period - children nap, or rest
3:30pm
afternoon snack/preparation/setting & cleaning up together/Life Practical Skills
4:00-4:30pm
child-led play/outdoor time
children being picked-up
Life Practical Skills are naturally incorporated into our daily rhythm, the children wash their hands and join in the preparation of meals, table set up, cleaning up. We use age apropriate utensils-spreaders, wavy choppers, nylon knives -for spreading butter and dips cutting fruits, vegetables, cheeses, sponges for cleaning up/ scrubbing the tables/ chairs, small watering cans for watering the plants and others. In our beautiful classroom, you will find a child-size dishwashing station with water dispenser where the children wash dishes after meals, and also a food preparation station offering the children independent or assisted meal prep and encouraging opportunities for practice and independence.
Our care for our environment and tiny community collaboration are amazing enahancers for LIFE and the children enjoy them dearly, they love participating, helping and bonding!
I have created a program that sparks daily Nature engagement and invites to new experiences. Our daily rhythm resembles a Montessori-Waldorf Hybrid, and Forest School learning, in an environment that encourages the little ones to grow their independence and succeed through self-help, creativity, play and age appropriate learning.
We play, learn, bake, sing and dance, laugh, hug, exercise our kindness and grace and explore the world in safe, nurturing, and creative ways.
Nursery Rhymes
Children learn through pleasant and engaging activities. I encourage all children to play together, share and communicate graciously with respect.
For TODDLERS that are yet non-verbal, I may introduce sign language, one sign at a time. At this stage, I put a lot of emphasis on consistency, freedom and discovery.
We sing a lot of rhymes to enhance vocabulary and follow a syllabus on Rhymes and Songs highlighting our routines, seasons, our world with its continents and oceans, celebrations, phonetic sounds of the alphabet...
Our inspiration for toddler activities comes from the Montessori-Inspired "Life Practical Skills" helping us exercise concentration, motor skills, eye-hand coordination, self-reliance, self-control, food preparation, and much more...
Albert Einstein said "Logic will take you from A to B. IMAGINATION will take you EVERYWHERE."
There are many benefits in blending Montessori-Inspired Life Skills activities with Waldorf-Inspired celebrations and imaginative play, story-telling, seasonal songs, poetry, seasonal celebrations
The children have endless opportunities to explore their surroundings with hands on sensorial activities and art. I blend Montessori-Inspired independent activities with age appropriate demonstrations and child-led discovery throughout the day.
For PRESCHOOL ages, I introduce letter sounds, numeracy, shapes, patterns, in preparation for school. We continue "Growing Up" Montessori by introducing Sandpaper Letters and Sandpaper Numbers, Use of the Movable Alphabet and Pink Series when the children are ready, Numerical Rods and Montessori Math Bead Stairs, Cycle reading cards, Intro to science (Anatomy, Botany, Zoology, and Geography, Solar System, Constellations, Oceans, Continents), coloring Flags of the World, use of nomenclature cards, matching and sorting games, pin-poking, our learning opportunities are endless.
Early Reading and Math Program
We learn words, letters and numbers not only through our songs, story times and learning circles, but also with Montessori Sandpaper Letters, 'I Spy' (Phonics) Baskets, Sound Object Baskets, advancing to Word Series and The Movable Alphabet, when interest and ability are present.
Early math concepts are introduced through concrete materials, games, numerical rods, spindles, Montessori math beads, moving into abstract material as soon as it becomes age-appropriate learning.
early reading
math games
We enjoy structured and unstructured daily activities, participate in Outdoor Classroom events and enjoy fun picnics in the summer. Our activities are planned within weekly, monthly and seasonal rhythms.
The Debated Importance of Free Play
What is knowledge, without emotional context?
Although we try to keep our routine consistent and our days structured and filled with learning opportunities, I see child-led play as a very important learning experience for children. In order to exercise their imagination and understand their emotions, we dedicate most of our time exploring the children's interests, passions, and curiosity.
All children are encouraged to work and play together, demonstrate courtesy, take turns, share and respect their little friends.
The Montessori-Inspired courtesy and manners lessons I teach, become the kids' second nature and are always acknowledged during play time, learning time, meals, and social outings.
Children are exposed to various activities, that encourage both fine and gross motor skills, during directed and free play.
"Fine motor control is the coordination of muscles, bones, and nerves to produce small, precise movements. An example of fine motor control is picking up a small item with the index finger and thumb. The opposite of fine motor control is gross (large, general) motor control. An example of gross motor control is waving an arm in greeting. Gross motor skills involve the large muscles of the body that enable such functions as walking, kicking, sitting upright, lifting, and throwing a ball."
Our Daily Rhythm
8:00
children arrive, child-led play/activities
9:00
Montessori & Waldorf Inspired activities
Learning Circle/ Songs & Finger plays/ Kids Yoga/Art
morning snack/ setting up/ cleaning up together/Life Practical Skills
[group lessons, puzzles, creative story tables, Waldorf-inspired story baskets, music, art] Work Period/ Play /Outdoor Time/ Experiences [we are so fortunate to have forest trails and a whispering brook on our land] weather permitting, we go outside every season, every day
12:00
lunch/ setting up/cleaning up together/ nap/rest preparation and toilet training/routine 1:00-3:00pm quiet/rest period - children nap, or rest
3:30pm
afternoon snack/preparation/setting & cleaning up together/Life Practical Skills
4:00-4:30pm
child-led play/outdoor time
children being picked-up
Life Practical Skills are naturally incorporated into our daily rhythm, the children wash their hands and join in the preparation of meals, table set up, cleaning up. We use age apropriate utensils-spreaders, wavy choppers, nylon knives -for spreading butter and dips cutting fruits, vegetables, cheeses, sponges for cleaning up/ scrubbing the tables/ chairs, small watering cans for watering the plants and others. In our beautiful classroom, you will find a child-size dishwashing station with water dispenser where the children wash dishes after meals, and also a food preparation station offering the children independent or assisted meal prep and encouraging opportunities for practice and independence.
Our care for our environment and tiny community collaboration are amazing enahancers for LIFE and the children enjoy them dearly, they love participating, helping and bonding!
Digital Communication via Parent Private Group [indicating our indoor & outdoor daily experiences, children's general mood, diet, naps and personal hygiene] is updated daily.
"Children construct their own intelligence. The adult must provide activities and context, but most of all must be able to listen. Children need proof that adults believe in them. Their three great desires are to be listened to, to understand, and to demonstrate that they are exactly what we expect."
Loris Malaguzzi
Note
Growing Up is a Private Home-based Child Care Program, superiourly following the CCEYA (Child Care and Early Years Act), former DNA (Daycare Nursery Act).
"Children construct their own intelligence. The adult must provide activities and context, but most of all must be able to listen. Children need proof that adults believe in them. Their three great desires are to be listened to, to understand, and to demonstrate that they are exactly what we expect."
Loris Malaguzzi
Note
Growing Up is a Private Home-based Child Care Program, superiourly following the CCEYA (Child Care and Early Years Act), former DNA (Daycare Nursery Act).
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All rights reserved.
All rights reserved.