Ronald Knox Montessori School - Letter from the Faculty and Staff at RKMS

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Letter from the Faculty and Staff at RKMS

Dear Parents and Families,

In efforts to support the Ronald Knox Community, we have collaborated to come up with a list of home activities that can be copied and pasted into a provided template (or into an existing family schedule/calendar). We acknowledge that the nature of home life and a home environment will have variance from the setting of our classrooms and inherent social structures. Keep fun, patience and flexibility in mind as you navigate these changes in routine with your children.

When we brainstormed our list of Montessori activities that are both engaging and relevant to classroom work, we held the hope that these experiences would provide opportunities for fun and connection among your families. We would love for you to share your anecdotes, photos, videos, and experiences with us and with each other. You can add to our list from your own ideas or resources and share with fellow parents as well.

Before choosing and implementing your family schedule of activities, we encourage you to consider the conceptual framework below. We have found that having these concepts at the forefront contributes to success in the classroom. We encourage you to have an ongoing dialogue about how to implement them with family members and any other caregivers working with your children.

Responsibility
Children are responsible and contributing members of your family. Include them in housework, cleanup, following routines and taking care of each other/pets.
Clear Expectations
Set clear expectations (make a family rule list together; role play scenarios regarding the rules you make; talk about natural consequences).

We sit when we eat “When you get up from table dinner table, Then that tells me you’re done with dinner.”

“When we are dressed in coats, hats and shoes, Then we can go for a walk.”

“When you get up from the breakfast table, Then I will take your plate and hold it until you are ready to sit.”

“When I’m on the phone or talking to another adult...”

“When you quiet down……Then we can start the book you chose.”
Consistent Routines
Keeping children on routine will give them (and you!) comfort in a stressful time. Whichever activities you decide to implement while school is closed (including those you have already established previously), stay consistent in routines.
Limited Choices
Offer your child two choices that you have previously selected and approved of. Ex: “When it’s time for snack you can have fruit or crackers.”

Feel confident in implementing these at home because your child is familiar with these at school. Montessori was built on community, and the activity list we have provided can further connect us all even though we aren’t physically together. Once you have considered the above bullet points, proceed to copying and pasting the long list we have provided into your individualized family planner. Please add your own as you go and share those too! You can decide the order and timing of activities that work for you.

Thank you for your partnership during this challenging time.

Warm regards,

The Faculty and Staff at Ronald Knox Montessori

Social-Emotional Resources

“My Kids School is Closed, So Now What?”

https://confidentparentsconfidentkids.org/2020/03/13/my-kids-school-is-closed-so-now-what/

Colleen Wilkinson-

The intersection of trauma informed practice and Montessori philosophy.

https://www.instagram.com/trauma_informed_montessori/?hl=en

“How to Talk to your Kids”

https://www.pbs.org/parents/thrive/how-to-talk-to-your-kids-about-coronavirus

Play is More than Just Fun

https://www.ted.com/talks/stuart_brown_play_is_more_than_just_fun/transcript?language=en

THE IMPORTANCE of PLAY

Play is a natural occurrence amongst kids. In stressful times, sometimes we lose our instincts and need to return to the basics. Accept your child’s invitations to play more than you ever did and feel the benefits yourself. Life is distracting, but make eye contact with your child, sink into the moment and often you find the answers to what happens next. Play strengthens relationships and contributes to healthy emotional development.

“Researchers have found that the state of play helps to produce four powerful feel-good hormones – endorphins, oxytocin, dopamine and serotonin. It’s no wonder, then, that play can produce so many positive mental health effects.”

Darryl Edwards

When you are struggling at home with discipline or power struggles as we know happens--- - utilize play. You don’t need to bend the rules or expectations, but you can diffuse tough emotions by re-directing towards play. If a toddler is whining and about to meltdown, you can extend your hands and tell them to jump with you- jump big, jump silly! - and sometimes those jumps lend to giggles. Those giggles don’t mean that you have lost power and they won’t listen to you. Those giggles mean that you have helped your child redirect strong emotions and frustration into movement and that you connect and care for them. Once emotions come back to neutral or even positive, you can reinforce/repeat expectations calmly with a hug, a nuzzle and a whisper. These little actions can feel very empowering as a parent and further connection with your child is always going to be a good thing.

2031 Elmwood Avenue

Wilmette IL 60091

847-256-2922

We are fully accredited by the American Montessori Society.