Dear Parents,
It is that time of the year when we bid you adieu for a long vacation. Hope you all have big plans for the holidays. We have included a number of articles in this issue that will make your holidays even more meaningful. Hope you will avail them to their full extent.
This term has certainly been an interesting one. During the term, the following events took place.
Parents are always welcome to come forward and share their talents and bring in an in instrument, pet etc. We are grateful to Mrs. Austin who brought her dog ‘Bengy’ to spend some time with the children in each class. Bengy was a big dog but a very friendly one, and the children were able to touch and hug him.
We celebrated the Norwegian National day on 16th May. Mrs. Warnes, Mrs. Mohammed and Mrs. Stokke volunteered to celebrate it with the children. The children were told how the Norwegians celebrate this day in their homeland, and they were shown pictures. Norway’s National anthem was played and the children paraded through the class with Norwegian flags in their hands.
Last week we had an artist - Shoba from South India. Shoba was dressed in traditional South Indian costume and jewelry. The children sure were delighted to see her dance performance as every movement of the hands and fingers had special meanings, which were explained to the children.
The festival celebrated during the term was Eid Al Adha.
This term the Shindagha fruit and vegetable market was also visited. This trip was enlightening and informative for the children. They came across many fruits and vegetables they had never seen before. They were also shown how vegetables were being measured on the weighing scale and how money was being collected from the customers.
Before school closes, we are planning to invite Mrs. Morishita to demonstrate the art of Origami (making different things by folding paper).
Three classes of a First Aid Course were offered to the parents throughout the present term. Various topics were covered which included CPR (Cardio Pulmonary Resusciation), the Heinlick maneuver, fractures, burns, immunization, contagious diseases and wound care, to name a few.
Parents who participated appeared to enjoy these sessions, asked questions and also contributed to the discussions. Thank you for your participation. We enjoyed presenting this information and appreciated your interest.
As Summer break draws near all parents will be looking forward to spending a relaxing and interesting time with their children. Besides all the fun and games, this summer could present learning experiences too! With a little bit of imagination and effort your children could be made more aware of the places they visit. This will encourage them to develop new interests and perhaps even a hobby.
There are definitely going to be a lot of trips to the beaches and parks. Other than the usual game of building sand castles and playing on the swing or slide you could take them for a short walk around the park or the beach. You will be amazed at the new things they discover or the number of questions they have to ask about things which they may not have noticed otherwise. This way they become more aware of nature and the environment.
A visit to the local museum, an art gallery or a craft centre would be an ideal way to encourage children to appreciate art. It could even help to trigger their inner artistic talents.
If you are planning a holiday, it could be interesting if you could help the child to make a small scrap book. It does not have to be big and elaborate. A few pictures or a few small souvenirs would be fine - for example: small flags of the country, pictures of the native bird, animal and flower or pictures of important monuments etc.
Try to take them out shopping with you to the supermarket or the vegetable and fruit market. This will help them to really feel and see things which they may have only seen in pictures. Together you can make a list of what you intend to buy. Encourage your child to find the items on the list. It also helps him to become aware of what is available at shops or markets. They could even be shown how the food is transformed in the kitchen into meals.
Family mealtimes could turn out to be a time when children are encouraged to discuss freely any topic of interest. This could build up their confidence to speak up in front of a group.
A visit to the farm would also be very interesting and an equally informative experience for them.
Reading books cultivates a reading habit and even facilitates speech development and pronunciation. Start by reading stories to them. Books with illustrations are an instant attraction. Be patient and try and answer their questions. Listen to their comments. This is a sure signal that they are making connections between new material and something which they already know. This is the essence of the learning process. Introduce books to them which relate to reality rather than fiction. Good books are like a treasure that lasts forever. Visit the book shop or your local library and show your child how to handle books - clean hands and gentle turning of the pages as well as replacing the book on the shelf.
As we look for independence and self-confidence in a Montesssori child, encourage your child to do simple chores around the house without any help. These may include setting the table - making their beds - picking up their toys and clothes - washing a few dishes - brushing their hair - watering and caring for plants - pouring their own juice from a child-size jug.
Talk with your children. Always remember to talk naturally. Do not use baby talk no matter how young they are. The more words a child can understand and say, the easier it will be for him or her to lean to read and understand.
Due to the easy-going lifestyle in this part of the world - the TV has become a necessary crutch in most people’s lives. We can always make an effort to decide what is best to view for our children and what we ourselves decide to view in the presence of our children. They learn a lot from TV - both good and bad. Help them choose appropriate programs and later on discuss it with them. Let the TV help them to develop new interests.
We hope these few ideas will help you to enjoy your children, your children to enjoy you, and to make this summer an enriching one which enables your children to broaden their experiences and knowledge.
Mrs. Thomas and Mrs. Edna
Rainbow Class
As on any other playground through this world where children can view Power Rangers in action, our children at Tiny Home re-enact during playtime what they view. Some therapists say that it is because of programs like this that children are becoming more violent at an even younger age. It is a worry and rightly so. But, the way we approach this concern is perhaps the most important aspect of the problem. The way we behave as human beings is developed under certain conditions. Our Montessori environment, as you know, is a well prepared safe one in which children are encouraged to be free, but with directions. Television is a freedom that is offered in the home environment. It is something which very often is used as a child minding tool, hence little direction is given.
This is perhaps when it becomes damaging. There really is nothing that can take the place of involvement from books or real people. Most of your children now have the ability to sit, concentrate and work independently on a given task. You can expect them to be able to do this on a daily basis. This may mean that you, as the adults, have to provide the necessary materials (puzzles, glue, crayons, sandbox, water play, books, story and music tapes etc) but the satisfaction for both you and your child in seeing and experiencing independence will be so rewarding .
The single most important thing to remember and absorb about Power Rangers is that it is a program/movie aimed at people over the age of six. Children under this age need to be protected from viewing situations that overwhelm them and send out a message that is beyond their comprehension. In most instances, the producers of these programs/movies want parents and children to watch and then to purchase. There is not much room for creativity - the child’s real imagination is not captured.
A key to television or movie viewing is to remember that you as the adult must take the time to watch with your child - discuss what you are seeing, share your thoughts and comments. In doing so you are sharing and then enriching your child’s values.
Mrs. Gretchen Ridgeway
If I am I because I am I
And you are you because you are you
Then I am and you are
But if I am because you are you
And you are you because I am I
Then I am not and you are not
R. Mendel
Remember the saying "There are three ways to teach children - example, example, example!"