Montessori character education Archives

October 23, 2018

Children at Montessori Children’s House are learning to use their Invisible Power

Moorsetown, New Jersey – The fifth unit from the Young Masters Little Wisdom Discovery Curriculum continued for an enthusiastic group of students at Montessori Children’s house this week. As always the lesson begins with the YOUNG MASTERS PLEDGE. The only difference today is that three children lead the pledge, adding a few extra turns to liven things up. “Great job!” said Stephanie Pelly, who is co-creator of the curriculum. As the day began they reviewed what they had learned over the past four weeks. “Who can remember the secrets of the heart?” Miss Stephanie asked. “Friendship,” said one boy. “Imagination,” said another,”Gratitude,” a little girl chimed in. “Courage,” said one of the smallest boys. “That’s my favorite,” as he continued to confess he loved to wear his power badge.

This week children 3-6 learned they had an Invisible Power and then – then learned how to use it. “Did you know you had an Invisible Power,” asked Miss Stephanie. “No, what’s that?” one little girl asked. “You’ll find out. Let’s read the story,” said Miss Stephanie.

The children were introduced to Saphinne this week, the storyteller on the CD. In real life that’s Elayn J. Taylor. “They really liked hearing her voice,” said Miss Stephanie. By the end of the story they had learned the Invisible Power is CREATIVITY. Everything begins with an idea.

They talked about how all people are creative because everybody has ideas. Everyone has an Invisible Power. They discussed how people create artwork like Kye Fleming, the illustrator for the Little Wisdom books. They looked at what went into creating a painting Miss Stephanie brought to class. They found out how an author uses the gift of creativity when he or she writes a book and how a singer or a songwriter uses their creative gifts to share their own music. They learned, though, that CREATIVITY in many different forms.

CREATIVITY is the power you can use to create anything you can think of! They talked about famous creators like Alexander Graham Bell, who invented the telephone and Thomas Edison, who created the lightbulb. “What about Walt Disney as a famous creator,” said Miss Stephanie as she showed pictures of all of those brilliant creators. “Think of all he created and the people who worked for him created.”

“Now it’s your turn to use your creative power, said Miss Stephanie. With limited time for the lesson, the best choice was a group project. “We’re going to practice using our Invisible Power together by creating something where everyone can take a turn adding something special.” Miss Stephanie brought out her “Peaceable Being”. “How can we make this special?” asked MissStephanie. They brought it to life together – drawing on it with markers, decorating it with stickers and adding paper cutouts. Music from the CD played in the background as they learned cooperation, how to work together, take turns and share materials. They learned what it meant to use their creativity and they were very proud of their creation.

At the end of the lesson, they passed a small globe. As each child held it in their hands they said, “I am a creator. I use my gifts.” The children are creating postcards this week either drawing themselves as a Young Master or making pictures of the Secrets of The Heart. What could be better than a group of children learning they’re born with an invisible power and gifts they can use their whole life long .

Next week is the last unit of the Young Masters Little Wisdom Discovery Program, where they will learn about “This Little Light.” The shines inside each of them – LOVE.

Here are a couple of videos which show the Discovery program in action.

Create Something Wonderful – The Young Masters Little Wisdom Discovery Program

What Can I Learn Today – Young Masters Little Wisdom Discovery Program

If you’re interested in bringing the Young Masters Little Wisdom Discovery Program to your school. The curriculum is available right now at no cost to you, by clicking here.

October 23, 2018December 19, 2018

Naudain Academy, a Montessori School, uses the Young Masters Little Wisdom Discovery Program to teach friendship.

What is a Young Master? Someone born with gifts. A Young Master is YOU. This is what each and every child in the extension program at Naudain Academy is learning. They are indeed Young Masters. This week they continued to explore friendship as they reviewed the Secret of The Heart they are focusing on for the first month. They began as always.

“Let’s stand and say the Young Masters Pledge,” said Stephanie Pelly, the program’s director. Proudly they stood with peace sign over their hearts and said the pledge with and without the CD. “I promise to use my gifts every day, in every way, for I am a Young Master. The children already remember the pledge and state it with great enthusiasm.” said Stephanie. “With each meeting they understand a little more, what it means.”

They reviewed the book they read at their first meeting. Many children recalled not only the title of the book The Friendship Seed, but were also able to share the author’s name, Bunny Hull and the illustrator Kye Fleming. They discussed the names of the characters in the story and she then asked them if they could remember, “what was the Friendship Seed that was shared in the story…who can tell me?” she asked. Together the children cheered – a smile.

