“The greatest sign of success for a teacher….is to be able to say…The children are now working as if I did not exist” – Maria Montessori
Giving a tour of the toddler classroom in the springtime is a sight to be seen. Toddlers are that much bigger, showing their independence and choosing their own work. They are carrying trays with little glass bowls on them, rolling out their own work rugs and navigating the classroom with confidence and respect. They have grown leaps and bounds since the first day of school; their vocabulary has blossomed and they are much more verbal with their needs and wants. It is an amazing sight to behold!
In the toddler classroom we emphasize routine, care of self, care of environment and care of each other. Through grace and courtesy lessons, each child is taught how to approach each other with kindness and respect. We create activities that assist them in developing fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination skills, prediction, observation, classification, exploration, reflection, nutrition, social behavior, free thinking, sharing, imagination, creativity, risk taking, self-esteem, and a love of the great outdoors.
It is an amazing thing to see a two-year old able to be independent and choose their own work and concentrate on the task at hand. Their curiosity and love of learning explodes as they learn new skills and are excited for the next step!