TOTH Montessori

As children’s independence grows, so does their opportunity for freedom. They have more choices available and more to consider. The freedom children experience in our prepared learning environments is directly related to their independence. Over multiple years in their classrooms, older children feel like masters of their environment and younger children look up to them as if they have superpowers.
 
In order for children to develop this freedom and independence, we make sure that the following opportunities are present in our classrooms:

Children may. . .
🧹⚙️🪆 Choose their own activity
🎧 Work without interruption
🏃🏼‍♀️ Move Freely
🗣️ Communicate with Others
⌛️Work at their own pace

As children gain skills and abilities, their independence increases and so do their choices. Activities are available and ready for use so that children are not dependent upon anyone to get things for them. Children can choose where they do their work. The lessons we offer are designed to provide just enough information for children to continue the activity independently. We offer these liberties in harmony with children’s skills, abilities, and level of independence so they can experience a variety of freedoms in their learning community. 

 

Being connected to our kids' school experience helps them experience more success. In today’s blog (link in bio), we explore how to establish a healthy home-school partnership. 
 

We all know about the five senses, but what about the 6th sense? In today’s blog (link in bio), we highlight the "stereognostic sense" and explain how young children delight in “mystery bags” to refine their awareness.
 

Join us for our next open house on Saturday, November 18th at 9:30 a.m.

The best way to know if ToTH Montessori is the right school for your family is attend one of our in-person or virtual open houses. During an open house you will have an opportunity to learn about what makes ToTH and our early childhood programs special. Staff and current parents will be on hand to answer questions and guests will have an opportunity to tour all of our classrooms.

If you walk into a Montessori toddler or primary classroom, you will see very young children working with materials that develop fine motor skills. While fine motor proficiency can serve children in a wide variety of ways, Montessori intentionally created materials that strengthen the hand as indirect preparation for handwriting.
 
Each time a three-year-old lifts a knobbed cylinder they are developing proper pincer grip. This same action is repeated in many other materials. The child may be working to joyfully refine a sensorial skill, but at the very same time their tiny fingers are slowly working their way toward being able to hold a pencil correctly. The result is children who are confident and joyful writers! ✍️

“Movement of the hand is essential. Little children revealed that the development of the mind is stimulated by the movement of the hands. The hand is the instrument of the intelligence.” Maria Montessori, The 1946 London Lectures

In today's blog (link in bio), we examine the origin of language to better appreciate what children accomplish when they master spoken and written language skills. Join us on a little journey through history as we explore the magic and mystery of this process! 

It was such a special evening sharing the Montessori Primary classroom curriculum with our parent community at our Discovery Night. Parents felt surprise, wonder, and deep respect for all the amazing things their children do in the classroom every day. Over and over we heard, “My child can do this?” “Yes! They can!”

One important way that we show up for the children at ToTH is to show up for all the adults at ToTH. The harmony of a team is a reflection of its leadership. Were it not for the joyful, patient dedication of our Head of School, ToTH would not be the institution it is today. Stephanie gives her all to each teaching team every day, working hard to meet each teacher where they are and help them meet their goals as educators. Where there is misalignment, she works to build harmony. She is kind, she is curious, and we’re grateful for everything she brings to ToTH. She would never seek the limelight so we had to take the mic today! Happy birthday, Stephanie!

We had an awesome morning full of friends, families, and S’MORES at our first ever Fall Festival at Butler’s Orchard today! Thanks to everyone who joined us around the campfire! 🏕️🔥🍫

It’s Fall Y’all! 🍂🍁🎃
Autumn is one of our favorite seasons at school because there are so many opportunities to incorporate the natural world into our classroom learning and nurture a child’s sense of wonder and appreciation for nature. So much knowledge can be acquired from the surrounding environment and sensorial explorations of natural things and places.

🎃 Pumpkins can be scrubbed clean and carved so that we may explore them with all of our senses.

🌽 Colorful kernels of corn can be carefully pried from the cob so that we may strengthen our fingers and collect more kernels for our pouring work and art projects.

🍎 Apples may be washed, sliced, and savored for a snack prepared independently.

Exciting things are happening in our Primary 3 to 6 classroom!

Thanks to all the families who braved the morning heat for a fantastic back to school meet-up! It was wonderful getting to know new families and seeing so many former TOTH students 🩵

We are so excited to have been voted “Best Preschool” for the eighth year in a row in the Washington City Paper’s Best of DC reader’s poll! Special shout out to all of our neighbors who are also winners this year!