They talked about how plants and flowers grow transition from a tiny seed and how a friendship can grow from one single smile. They talked about how it’s important to take care of our friendships, to nurture them and they explored how to do that. Together the class created a “friendship flower.” On each petal they wrote an idea that could help their friendships grow in school. They could “be kind”, one child said, “and say kind words.” Another child said, “I could help a friend or cheer a them up if they were sad.” They talked about how they could “include others,” or “share with a friend.” “What about unkind words,” asked Stephanie. ” Those are like weeds that don’t help friendships grow,” they all agreed. “We don’t want those in our garden!”

Stephanie then invited one child at a time to come to the front of the classroom and hold a “friendship flower”, this was a beautiful red rose that she had brought to class. Each child said something they liked about their friend, until everyone had a turn. This activity made each child feel that what they had to say was indeed important and valued. They were showing kindness to their friend.

The children were given an activity sheet to take away so they could complete their own friendship flower at home and discuss it with their families. The Young Masters Journals were introduced for the first time. The children were excited about receiving their new books which will allow them to track their journey of discovery as they learn how to use the Secrets of the Heart.

Before the program ended they listened to new songs from the Friendship Seed CD and sang THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE in English and Swahili, which they learned was the language of Kenya. Finally they listened to Hey Young Masters and played air guitar as began to learn the words. “The music is one more important way the children begin to grasp the very important concepts they’re learning,” said Stephanie.

It was good day at Naudain today as the children moved one step closer to learning what powerful little beings they are and how their creativity as Young Masters can create a world of friendship, for them and for the world they live in. They’re learning they make a difference. Stay tuned for the next adventure as the children of Naudain Academy continue their quest to the Secrets of the Heart.

October 19, 2018November 27, 2018

The Young Masters Little Wisdom Discovery Program teaches the children of Naudain Academy, a Montessori school, about “The Hidden Treasure” – being grateful

Voorhees, New Jersey – The children of Naudain Academy were excited to learn about The Hidden Treasure today and as they discovered the next Secret Of The Heart. Students had several guesses before Stephanie Pelly, the program facilitator, revealed the secret. “Is it love, friendship or sharing with your friends?” they asked.

Stephanie slowly drew the the word gratitude from her special container. This was a new word for most of the children, so she explained that gratitude means being thankful. She also explained that being grateful is showing appreciation for people or things in your life.

The children were excited to hear the story from the Young Masters Little Wisdom book, The Hidden Treasure. They began to understand that while it’s wonderful to receive gifts, the true gift is being thankful. They discussed the many things for which Butaan and Phylos were grateful for in the story and after the story they shared all for which they were grateful as a class.

Then Stephanie passed around a red gift box and told the children that there was a wonderful, amazing, awesome, super, fantastic and great gift inside. In fact it’s the greatest gift. She told them they could all have a chance to peek and see it, but they would need to keep the gift a surprise until each person discovered the gift themselves. One by one the gift box was passed as each child took a peek inside. She repeated, “thank you for being here, you are a gift!” as one by one they each looked inside the box and saw a star mirror and – their own face looking back at them. Some children got it right away… some took a moment to realize that they are the gift. It’s who they are and all that they can share with other. Some were a little confused and didn’t see themselves as a gift, so after each person had a turn Stephanie asked, “So what is this wonderful, amazing awesome, super, fantastic and great gift?” One little boy raised his hand and said, ” Each one of us is a gift to the world!” “Exactly,” Stephanie said. “We can share our smiles and friendship with people every day! We each have something to give. Something for which to be truly thankful.” She then asked the children to share some of the gifts they can give to others. Immediately they chimed in, “friendship, imagination, love, kindness, sharing and playing together.” “Yes, all the secrets of the heart,” said Stephanie.

Stephanie then told the children she was going to use her imagination to give each child a gift. One child said, “we learned all about imagination in the book The Magic Eye. They remembered. She went on to tell them that in order to receive the gift she was giving them, she would need to use her imagination… and so would they. One by one she pulled out “imaginary gifts” and placed something inside each child’s hand or around their necks or once in awhile I even rolled a special gift to a child. Every child said “thank you” and said they were grateful for their gifts. One child said… “I know what my gift is, a baseball.” Another child said, “You gave me sparkles.” “My gift was a mircophone!” “I got a telescope.” “I got a necklace.” One child pondered long and hard and might still be thinking about what his gift really was. “You can think about it while you’re in bed tonight, ” Stephanie said, and added, “I gave you each my love with your gift…and that’s the best gift.”

