The Secret of Childhood

In its simples form, Montessori refers to the philosophy of child and human development as presented by Dr. Maria Montessori, an Italian physician who lived from 1870 to 1952.

In the early 1900s, Dr. Montessori built her work with mentally challenged children on the research and studies of Jean Itard and Edward Seguin. Itard is known for his work with Victor, the "Wild Boy of Aveyron", an 11-year old found in the woods of France on 1799. VIctor lacked spoken language skills and is presumed to have survived without human interaction. Itard's work established the idea that language can only be learned early in life. Itard also designed hands-on language materials for teaching Victor., materials that Dr. Montessori further developed.

Seguin expanded Itard's work with deaf children and designed hands-on materials for understanding basic mathematics. In 1907, at the behest of the Roman Association of Good Buildings, Dr. Montessori began using her teaching materials, based on Itard's and Seguin's designs, with normal children in a Rome tenement. Working with those children, Dr. Montessori discovered what she called the 'Secret of Childhood'.

What is the secret? Children love to be involved in self-directed, purposeful activities. When given a prepared environment of meaningful hands-on projects, along with the time to do those projects at his or her own pace, a child will choose to engage in activities that will create learning in personal and powerful ways.

Source:
Understanding Montessori:
A Guide for Parents
Maren Schmidt M. Ed.

I Teach My Child

Sharing with you a beautiful poem...

==========================

I Teach My Child
By: Gemino H. Abad


I.
I teach my child
To survive.
I begin with our words,
The simple words first
And last.
They are hardest to learn.
Words like home,
Or friend, or to forgive.
These words are relations.
They are difficult to bear;
Their fruits are unseen.
Or words that promise
Or dream.
Words like honor, or certainty,
Or cheer.
Rarest of sound,
Their roots run deep;
These are words that aspire,
They cast no shade.
These are not words
To speak.
These are the words
Of which we consist,
Indefinite,
Without other ground.

II.
My child
Is without syllables
To utter him,
Captive yet to his origin
In silence.
By every word
To rule his space,
He is released;
He is shaped by his speech.
Every act, too,
Is first without words.
There's no rehearsal
To adjust your deed
From direction of its words.
The words are given,

But there's no script.
Their play is hidden,
We are their stage.
These are the words
That offer to our care
Both sky and earth,
These same words
That may elude our acts.
If we speak them
But cannot meet their sound,
They strand us still
In our void,
Blank like the child
With the uphill silence
Of his words' climb.

And so,
I teach my child
To survive.
I begin with our words,
The simple words first
And last.

Give a gift... Halloween treat

Kiddie Toes Montessori School had their Halloween trick or treat last October 29, 2009 at the Greenview Lodge Chapel.

Instead of the usual trick or treat activities, where the learners will receive gifts and goodies from their friends and relatives, we shared the day with kids from a day care center. In coordination with the DSWD, we will provide a venue for your children to make friends with other kids. From this activity, the children learned the value of sharing, friendship and to become caring citizens of the community.

The learners gave their new friends food, gifts and other goodies. The KTMS learners and their friends shared a fun-filled afternoon with some kids from a day care center in Naggasican.

Thank you to the parents who so generously encouraged their children to value friendship and giving.

Special thanks to the following:
Ms. Katrina Sable-Martin
Mr. Tom and Atty. Gema Bautista
Ms. Charrie Babaran (Grupo Marilen)
Mrs. Ester Flores (Green View Lodge)
DSWD Santiago City
Naggasican Day Care Center

For more photos of the activity, please visit the KTMS Facebook account. Just search for "Kiddie Toes Montessori School".

Project Approach

Kiddie Toes Montessori School (KTMS) lower elementary learners are taught using the PROJECT APPROACH.

The Project Approach, as practiced in early childhood, elementary, and middle level education, is an in-depth study of a topic undertaken by a class, a group of children, or an individual child.

Although project work is not new to early and elementary education, interest in involving children in group projects has been growing for several years. This renewed interest is based on recent research on children's learning, a trend toward integrating the curriculum, and the impressive reports of group projects conducted by children in the pre-primary schools.

A project is an in-depth investigation of a topic worth learning more about. The investigation is usually undertaken by a small group of children within a class, sometimes by a whole class, and occasionally by an individual child. The key feature of a project is that it is a research effort deliberately focused on finding answers to questions about a topic posed either by the children, the teacher, or the teacher working with the children. The goal of a project is to learn more about the topic rather than to seek right answers to questions posed by the teacher.

