Tempe Montessori is coming up on its 34th year of providing a Montessori education for the children of Arizona. Over the years we have seen more than 4,000 children and families walk though our classroom doors. We are delighted that we can continue to provide the same quality education to each and every child who enters our classroom environments as we have since our doors opened in 1978. Following in her mother Therese’s footsteps, Lauren Bolar is assisting Irma Letson with Ad- ministration and office duties. Jessica Van den Akker (Acedo) another former TMS Alumnus will be joining them this Fall.

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From the time of conception, the fetus prepares its vocal lungs to one day form words. During pregnancy, each organ takes time to construct and grow. The ears come to allow the child to hear the words in order to form themselves, the mouth, tongue, and facial muscles form to allow the formation of words, the vocal cords produce sounds and the lungs allow for the air to enter the body; this was a trade off during evolution; when humans gave up the ability to breath under water, in order to one day have the ability to speak. Upon reaching the Uterus, a few days after conception, the fetus and mother establish communication.

Dr. Silvana Montanaro says, “The zygote must produce the chorionic villi, (which are tiny protrusions in the placenta allowing the fetus to get close to the maternal blood) which can be considered the telephone lines connecting the mother so they can talk with each other.” Recent studies show that fetuses being hearing as young as 23 weeks of gestation and by the week 35 of pregnancy sound discrimination improves.

Around the 7th month of pregnancy, fetal mouth synchronism occurs when the fetus is mouthing every word the mother is saying. From this time on the child is preparing its vocal cords. During pregnancy, the mother and father speak to the child in the womb, the child will recognize these voices outside the womb and the mother and father become an instant point of reference for the child during the period of external pregnancy (This is considered to be the first 40 days after pregnancy).

Once the child is born, it is important to continue speaking with her all the time. The child will now learn the sounds of her voice by the sounds around them and the sounds of her cry. As the child grows and develops over the next few months, the parents and others around the child must give her ample opportunities for vocabulary growth and language. It is up to the parents to name everything around them, as the child is in the absorbent mind and will log it into themselves, until one day an explosion occurs and after many times of saying milk, milk, milk, the child will repeat what the adults says.

At 2 months the child is auditive, she will turn at the sound of the voice, at 4 months, the child becomes visual, she will look intensely at the speaking mouth and at 4-6 months the child is motor, the 1st syllable and repeats that same syllable, this is the absorption of language and the formation of babbling, at 8 months, the first consonants are form as ma, da, and na, at 10 months the child becomes conscious that language has meaning and by the first year, the intentional word could be spoken.
What can we do to help support the development of language from conception to walking?

• Remember the child will be able to hear sound through vibration ( like sound waves) during pregnancy; mothers and fathers can always speak to the child while in utero.
• Once the child is born, continue to speak to them, in order to have language, the child must have certain things,
  1. The physical apparatus Larynx and Pharynx
  2. To be surrounded by spoken language (children do not learn language from the television)
  3. Must have the will to speak- allow the child to use their voice
• Name everything for the child. For example during bath time, tell the child what you are doing e.g. “Now we are going to bathe you, I am washing your legs, I am putting water on your stomach, these are your fingers etc.”
• Allowing for the opportunity for the child to speak. When the child is older, naming the object and then allowing them to repeat it. “What would you like?” “Milk” allow the child to repeat
• Speak with the child intelligently. Refrain from “baby talk” In order for children to have the best opportunity; they must hear language and words clearly. Refrain from the cutesy wootsy talk aka baby talk. This will only confuse the child and not allow for the best opportunity to hear words, sounds and consonants clearly.

Adults/Parents must practice to become passive when the child is at a moment of discovery, and active in a moment of true need. They must be able to tell the difference as well. The adult must be a model, in which the child can positively imitate. The adult must help guide the child through their life, but leaving the child free to develop their own will, independence and ability to make their own choices and decisions. The adult must always be a consistent, stable entity in the child’s life; this will provide the child with a sense of security, routine and love.

Maria Montessori says “In the midst of continual progress in favor of the adults children have remained isolated without means of communication that would allow society to become aware of their condition. They are victims without society being aware.”

During each period of life, the adult will play a different role and provide different support for the child.

While in pregnancy, the mother continues to live a healthy life style and receive medical checkups, continues to educate herself about the development of the child, the father must be equally prepared with the development of the fetus and what the child will need afterbirth. Once the child is born, the adults should already know what happens in the psychological and physical aspects of the developing child. The rest will come through observation. From the moment of birth the parent must be like the umbilical cord– is there for the child and provide for it. But at a certain point in order for life to progress, it must be detached just like the parent must be for the child.

The Role of the adult after the first 6 to 8 weeks: Parenthood, must aid the child in their path to independence. This might take the adult out of their comfort zone because you are allowing the child to go or allowing them the time to put their shoes on or dress for themselves. Children are very sensitive and absorb much more of everything than we think. Parents must consider different aspects of their children such as their interests, their physical abilities, the intellect and personality. Parents need to consider what their children will be exposed to whether it is sports or what is seen on television and also create the most stable home environment and family environment for the child. This balance will help to create a sense of trust and confidence within the child.

The first environment is the home. When bringing a baby home for the first time, it must be prepared to receive the child. The adult should be ready and understand the specific needs of the child. It doesn’t matter if you have a beautiful home, if you do not understand the child. The adult is seen as an educator every time she is with the child.

The adult preparation must be given on four levels:

1. Physical preparation, including care for the body and health, how you move, how we dress and present ourselves,
2. Intellectual preparation: the adult must continue to research and read to prepare him or herself, understand that we are all interconnected, and to better understand the world we live in, we must observe and be prepared,
3. Professional preparation, and
4. As a Montessori Guide, there is a deep understanding and knowledge of the Absorbent mind, Natural tendencies, Sensitive periods and the Four planes of Development. As adults in the child’s lives, we must remember we cannot give what we don’t have. We need to remember to never interrupt a child that is engaged in his/ her work. We need to know we can be a new person every day and see the same child as new every day and avoid living to other people’s expectations.

The adult in the child’s life is here to protect, provide and guide. Children will pick up behaviors and qualities that an adult models for them. In the beginning and during the young life of the child, he will mimic the adult’s behaviors, gestures, words and reactions. It is up to the adult to model the behavior and morals he would like the child to emulate. The adult sets the foundation for the living environment, or social environment and it must be met with a balance and respect for the child’s well being.

We would like to thank Monica for coordinating this day as well as the Lowes volunteers. We were excited to hear that one of the Lowe’s workers, Tosh, is a TMS alumni. He shared his memories and love for the school.

If you missed out, don’t fret! There will be more parent volunteer opportunities to come!