They sang “Circle of Appreciation” and had fun playing a game where the students got to point to all their different friends during the song. They loved this song and game. The lesson ended as they passed around earth ball and shared the many gifts they earth gives to us. “Something for which we are are very grateful,” said Stephanie, “to be on this beautiful Earth with our families and friends.”

Stay tuned for the next secret of the heart and the continuing journey for these very fortunate Young Masters at Naudain Academy.

See what wonders are happening at Naudain Academy.

October 17, 2018December 19, 2018

Montessori Students Celebrate Earthday And Learn The Importance Of Creativity

In celebration of Earth Day, master teacher Stephanie Pelly facilitated the Young Masters Discovery Program at Naudain Academy as they focused on this weeks “secret” CREATIVITY by working together on a group art project that now hangs in their classroom and the school hallways. The project all began as children discovered creativity by reading “Young Masters: The Invisible Power.” Everything begins with an idea. …one simple idea – from the light bulb to an airplane. Earthday…aperfect place to begin for a group creativity project. As Stephanie lead the children in creating an Earthday mural, the children took turns drawing pictures of the earth and then switching positions with their classmates to continue drawing in a new area. The goal of this activity was to teach the children that they could create an art project as a group! “Once an idea is introduced it can take a group of people to help make it successful,” said Stephanie. “You each have something important to add,” she said as they selected a different color crayon to add their special touch! Songs from the Young Masters CD provided a beautiful, musical backdrop as children added birds, people, flowers and trees in all different colors.

After they completed the group project, Stephanie talked about the creative writing and arts project in their Young Masters’ journals. The children were asked to create and draw their very own cartoon character. “Create your very own character,” said Stephanie, “like the illustrator Kye Fleming created Phylos, Butaan and EEtha in the Young Master books or like the characters you see on television or in other story books.”

Once the children designed the image of their character they were asked to create a story about their character. You could see their wheels turning as Naudain Academy students searched their minds for creative ideas and inspiration. Children were also asked to name their character. Some children said, they would come up with a name first and then draw the character…ah the beauty of the creative process. There are a million ways to create and no set path to a creative end. Stephanie couldn’t wait to see their creative ideas.

Before the class was over, a couple children asked if they could share their creative art projects from their “at-home” work the week before. Stephanie was fascinated by their imagination and creativity. Some children used the same materials, one of those was tin foil, but each created a unique idea. One girl made an ocean scene with tin foil and candy while another boy used a paper towel roll and tin foil to make a jousting sword.

All in all, a perfect way to honor earth day, by recycling materials and using creativity to make something! And after all – look at Mother Earth – is she not the epitome of creativity?

They closed with the Young Master’s pledge. A reminder that each Young Master has gifts share with the world and makes a promise to use those gifts.

Next the Young Masters of Naudain Academy have one more book to read before the school year comes to an end – Young Masters, This Little Light! How perfect to conclude with love. The love that is their’s to take into the summer and shine their light into the world as the Young Masters they are. Every child is born to change the world in a way that only they can.

See you next time.

www.naudainacademy.com

If you’d like to find out how you can use the the Young Masters Discovery Program. Click here and download your “free” curriculum.

October 17, 2018December 19, 2018

Children Learn How To Shine Their Light In The Young Masters Little Wisdom Discovery Program at Naudain Academy, a Montessori School

Voorhees, New Jersey – The children of Naudain Academy have been enjoying the Young Masters Little Wisdom Discovery Program every other week since November. Their mission has been to learn and practice the Secrets of The Heart based on the Young Masters Little Wisdom books. This past week they learned about the final secret in the first series – love.

The program began with the class saying the Young Masters Pledge together. “I promise to use my gifts everyday, in everyway, for I am a Young Master. PEACE!” “By now the children have learned they do indeed have gifts to share with the world, ” said Ms. Stephanie, “and that’s why they’re Young Masters.”

After the pledge, the children listened to Ms. Stephanie, the program facilitator as she read Young Masters: This Little Light. “In this storybook, the children learn the many ways love is shared with people, animals and the earth.” The story was followed by an activity to demonstrate the power of love. The activity is called A DROP OF LOVE. In a glass bowl filled with water, Ms. Stephanie placed a small earth globe. One at a time, each child took a turn and using an eye dropper filled with colored water placed a drop of love around the globe. As they shared something they love about themselves, others or the world around them they all saw how the love they had to give helped color the world with love. “One drop of love makes a difference in the world,” said Ms. Stephanie. Each child had a turn as ideas like “I love my family and friends, I love my teachers, I love my dog, I love flowers and I love music,” were expressed.

