Implementing Technology in Education

At Evergreen Montessori House, we utilize technology to enhance the academic experience for our students. By integrating tablets and computer software, our students have a variety of opportunities to engage their minds. For example, for our kindergartners, we found that the tablet is a great resource for them to enhance the reading comprehension and also provide phonics exercises. For our preschoolers, computer programs provide a great avenue for our younger students to review shapes, letters and numbers.

According to Kneas and Perry (2013), children interact with computers, thus allowing them to engage their minds; they determine how and when they will complete the game. Conversely, television programs are typically passive and do not allow children to “control” the ending. Still, there are great educational programs available for children, but educators, parents and guardians must ensure that television does not allow for laziness. In our previous blog post about using the Montessori Method to communicate with children, we stressed the importance of engaging children while they are watching programs.

Of course, we recommend only exposing a child to technology for a limited amount of time. In addition, not every child will enjoy using technology; you should never push a child to use a device or toy if she or he does not have any interest. Finding a balance will be difficult, but when we allow children to explore new avenues for education, we create opportunities for them to engage their minds and the world around them in exciting ways. 

Resources

Kneas, Kimberly M., and Bruce D. Perry. "Using Technology in the Early Childhood Classroom." Using Technology in the Early Childhood Classroom. Scholastic, n.d. Web. 19 Oct. 2013. <http://teacher.scholastic.com/professional/bruceperry/using_technology.htm>.

Friends of Kevin Radio Interview

Earlier today I had a great conversation about preschool education with Kevin Willett from the Friends of Kevin radio show.

During today's conversation, we talked about a range of topics from EMH's history, common questions about the Montessori Method and preschool education, and our program in general. 

Please visit us again for a link to the interview. 

The Preschool Graduation Ceremony

Today was EMH's 19th graduation ceremony! It was a fun event, celebrating the achievements of each child in our program, followed by a potluck lunch filled with lots of delicious food. 

You may be wondering, what is a preschool graduation ceremony? And, why even have one for children who are so young? These are some common questions that we hope to answer for you.

The graduation ceremony 

Each school is different and preschool graduation ceremonies vary greatly between schools. Some preschools order graduation caps and gowns, while other schools, like EMH, are less formal and children wear their normal attire. Almost all schools, follow a similar formula: the graduation begins with a short student performance, then the children are awarded ribbons and certificates, and after families are invited for lunch.

At EMH, the graduation program changes every year, depending on the ages and interests of the children enrolled. Some years, the children sing and dance to songs they enjoy and have special meaning to them. One year, the children dramatically acted one of their favorite songs. This year, each child preformed a song on the piano.

We hold our graduation ceremony on Saturday mornings, to make it more convenient for families attend. Normally, the graduation ceremonies are short, and the length of the potluck lunch depends our families. This year, although our class was small, the families who participated were great. We had a delicious lunch with even better conversation and the children had a great time eating and playing.

Why we have graduation ceremonies

Our students eagerly await graduation day. Some students, if they begin at age two and continue through to Kindergarten, graduate from preschool multiple times. However, each year they are excited for the ceremony: the children are proud of themselves and their work and look forward to receiving recognition for all they have achieved.

When many people think back to their preschool years, all they might remember are fun and games. This is exactly what we want people to remember: that the process of learning is fun. However, because of the increased use of standardized testing at an early age, preschool programs, even play based programs, are more focused on academics. On top of teaching children the basics, many schools also now teach children how to complete school work; some preschools even assign homework.

Personally, as a teacher, I see how much children grow and develop during the preschool years socially, emotionally, cognitively, linguistically and physically. Having a graduation ceremony teaches them to recognize their achievements and to be proud of all they have accomplished. At this morning's ceremony, I saw how proud the children were that they had learned how to play the piano. Playing for their parents was a big accomplishment for them.

For children moving on to kindergarten or first grade, the preschool graduation ceremony can be an important milestone. Many children will soon begin riding a yellow bus to school when they start "big kid" school. These children are always excited a proud to be moving on to the next stage in their academic careers.

At EMH, the graduation ceremony is a fun and laid back event that means a lot to our students. We always have a lot of food and a great time with our parents. Although the children may be too young to grasp what a graduation ceremony really means, they do deserve recognition for the achievements and are proud of what they have accomplished.

Parent Workshops

Earlier tonight we held a parent workshop at our school on how to implement the Montessori Method at home. The parents from our school and wider community had some great questions about the Montessori Method and we had a lively discussion about what Montessori is and is not, and how easy it is to use at home.

Parent workshops are an important part of a preschool program. Research demonstrates that when families and caregivers are involved in their child's preschool, their children  do better in school, academically and socially. In fact, parent engagement has been defined as parents and school staff working together to support and improve the learning and development of children. Through our workshops, we hope that parents learn more about the Montessori Method, and can continue the learning process at home to support their child's learning and development.

This goal is not limited to our school; our workshops are open to parents of children who are not enrolled in our program. We know the Montessori Method works and know that all children, regardless of whether they are enrolled in a Montessori school or not, can benefit from the Montessori Method. We know that our community is a part of our school. In fact, studies suggest that, when communities become involved in schools, they provide additional support to the children and teachers.

Thank you to all the parents and caregivers who attended our workshop. We know that everyone has busy schedules and it can be difficult to attend these events and appreciate that you were able to join us.

References:
Epstein JL. School, Family, and Community Partnerships: Preparing  Educators and Improving Schools Second Edition. Boulder, CO: Westview Press; 2011.

Powell, D. Families and Early Childhood Programs. NAEYC: 1989.

Friends with Kevin Radio Interview

This morning I had a lot of fun with Kevin Willet from the 'Friends of Kevin' radio show on WSMN 1590.

Kevin is always great to chat with; this morning was no exception. We talked about the life long value of preschool education and discussed what preschool really teaches children. 

You can listen to the full interview on the Friends of Kevin radio show website: http://www.friendsofkevin.com/friendsofkevinradioevergreen

Thanks for tuning in!