The Power of Presentations and September Themes
Even the best ideas will amount to nothing if they are not shared.
Presenting work is an important part of the Montessori Lower Elementary learning environment. By standing in front of an audience and sharing a project, a story, an experience, or something very special from home, students develop a sense of pride in their work and build confidence in their ideas and abilities.
Actively incorporating presentations into our classroom routine has already shown some tangible results, and is firmly planting the seeds of a joyful, collaborative learning community.
A student presents her ideas using a keyword outline.
Presentations enable students to apply and practice essential academic and communication skills.In the picture on the left, a third-year student verbally recounts a paragraph she has written about plants using a keyword outline, which she learned as part of a writing structure lesson. Presenting gave her the opportunity to put her lessons into practice, using a learned skill to remember information and craft complete sentences spontaneously in front of an audience – a daunting task for many an adult!
Reinforcing knowledge by answering questions from the audience.
Presentations engage students and lead them to question and learn. Sharing projects and lessons with the class is a very effective way of reviewing knowledge and solidifying concepts and information in an open-forum setting. Students’ knowledge of their presentation subject is tested and expanded by answering the questions of their classmates, and the entire audience benefits from listening to the exchange of information.
A student completes her first pin map after being inspired by a student display.
Presentations inspire students to accomplish great work.Having older students present completed pin maps in class inspired a younger student to learn how to use the material and challenge herself to complete one herself. Naturally, students are motivated to achieve by the accomplishments of their peers. A sense of healthy aspiration is cultivated, and students thirst to learn new things.
Father and son share their travel experiences.
Presentations involve the school community.It takes a village to raise a child, and this rings true especially on our island. Family and school community members are warmly welcomed into the classroom, bringing a wealth of expertise, experience and knowledge. In the picture on the left, a father and son excitedly share anecdotes and pictures from their holiday in Europe.
Students “ooh” and “aah” over a student’s hard work on a 1000-chain paper strip.
Presentations instill pride in and respect for hard work. Work in the classroom is to be held in high esteem. Through presentations, students learn that their work is valuable and important, and worth sustained effort, perseverance and concentration. In the image on the left, students show genuine admiration for the work of a first-year student (assisted by a second-year student) who wrote in tens until one thousand, across a paper strip that had to be displayed down the stairs because of its sheer length. Organically, a culture that values hard work is cultivated.
First-year students present their nouns!
Group presentations foster teamwork and collaboration.Working with others is a key life skill, and the group presentation acts powerfully as a unifying goal. Students learn to take turns, listen to each other, compromise, respect each other’s strengths and support each other’s weaknesses in the course of completing work and then presenting it. First-year students thoroughly enjoyed working together to compile a giant list of nouns, and equally loved showing their work to the entire class.
Far from being a time-filling activity, and going beyond the concept of “show and tell,” class presentations offer every student a multitude of ways by which to develop and apply skills, accomplish goals, cultivate confidence in their ideas and abilities, and communicate effectively with others. Inherently powerful and compelling, presentations are a means for us to share and consequently, learn from one another and grow.
OTHER NEWS:
Students are mesmerized by the Great Lesson!
THE GREAT LESSON– Throughout the first week of September, students have been delving into the rich, comprehensive story of the creation of the universe through the first Great Lesson. The first Great Lesson offers children a vast story that begins with the creation of the universe, and continues through till the formation of the Earth. The immensity of the story’s scope is broken down into several digestible parts, which often involve scientific experiments. Topics covered include the forces of attraction, the states of matter, how temperature and density affect matter and plate tectonics. Culminating in a dramatic volcanic eruption, this story is grand way to start the year, and sets the mood with a zeal to experiment, test and find out more!
SEPTEMBER LESSON THEMES – Please CLICK HERE to view the lesson themes for the month of September.