After completing the activity the children created “heartprints”, this was an art project to share with someone they love. As they listened to music from the Young Masters: This Little Light CD, each child decorated four “heartprints” and added their own very special thumbprint to make the shape of a heart. As they placed their thumbprints on the hearts Ms. Stephanie told them “there is no one in the whole world that has a thumbprint like you and there’s no one in the world exactly like you. You are unique! And the way you give your love is unique.” On the reverse side of the “heartprint” children wrote messages like “I love you” or “I love playing with you.” Some children wrote words like “kindness” and “share.” The children were asked to share their love by giving a “heartprint” away to a classmate, family member, teacher or neighbor. “Sharing love is making someone else feel special,” said Ms. Stephanie, “that’s how you shine your light. That’s what Butaan, Phylos and EEtha talk about in the book.” “I love hearing the children sing along with the CD while they’re creating,” said Ms. Stephanie. “Music adds so much to a learning experience…music makes learning joyful.”

As their time together came all too quickly to an end, the students repeated the Young Masters pledge one last time and were encouraged to try making heartprints out of clay at home to share with friends or family members.

“Young Masters…learning to make the world a better place. I love my work,” said Ms. Stephanie. Stay tuned for the next adventure in learning with the Young Masters Little Wisdom Discovery program.

If you’re interested in finding out more about how you can use this program in your school.

Stephanie Pelly is a peace educator and co-creator of the Young Masters Little Wisdom Discovery Program for children and teaches this program and others in and around New Jersey.

Click here to make a difference in the lives of children 4-8 in your world.

Curriculum is still available for free.

Naudain Academy is a Montessori school in Voorhees, New Jersey.

October 17, 2018December 19, 2018

Culmination Of The Young Masters Discovery Program @ Naudain Academy, A Montessori School

Vorhees, New Jersey – The Young Masters Discovery Program at Naudain Academy concluded last week. The extended day children proudly wore the headdresses they created as they received their certificates and shared what they had learned with their friends – the Secrets Of The Heart

During the final celebration each Young Master held the microphone and had a turn reciting the Young Masters Pledge. Confidently each stepped forward to say what they now seemed to believe about themselves and…they appeared to know what that meant. “I promise to use my gifts everyday, in everyway for I am a Young Master.”

Children were quick to answer what their favorite Secret of the Heart was and why and Stephanie gently probed them with questions to find out what stories and lessons resonated most with them. Some children loved using their “creativity” and “imagination” during the program, some children said “friendship” and “love” were their favorites. A number of children talked about “courage” being their favorite “secret”, because they learned to face their fears and a handful of students liked “gratitude” best! Stephanie reminded them that all of the “secrets” are important to practice.

Wearing their colorful Young Master headdresses, each student received their certificate of completion. Something they could hang on their wall at home to remind them what they had accomplished, and they would now bring home the Young Master Journals that they had spent class time creating and adding to during the year.

“Tell us something you learned during the Discovery Program?” asked Miss Stephanie. One young boy raised his hand. “I learned I have gifts to share,” said one Young Master. “Yes!” said Miss Stephanie. “I am so proud of all the students of Naudain. It takes real courage for a child to stand up in front of their class and recite the Young Masters pledge all by themselves or to express their feelings about the program. I’ve witnessed a lot of growth with the children and I know they felt equally proud of themselves when they held their Young Masters certificates up for one last class photo.”

“I believe each child felt a little bit like Butaan, Phlyos or EEtha as they wore their Young Masters headdresses. They really connected twith the characters in the books, loved the messages in the stories and wore wide smiles each time they sang the songs on the CD’s. I believe that First grade will be a little easier for these students. They understand some very important concepts that will serve them well in the days and years ahead.

Many of the children were sad the program was over. “Miss Stephanie, will you be at my new school?” asked one little girl. “You can take me with you in your heart,” said Stephanie.“You’re a Young Master!”

Stephanie Pelly conducts the Young Masters Little Wisdom Program at Montessori schools and centers in New Jersey. If you’d like to schedule the program at your school, contact Stephanie Pelly at [email protected].

Naudain Academy is a Montessori School

October 17, 2018December 19, 2018

Resources from Building Classroom Community and Character Through Music

To all of the beautiful teachers and friends who participated in our workshop – Bunny Hull and Stephanie Pelly would like to thank you for choosing to be with them! They are here to help you do what you do best – teach our children how to become better human beings!