Advocates of the project approach do not suggest that project work should constitute the whole curriculum. Rather, they suggest that it is best seen as complementary to the more formal, systematic parts of the curriculum in the elementary grades, and to the more informal parts of the curriculum for younger children. Project work is not a separate subject, like mathematics; it provides a context for applying mathematical concepts and skills. Nor is project work an "add on" to the basics; it should be treated as integral to all the other work included in the curriculum.

The traditional systematic instruction:
(1) helps children ACQUIRE skills;
(2) addresses DEFICIENCIES in children's learning;
(3) stresses EXTRINSIC motivation; and
(4) allows teachers to direct the children's work, use their expertise, and specify the tasks that the children perform.

PROJECT WORK, in contrast:
(1) provides children with opportunities to APPLY skills;
(2) addresses children's PROFICIENCIES;
(3) stresses INTRINSIC motivation; and
(4) encourages children to determine what to work on and accepts them as experts about their needs.

Both systematic instruction and project work have an important place in the curriculum. For older children able to read and write independently, project work provides a context for taking initiative and assuming responsibility, making decisions and choices, and pursuing interests. For younger children, project work usually requires teacher guidance and consultation.


Source:
http://www.ericdigests.org/1994/project.htm

KTMS Relief Drive

Typhoon Ondoy left many people homeless and helpless. Now "Pepeng" did the same thing. As caring parents and socially responsible citizens, we could take something from these tragedy by emphasizing to our children how improper waste management, insensible deforestation and climate change brought about by environmental negligence could lead to flash floods resulting to loss of properties and lives.

As it was truly a devastating event we in Santiago City could only witness through heart-breaking scenes on television, we could extend our help to the victims of these typhoons.

KTMS had a relief drive for the victims. Parents and learners donated clothes, shoes, medicines, noodles, canned goods, toiletries, detergent soap and many more.

Our 2nd graders helped us deliver the goods to ABS CBN Isabela Station. This is another enriching experience for them.

Please see more photos. Visit the KTMS Multiply Site.

Using Computers in Schools

Education systems around the world face formidable challenges that are taxing conventional strategies. Fresh approaches are needed to address persistent problems of the past and provide students with an education appropriate to the needs of a modern, information-based global economy. Now, after more than two decades of unfulfilled promises to revolutionize education, computer and communication technologies are finally able to offer opportunities to significantly improve teaching and learning.

There is an urgent need to provide education that goes beyond teaching basic literacy and numeracy skills. Education must help to build higher-order cognitive abilities, strengthen processes of inquiry, enable collaborative problem solving, and prepare people to compete in global markets and become productive members of democracies.

No single solution exists to address these immense challenges. New approaches and strategies for change are needed, and computers, mediated communication, and related educational technologies are an important part of these approaches and strategies.

When used effectively and integrated into schools, computers can improve teaching and learning, strengthen teacher professional development, support broad educational reform, enhance school-community partnerships, and improve school management. This paper helps to explain the potential uses of computers in schools and help professionals decide if such projects would help achieve strategic educational objectives and address critical learning needs.

From:
Using Computers In Schools
Eric Rusten
Senior Program Officer for the Learning Technologies (LTNe), Brazil


That is why at KIDDIE TOES MONTESSORI SCHOOL, we make use of computers to help us provide quality education and elevated learning for your children.

The learners are given the opportunity to experience first-hand the immense power of information technology through internet-based lessons, as well as computer-aided activities.

KTMS Montessori Week

Kiddie Toes Montessori School celebrated the annual Montessori Week. Please visit our Multiply and Facebook sites for the photos.

