Montessori Day 1

Pascale was a bit hungry when she entered the PTP room, carrying a box of cereal and honey bread. She kept looking around curiously at the children and adults. She headed for the talbe and empty chairs, sat down and started to eat her box of cereal. Then she saw some fruit on the sideboard, and walked over to investigate. She touched the strawberry, grape then the honey and bread grabbed her attention and she indicated that she wanted to eat it. Having been sat at the table with plate and honey etc, she spread the honey on the turkish bread. Too much work - she threw the bread aside and nibbled more of the cereal flakes. After unsuccessfully trying to get Pascale to try spreading the honey and eating the bread, Priscilla suggested to Pascale that the plate should be washed in the sink. Pascale got up and headed there, and was captivated by the water and bubbles all at her height.

For about 10 minutes, Pascale played with the rinse water and the plate and the washing brush. Then she moved over to the washing up sink with bubbles and plates/glasses. Priscilla just managed to stop Pascale from drinking a glass of bubble water, suggesting a glass under the fresh water urn instead. Somehow Pascale understood and turned her attention to this source of flowing water (the sinks have no taps and are filled by adult intervention using a jug). She worked out that the urn tap could be left in the open position and water comes out, so she put a glass under the tap and let it run and overflow. Pascale then tried to drink from a glass filled to the brim and of course was soaked. Priscilla mopped the floor, Pascale stayed at the urn until the water ran out, looking carefully and repeating the tap action to get the last drops out. Priscilla refilled the urn with some water and put a small jug under the tap so Pascale could fill that then pour into a glass. Pascale just opened the urn tap again except the jug was under the stream of water. She poured the contents of the jug in the direction of the glass, and some water went into the glass, the rest onto the draining board. A boy was trying to get some water from the urn for drinking, but his mother told him to wait for Pascale to finish. After many minutes of Pascale watching the water run out and over the edge of the glass, the boy walked around and pushed his glass under the tap. Pascale watched as the boy filled his glass, but by then he was not interested in drinking and so left his filled glass at the urn. Pascale took the glass of water and waved it in the direction of the boy.

The director Fay suggested that Pascale be shown another task as she had been at the sink for quite a while. Priscilla suggested they look at the goldfish, and Pascale walked there herself, having seen it while she was eating her cereal/honey bread. Near the fishtank was a collection of tiny decorative jugs hanging by string off wall hooks. Pascale picked out 2 which were a pair, and waved them by the strings. Then she headed back to the urn to fill the tiny jugs. Priscilla managed to get her to return the jugs and try squeegeeing the mirror. Then it was time to go outside for singing, so Pascale raced outside minus sandals. She followed the others, but became distracted by the water play tray and 2 children still there. Finally made it to the singing circle next to the gate, and as it was crowded with parents and kids Pascale could barely see Fay leading the singing. No matter, she sat down at the edge of the parents circle and did hand movements for Incy Wincy Spider which was being sung. Then she got up and walked over to the sand pit and stepping buckets, preferring these to the singing. 3 other children were non-participants too, and anyway wasn't the whole PTP about letting children experience what they wanted at their own time? After a push and ride in the timber trolley it was time to get our bag and leave, shaking hands with Fay and going to the office to pay term fees. Surprise, it's now $300/term instead of Abi's time (1 year ago) $240/term. Put Pascale onto waitlist for Pre-primary: another $165. Will Pascale be suited to the montessori approach?