The Value of Teamwork and Cooperative Learning in the Classroom

Apple Montessori

Apple Montessori Schools in New Jersey identify children’s strength and help them hone those skills in a way that is unique to them. And while Apple Montessori promotes independence and allows students to learn at their own pace, they also understand the importance of teaching children cooperative learning and teamwork at an early age.

Group and team building activities in the classroom can nurture social and emotional skills; language and literacy skills; fine motor skills; cognitive skills; and creative expressions through music skills. A child’s interaction with others at school can also help build social awareness, relationship skills and responsible decision making.

The earlier we allow our children to socialize and realize the importance of teamwork and cooperative learning, the more prepared they will be to work in group settings throughout the course of their life.

Unlike typical classrooms, Montessori schools combine students of different ages and allow them to interact and build off of each other’s development while also finding their own path to success. Building relationships with children of various ages as opposed to being around only one grade level all of the time will diversify a child’s social skills and teach them how younger children look up to older children and how older children are supposed to be a good example for younger children.

Children are urged to learn at their own pace at Apple Montessori Schools, and that goes for learning social and teamwork skills as well. A child’s level of interaction with others will never be forced at Apple Montessori, rather, the comfort and flexibility of the Montessori environment that allows children to be themselves and naturally creates a relaxed atmosphere that facilitates relationship building amongst students.

Montessori schools also often times have smaller, more focused classrooms that can be less overwhelming for children who are experiencing this type of setting for the first time. Having fewer students to meet all at once at Apple Montessori Schools makes cooperative learning and building teamwork skills more manageable.

Outside of school, signing children up for group athletics and clubs are also great ways to improve their cooperative learning and teamwork skills.

Apple Montessori Schools Celebrate Annual Kindergarten Graduation

Apple Montessori Schools of Hoboken celebrated their annual Kindergarten Graduation ceremony June 22, recognizing each outstanding kindergartner for their accomplishments during their time at Apple Montessori.

With Apple Montessori’s mixed-age classrooms with children ages 2-6, kindergartners are the leaders of the class. Approximately 100 family members and friends attended the event to celebrate the accomplishments of the graduates.

The graduation ceremony also included Disney-themed performances by the children with skits from Moana and Snow White. To demonstrate their public speaking and elocution skills that have been developed while at Apple Montessori, each child is given a speaking part in the performances.

The children worked collaboratively to perfect their performances, highlighting the interpersonal and teamwork skills honed at Apple Montessori Schools.

Each child’s role in the play spotlights the confidence and independence that is fostered at Apple Montessori. Additionally, the reading, writing and cognitive skills that Apple Montessori helps develop at an early age were evident on stage as the children performed.

Apple Montessori is proud of the graduated kindergartners who embody the school’s mission statement.

Apple Montessori’s kindergarten program is a great way to inspire discovery and development in your child. They prepare students for school success for life by modeling their preschool/kindergarten Approach to Learning Program after their elementary school program which consists of advanced core curriculum, enrichment and beyond. Apple Montessori’s kindergarten classroom is adapted to the development needs of each child, giving them a variety of choices that engage their natural curiosity and intellect.

Apple Montessori’s core kindergarten curriculum includes lessons in: practical life, sensorial, science, history and geography, math, language, and technology. Their enrichment programs include: art, music and drama, foreign language, character and ethics development, and physical education.

Kindergarten is one of the most crucial developmental parts of a child’s life. Be sure to make the most of it by enrolling your child in Apple Montessori Schools.

This story was originally published at The Digest Online.

How to Keep Your Child’s Mind Active Over the Summer

School has ended and summer has started, but that doesn’t mean our children need to stop learning. You don’t need to have experience homeschooling your child or be a certified teacher to help your child learn while having fun this summer.

There are many ways to keep your child’s mind active until the school year starts again. Here are some of the best:

Summer Camp

Summer camp can make summer an unforgettable experience for your child. Summer camps are a good way for children to reunite with friends from school and make new ones. They’ll often times offer swimming, field trips, arts and crafts, sports, and other activities. Summer camp not only enriches children socially, it also allows them to experience and learn many new things.

Visit Museums/Historical Sites/the Zoo

Museums can be a good way to engage children in art, history and science. Many museums also have programs for children over the summer. Historical sites can also help children learn about and gain an appreciation for the past. If your child is curious about animals, the zoo can help answer a lot of their questions. Trips like these can make for quality family bonding time and provoke a child’s imagination.

Go to Local Library

Reading is still an important activity for children to do over the summer so that their reading skills don’t diminish. Libraries are not only usually free and easy to use they also tend to provide special events and author visits for children. Make a summer reading list with your child and see how many books they can get through before school starts. Reading can help expand a child’s mind and vocabulary while also serving as a fun and inspiring activity.

Create a Garden

Gardening wraps science, nutrition and the great outdoors all into one. It can be a great wat to get children out from in front of a TV or computer screen and into some fresh air. Children are often more willing to try new foods if they have grown them themselves. Once your garden starts yielding food, cooking with your child can be added to your list of fun, enriching summer activities.

Play Board Games

Not every day in the summer is going to have nice weather. But don’t let a rainy day stop your child from learning and having fun. Board games are a relaxing way to exercise the mind. This form of friendly competition can also help children learn to work with and get along with others. Board games also instill the principles of following rules and procedure. Some board games will allow your child to detect patterns and plan ahead while also teaching them that it’s OK to lose.