Or click on these links:

Motorcade

Fun Fair

Bingo Socials

Familympics

Thank you to our sponsors:
- Ala Moana Water Refilling Station
- CMJ Jewelries
- City Fix and Paint
- Chowking Santiago c/o Mrs. Monaliza Guarin and Mrs. Yehleen Pascual
- Luzon Trading
- Omega Lumber and Hardware
- Goodluck Gen. Enterprise
- Karina's Pawnshop
- Nancy's Catering
- New Liberty Store
- Mayor Florante Raspado (Jones, Isabela)
- Jollibee Bayan c/o Ms. Margarita Buminaang
- Take 5 Coffee Shop (Total, Cordon)
- Dra. Olla Bascos
- Dra. Mel Bautista
- Dra. Rhea Manago
- Dra. Che Toquero
- Daddy Melbert and Mommy Sheila Calata
- Daddy Marcos and Mommy Karen Pascual
- Daddy Roberto and Mommy Mavic Dela Vega
- Emperador Marketing Inc
- Green View Lodge c/o Mrs. Esther Flores

Mind Mapping

KTMS lower elementary learners use Mind Mapping as a tool in their Project Approach time.

A mind map is a diagram used to represent words, ideas, tasks, or other items linked to and arranged around a central key word or idea. Mind maps are used to gen...erate, visualize, structure, and classify ideas, and as an aid in study, organization, problem solving, decision making, and writing.

The elements of a given mind map are arranged intuitively according to the importance of the concepts, and are classified into groupings, branches, or areas, with the goal of representing semantic or other connections between portions of information.

Mind Mapping enables you to create an infinite number of thoughts, ideas, links and associations on any topic making it an ideal tool to stimulate your thinking.

For more photos of the mind mapping activity, visit the KTMS Multiply site.

Nutrition Week

The learners of Kiddie Toes Montessori School (KMTS) decorated the Tree of Celebration with cut-outs of fruits, vegetables and other nutritious food. This is in celebration of the Nutrition Week (July 27 to 31).

For more photos, visit our Multiply Site.

Tree of Celebration

Kiddie Toes Montessori School has adopted a tree. They call it the Tree of Celebration. This small cypress tree will be decorated and "dressed" to help the school celebrate events and milestones.

The Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens) is generally a flame - shaped, tapering, cone-like tree, with but a short stem below its branches, which rise erectly and close to the trunk.

The tree was cleaned and pruned by the hardworking teachers of KTMS, and was decorated by the learners. They put fruits and vegetable cut-outs during the nutrition week. This tree was also the witness to the learner's sympathy for the late President Cory -- they tied yellow ribbons on the tree.

This tree will not only be a symbol of celebration, but it will also be a symbol of Kiddie Toes Montessori School's love for the environment.

Below is a beautiful poem about trees....

THINK LIKE A TREE

Soak up the sun
Affirm life's magic
Be graceful in the wind
Stand tall after a storm
Feel refreshed after it rains
Grow strong without notice
Be prepared for each season
Provide shelter to strangers
Hang tough through a cold spell
Emerge renewed at the first signs of spring
Stay deeply rooted while reaching for the sky
Be still long enough to
hear your own leaves rustling.

By: Karen I. Shragg

For more photos of the tree, visit the Kiddie Toes Multiply site.

Yellow Ribbon

On 04 August 2009, learners of Kiddie Toes Montessori School wore yellow ribbons on their uniforms. This is their way of thanking the first woman President in Asia, President Cory Aquino.

The teachers them about love for country, and they know that Cory is one leader who exemplifies this.

They made yellow ribbons and tied it to their Tree (will tell you about The Tree in a separate story).

Their message.... "Thank you, Tita Cory".

For more photos, visit the Kiddie Toes Multiply site.

What Happened to the Sun?

"What happened to the sun?"

That was the question of a 2-year old Toddler learner of Kiddie Toes Montessori School.

All the learners -- from Toddlers to 2nd Graders -- went out of their classroom last July 22, 2009 to look at the sun.

It is the longest total solar eclipse in our lifetime, and the second longest in recorded history, next only to the June 20, 1955 eclipse in Manila.

It is only partial in the Philippines with an eclipse magnitude of about 50% in Metro Manila. However, in Santiago City, Isabela, the learners were lucky enough to witness more than 50% eclipse.



So the learners and teachers went down at around 9:30am to witness this once in a lifetime event. They had welding glasses and filter strips to protect their eyes from the sun.

They were also made to draw in a paper what they observed during this phenomenon.

To view all the pictures during this event, visit the
Kiddie Toes Multiply site.

Kiddie Toes Team Building

On June 12 and 13, 2009, the teachers and management of Kiddie Toes Montessori School had their annual teambuilding and assessment. This was held at the Villa Diana Hotel and Resort in Cordon, Isabela.

