Welcome to Cycle 2! Here you will find some
similarities from the Cycle 1 programme, routines
and naturally philosophy, as well as the differences
to meet the new developmental stage of the children
in this cycle. There is also preparation for third
years to make the transition in the following year
to Cycle 3. Perhaps a tour of the day will best
illustrate a Cycle 2 child's daily experiences….
On arrival children complete their morning
responsibilities from the Practical Life area. These
responsibilities range from hanging out the washing
(cleaning cloths), to maintaining the pH level in
Big Shell's (our Turtle) enclosure, to arranging
the furniture, turning on technology or arranging
the day's date etc. On completion of these activities,
the children seat themselves on the mat to begin
morning Circle Time. Every day each child and the
teacher (!) are encouraged to share personal experiences
and objects with their class community, asking and
answering relevant questions. This is one of the
most important components of the day. Circle Time
has affected the blossoming confidence of many a
child. It develops a child's confidence to speak
in front of their peers, deepen their relationships
through the sharing of personal anecdotes, as well
as the further development of their oral language
skills.
After Circle Time is complete, the children
proceed again to Practical Life tasks and take out
their Diary. Each day, the children are responsible
for planing their day based upon their Individual
Learning Plans. A minimum of the following tasks
in each area are aimed to be completed: two tasks
from the Language area, two from the Mathematics
area and one from Culture. All subject areas involve
the interaction for Sensorial Education. The tasks
in each child's Individual Learning Plan, offer
children a range of choices from those which are
developmentally appropriate for each child with
support to develop skill mastery. The Plan also
enables children to be aware of the coming presentations
of concepts in their learning journey.
After planning their day, children then set
about completing their tasks in any order they desire.
All tasks must be completed and before being returned
to the shelves, must be assessed by the teacher
so that assessment is ongoing and current. This
provides feedback and indications as to readiness
for the next pieces of equipment. Children stop
through the morning, in their own time, to sit and
have some snack and then happily return to their
work.
For lunch we return to Practical Life and
use this time as a learning opportunity for such
things as orderliness, respect, manners focus, table
manners, setting tables, etc The children enjoy
a different lunch activity each day, such as; Picnic
Lunch, Buddy Lunch and "Family Shared Lunch",
(where the table is set properly by the children
and they serve each other drinks etc.). The children
then have a 1 hour free play time….a much enjoyed
break.
On returning to the classroom, children in
Cycle 2 participate in Buddy Reading. They pull
out cushions and bean bags, find a quite place to
read with their Buddy and take it in turns to read
their levelled readers aloud, helping each other
to develop confidence and a variety or reading strategies,
as well as deepen their bonds with each other.
The rest of the afternoon is then an opportunity
to complete any unfinished tasks, read the class
novel together, (at the moment it is Roald Dahl's,
James and the Giant Peach where after reading a
chapter children complete open ended activities
together to further explore the text). There are
also allocated blocks for any whole class activities,
such as theme work. The Whole Class Curriculum in
Cycle 2 follows a Scope and Sequence of Montessori
Curriculum, which progresses through the Five Great
Lessons; The Earth and The Universe, The Coming
of Plants, The Evolution of Animals, The Evolution
of Humans, The Development of Language and The Development
of Mathematics and Inventions. This ensures throughout
the 3 years undertaken in Cycle 2, children are
exposed to new and relevant learning journeys in
Culture which also integrate other Curriculum areas.
This semester the children are learning about the
Evolution of Humans; a study of early civilizations
as well as some open ended activities about James
and the Giant Peach.
When the day is coming to an end, the classical
music from the working day is removed from the CD
Player and in goes some more upbeat children's songs
to sing and dance along to, while we complete our
afternoon responsibilities- a much enjoyable way
to clean up and pack up at the end of the day!….And
that is an average day in Cycle 2, of course not
including all the spontaneous, joyous moments that
inevitably occur with the children, as well as the
occasional Tea Party with parents, birthday celebrations
and new learning journeys! Children also have specialist
classes during their week at Gisborne Montessori
School. These involve; Music, Yoga, Visual Arts,
German, Swimming, Health and Physical Education
as well as a visit to the local Library for books
and other resources. Once a week we have an assistant
who works with the children on a reading program
prescribed by the teacher. This ensures the children
receive a balanced reading program with opportunities
for independent, pair, teacher and other adult reading
experiences to take place.
Throughout the year there are various excursions,
guest speakers, planting days, site development
days, cultural awareness days, rehearsals and performance
of the class play in term 3 as well as various impromptu
celebrations and experiences as they arise! Come
along to an Open Day and discover for yourself why
Cycle 2 is a unique and wonderful learning environment
for your child! |
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"Needless help is an actual hindrance to the
development of natural forces."
Dr Maria Montessori
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