We believe that music is profoundly important as a tool you can use to help children grasp whatever it is you are teaching them. If you were a participant in the “Building Classroom Community and Character Through Music” workshop at AMS in Orlando, Florida, we think you also believe this is true.

As promised, below you will find resources that were presented in the workshop.

Building Classroom Community and Character Through Music – Resources Handout

Building Classroom Community – Notes for participants
For those who are interested, here are presenter notes which contain an outline of what was presented at the workshop. In addition the presentation was recorded and is available through AMS.

Books and Music – click here to see all the books and music we offer
A number of songs and chants which were performed during the workshop are also available on our books and CD. The Notes For Particpants above lists where you may find particular songs. All song lyrics for songs contained on CDs are available by download on the page of each product.

Courage-crossing — Affirmation Courage Crossing

Fanga
http://dreamaworldedu.org/professional-development/classroom-resources/

Affirmation Activity from

Young Masters: Heart of A Lion
From Young Masters Little Wisdom Curriciulum
Thia curriculum is a free download and was created to support the Young Masters Little Wisdom Books and Music for use in circle time activities.

October 17, 2018December 20, 2018

Courage is the key for Montessori Children’s House and the Young Masters Little Wisdom Discovery Program

Moorsetown, New Jersey – The Young Masters Little Wisdom Discovery Program is in full swing at Montessori Children’s House as students jump into unit four in this six week program. Spontaneity is a beautiful thing! Class began with an unexpected, but perfect, twist today when the children were frightened because of a spider. They were reminded how they can be brave even when confronted by a spider as Miss Stephanie’s showed them how she could pick it up with a dust pan and bring it over to a door so it could be set free outside to roam where spiders have unlimited crawling space. Class was off and running!

The children were excited to meet a new character in this week’s book Heart Of A Lion. Her name is EEtha. In the fourth book of the Young Masters Little Wisdom series EEtha joins Butaan and Phylos as they travel through the magic garden learning about the secrets of the heart. It was like meeting a new friend.

Together the children proudly state THE YOUNG MASTERS PLEDGE and discover today’s Secret Of The Heart ~ COURAGE. In Heart of A Lion, Phylos has a choice to be afraid or to face his fears with courThey discuss why Phylos is afraid and how his friends help him face his fears. They children notice how Buttaan and EEtha help Phylos face his fears by encouraging him and helping him believe in himself. They talk about how they can help their friends, brothers or sisters face their fears. The children are asked how Phylos would have reacted if his friends had put him down or made fun of him and how afraid he felt. “Would Phylos would have found his courage if they had done that?” asked Miss Stephanie. The children agreed that friends can help you face your fears and it’s important to encourage each other.

The children were then presented with their POWER BADGES. Each child wore a special message: I BELIEVE IN MYSELF. I AM BRAVE. I AM HEART SMART. I HAVE COURAGE. I HAVE FAITH. I CAN DO IT. They talked about times when they needed to be brave, like when they were at the doctors office and needed to get a shot or at night if they were feeling afraid of the dark. They then discussed how important is it to believe in yourself when when you learn something new like how to tie your shoe, play a musical instrument or maybe when you’re trying something for the first time like standing up to speak in front of the class. Instead of saying “I can’t do this,” or “this is too hard,” there’s something you can do. You can see the light bulbs begin to go off as they realize they can even encourage themselves by remembering to think or say positive messages like I CAN DO IT. They can practice, work hard or ask for help if they need it. A little self-talk goes a long way.

A breakthrough moment in today’s class happened when one little girl who is often too shy to participate stood up and walked to the front of the classroom to receive her special POWER BADGE. The badge said I HAVE COURAGE. “I Have Courage,” she said. “Way to be,” said Miss Stephanie. “She gently faced a big fear” said Miss Stephanie, and took a giant step forward with that small act today. When the Power Badge was placed across her heart she gave a big smile and even had her picture snapped. A snapshot of courage in a world that can sometimes be a scary place.

The children took home a small gift today. A smooth rock that they will decorate with the affirmation that’s on their POWER BADGE. A touchstone to remind them “I believe in myself.” Courage rocks! That’s the lesson from today’s Young Masters Little Wisdom Discovery program. Stay tuned for next weeks lesson, unit five – The Invisible Power – everything begins with a single idea!

View the video of this weeks program. Young Masters: Heart Of A Lion

The Young Masters Little Wisdom Curriculum for Montessori is currently available for free to all you wonderful teachers by clicking here.