This beautiful place was the backdrop for the different activities prepared by the facilitator for the teachers and staff of KTMS.

Aside from work-related activities, the teachers and management were also given a day of pure fun and bonding.

For more photos, please visit the KTMS Multiply Site.

Parents' and Guardians' Orientation

Last 06 June 2009, the parents and guardians of Kiddie Toes Montessori School learners were invited to attend the Parents' and Guardians' Orientation Day.

During this activity the teachers of KTMS presented the basic framework of Montessori education, as well as the curriculum of the school (preschool and lower elementary).

The parents and guardians were also informed of the different innovative activities developed by the consultants of KTMS, which will ensure that the learners are given holistic education and elevated learning.

For more photos, visit our Multiply Site.

Music and Movement

Last 26 May 2009, Kiddie Toes Montessori School teachers and staff attended a training workshop on Music and Movement.

Mr. Warly Padol, a Montessori Consultant, served as the resource person for this activity. Teacher Warly taught the teachers new techniques in teaching music and movement using Kodaly and montessori methods.


The teachers learned a lot of current developments and new methods to assist them in providing relevant music and movement lessons to the learners of Kiddie Toes Montessori School.

For more photos during the workshop, visit the Kiddie Toes Montessori School multiply site.

Thank you notes from the 1st Graders

These are the artworks done by the 1st Graders of Kiddie Toes Montessori School. They would like to express their gratitude to the team of Gov. Padaca for all their efforts in protecting the environment, and stopping the operations of the illegal loggers in Isabela.

The team is composed of:
Governor Grace Padaca (Province of Isabela)
Major General Nestor Ochoa (5th Infantry Division, AFP)
Police SSupt Jimmy Rivera (PNP)
Jay Lim (Tanggol Kalikasan)
Asis Perez (Tanggol Kalikasan)

To view all the photos of the 1st Graders, please visit the Kiddie Toes Multiply Site.

Thank you to the defenders of the environment

For:
Governor Grace Padaca (Province of Isabela)
Major General Nestor Ochoa (5th Infantry Division, AFP)
Police SSupt Jimmy Rivera (PNP)
Jay Lim (Tanggol Kalikasan)
Asis Perez (Tanggol Kalikasan)


The Grade 2 students of Kiddie Toes Montessori School in Santiago City, Isabela heard about your efforts during the largest illegal logging confiscation in San Mariano, Isabela.


They would like to congratulate and thank you for defending the environment, especially the mountains of Sierra Madre.

They would like to show how grateful they are by making thank you notes. Please find attached the scanned copies of their notes.


Grade 2 students:
Jomari Padolina
Jewel Evangelista
Kzari Paciente
Chad Gabriel Tullao

We support all your efforts to save Sierra Madre. Again, thank you very much.


Sincerely,
Ms. Liezel Corpuz
Grade 2 Teacher
Kiddie Toes Montessori School
Santiago City

Moving Up Presentation

A presentation was shown during the Moving Up Day of Kiddie Toes Montessori (March 2009).

This contains photos of the Graduates and Movers, as well as the activities during the entire school year.

Please visit the Kiddie Toes Multiply site to view the video.

Thanks to Mommy Rose for making this presentation.

End of Summer Classes

Last May 21, 2009, the Kiddie Toes Summer Class had its culminating activity. All classes -- Toddlers Academics, Casa Academics, Hello World -- celebrated the end of the summer class with the students showcasing the things that they have learned.

The Toddlers and Casa classes showed their parents how to properly work on the Montessori materials. They also sang and danced to unique and lively songs.

The Hello World class exhibited their artworks in their own galleries. They also showed their guests how to do yoga.

For more photos of the culminating day, please visit the Kiddie Toes Multiply website.

Singapore Math

The world’s leading Math Curriculum is here!

KIDDIE TOES MONTESSORI SCHOOL USES SINGAPORE MATH!

Singapore Math is the generic name of the math curriculum used in Singapore schools. This is now used by leading progressive schools in Manila.

Singapore's math curriculum gained worldwide recognition when Singapore was ranked first in math in the Third International Mathematics & Science Study (TIMMS) in 1995 & 1999.

Singapore Math is geared towards producing mathematical thinkers. It teaches them to think through the different steps of a problem rather than trying to plug it into a formula.

Mental Math is taught from the very beginning & becomes second nature throughout the program.

Story problems are no longer something to fear because math makes sense!

What makes Singapore Math such a strong curriculum?

1. Singapore Math emphasizes the development of strong number sense, excellent mental-math skills, and a deep understanding of place value.

2. The curriculum is based on a progression from concrete experience—using manipulatives—to a pictorial stage and finally to the abstract level or algorithm. This sequence gives students a solid understanding of basic mathematical concepts and relationships before they start working at the abstract level.

3. Singapore Math includes a strong emphasis on model drawing, a visual approach to solving word problems that helps students organize information and solve problems in a step-by-step manner.

4. The Singapore approach focuses on developing students who are problem solvers.

Make sense out of math!

Learn Singapore Math!

Enroll now!

Kiddie Photographers

In "Hello World", the non-academic summer program of Kiddie Toes Montessori School, the students, ages 4 to 8 years old were taught a lot of things -- from basic photography, art, music and movement, yoga as well as other important topics such as the environment, pets, and nutrition.



Check out the photos taken by these very young photographers:

Kiddie Toes Multiply Site

Fly High, Soar High

FLY HIGH, SOAR HIGH
2nd Moving Up Day
Kiddie Toes Montessori School
March 25, 2009
Grand Ballroom
Carig Hotel
Santiago City

Below is the Closing Remarks of Dra. Louella Ramos-Bascos, the PTA President of Kiddie Toes Montessori School, during the 2nd Moving Up Day: Fly High, Soar High.

The ocassion was also graced by Mr. Wilfredo Baltar, an educator and a public servant, who was the Guest of Honor.

********************************************************************************

By Dra. Louella Ramos-Bascos

Beloved learners, co-parents, carers, teachers, lolos and lolas, titos and titas, friends and guests, good morning.

As we come to the end of the school year, aren't we all relieved to take a break from the daily tasks of preparing our kids to school, bringing them and picking them up after class, sometimes having to haul them out of Kidz Town Play Gym, checking their YGM making sure we don't miss out an announcement or activity, and of course, sorting out their socks, if they come home with any. A moving up day is then a day to be thankful for the year that was, and that vacation is finally here. Oh well, what to let them do, rather where to send them during the summer is another thing.

When I had my first moving up day with my daughter 5 years ago, I was so excited just like most of you today. And when I saw her perform, I couldn't help but beam with pride, and I was actually teary-eyed, but didn't want to be ma-showbiz kaya I had to control myself. I'm sure you felt the same way I felt then. Huwag na kayong mahiya, I believe it is normal to be emotional seing your child shine like a real star. I bet you didn't even notice your child's classmate because you're all eyes on your little angel. So a moving up day is a day to be thankful for what our child has done, and what he has become. We all want and pray for a bright future for these children, And we, parents and teachers, should be thankful that we could provide them with a good start in their education and wholistic development here at Kiddie Toes.


Finally, a moving up day is a day to be thankful that our children are moving up to another level next school year. I am thankful that now my son can count up to 10, write, read and make sounds of the alphabet, wants to be a good spiderman, not just spiderman, wants to be a good pirate, not just any pirate. I'm looking forward to his being able to count up to hundreds and even thousands, write, read and speak words and paragraphs, discover what else he could do and could be, and explore the world creatively. I believe my Gelo can do it, because today he is moving up.

So to everyone else who believes in his or her child's next big steps, see you next school year. Good day to all.








More photos can be seen at the Kiddie Toes Multiply site

Family Day

Last January 31, 2009, the learners of Kiddie Toes Montessori School, and their parents and guardians gathered together to celebrate the annual Family Day.



This day was to celebrate the togetherness of all families, in whatever form they may be. Mommies, daddies, lolos, lolas, titas, titos, cousins and guardians joined the Kiddie Toes learners in Villa Alca.



There were games for both the adults and the children. Everyone had fun during this event.

One of the highlights of this activity was the game "Bag Embellishment". True to the theme of being earth-friendly and environment-conscious, Kiddie Toes teachers asked each family to embellish and decorate the white and plain cloth bags given to them. These bags were made out of flour sacks and containers.


Gabby Abad, the cute 4-year old from Junior Casa won the first price, as she showed the most beautiful decoration which was also very apt for the theme -- family togetherness.

After the games and presentations, the families enjoyed a delicious meal.