Casa Stories

#14 - Benchmarking Children’s Progress - Part 1

SUMARY
In this Deep Dive episode, the White Rabbit has a conversation with Jetteke, the team Lead for the Lower Elementary and Upper Elementary groups at Casa.
In the first part of this two-part episode, Jetteke explains in a nutshell how the Dutch government provides guidelines for primary school curriculums, walks us through the special way in which Casa structures and implements her curriculum, and discuss how Casa uses standardizes testing to complement the way in which the guides asses the children's individual progress.
 
TIME STAMPS
(00:00) Episode's Introduction
(00:41) Government guidelines for primary school curriculums
(06:00) Te curriculum at Casa: learning about The World, Yourself and Others
(08:26) Learning about Yourself and Others: Kanjer training and positive Discipline
(12:01) How guides asses the children's progress on a regular basis
(15:27) The "I Can Sheets" and the "Knowledge and Skills Book"
(19:30) Quantifying progress with the IEP standardized test in LE and UE
(23:14) Frequency that children do intermediate IEP tests
(24:11) Sharing intermediate IEP test results with parents in LE
(25:53) What if the child's progress is slow?
(28:55) Episode closure 
 
 

#13 - The TOD Group - Part 2

SUMARY
In this Casa Behind the Scenes episode, the White Rabbit continues her follow-up conversation with Jasmijn, the Team Lead for the Casa Toddler’s Group.
 
In this episode we go over the clothing that toddler's need to wear at school, discuss more aspects about how parents can prepare themselves and their children for their first day at the TOD Group, and talk about the way that the guides interact with parents and keep them informed about the child's progress.
 
TIME STAMPS
(00:00) Episode Introduction
(00:31) Why toddler's need 3 sets of spare clothes
(02:08) Teaching toddler's to clean after themselves
(03:50) Developing toddler's independence
(04:37) Recommendations for clothes
(05:25) Recommendations for shoes
(07:50) Storage of spare clothes
(08:07) The wet bag
(09:09) Positive Discipline
(10:10) Adjustment days
(12:21) Comforting the child
(13:54) Goodbye strategies
(17:54) Contact between parents and guides
(19:45) Transition from TOD to CH
(21:09) Tracking the toddler's progress and reporting to parents
(22:57) Episode closure
 
EPISODE SHOW NOTES
"Positive Discipline" by Jane Nelsen:
English:  https://www.bol.com/nl/nl/p/positive-discipline/1001004002658550/
Dutch:  https://www.bol.com/nl/nl/p/opvoeden-met-positive-discipline-boek/9300000032886427/
 
 
 

#12 - The TOD Group - Part 1

SUMARY
In this Casa Behind the Scenes episode, the White Rabbit has a follow-up conversation with Jasmijn the Team Lead of the Toddler's Group at Casa.
In the first part of this episode, we cover in detail the facilities and organization of the Toddler's Group, how parents can prepare themselves and their children before they join the school, and the unconventional way in which they approach potty training.
 
TIME STAMPS
(00:00) Episode Introduction
(00:28) TOD Group location and classroom layout
(02:34) The TOD Group's Team
(04:29) The garden
(09:11) Going outside the school
(09:53) Preparing to go to the TOD Group
(12:08) Why the TOD group starts at 15 months
(14:02) Potty learning
(22:38) Episode closure
 
EPISODE SHOW NOTES
Recommended book to prepare to join the Toddler's Group:
"The Montessori Toddler" by Simone Davis (https://www.bol.com/nl/nl/f/the-montessori-toddler/9200000095529375/) 
 
Information about the Montessori workshop for parents with Toddlers :
https://www.montessoritogether.com/services-montessori-at-home
Email:  monti.together@gmail.com
 
 
 

#11 - Meet the TOD Team Lead

SUMARY
In this Meet the Casa Community episode, the White Rabbit has a conversation with Jasmijn, the Team Lead for the Casa Toddler’s Group.
In this episode, I learned that Jasmijn has an artistic background, which lead us to talk about how to develop mental resilience in children, and the topic of discipline... but I also took the oportunity to ask her about her Team Lead role, and how moving to the new school building will mpact the Toddler's Group.
 
TIME STAMPS
(00:00) Episode Introduction
(00:33) Jasmijn's art background
(05:08) Developing mental resilience and self-confidence in children
(09:07) Letting go of reward and punishment to discipline children
(12:25) Exposing the child to the outside world
(14:22) Giving direction and the Montessori environment
(16:07) The Team Lead role at the Toddler's Group
(17:04) Team coordination
(19:28) The new school building
(21:03) Episode closure

#10 - First Day at CH

SUMARY
In this Casa Behind the Scenes episode, the White Rabbit continues her follow-up conversation with Archanha, one of the guides working in Children's House.
To give parents an impression of what they can expect when their children start in Children's House,  we finish this two-part episode by going over what the first day in the classroom looks like.
 
TIME STAMPS
(00:00) Episode Introduction
(00:35) Picking up from the previous episode
(00:58) How Montessori guides handle children when they come to school crying
(06:44) The importance of remaining calm when the child cries
(07:47) Comforting parents when they leave a crying child at school
(09:18) Saying goodbye at the door
(11:51) The CH classroom environment
(14:49) Introducing the child to the activities and materials
(16:23) Toilet Independence
(19:18) How long does it take for a child to adjust to the classroom?
(19:55) Morning vs. afternoon work cycles
(22:39) Episode Closure
 
 
 
 
 

#09 - Preparing to go to CH

SUMARYIn this Casa Behind the Scenes episode, the White Rabbit has a follow-up conversation with Archanha, one of the guides working in Children's House.
To give parents an impression of what they can expect when their children start in Children's House, we start this two-part episode by going over what parents can do to prepare their children. 
 
TIME STAMPS(00:00) Episode Introduction
(00:36) What children need to bring on their first day in the CH classroom
(01:52) The importance of dressing the child with comfortable, weather appropriate clothing
(4:42) How clothing can provide sensory distraction to the child
(08:40) Dressing etiquette for Montessori guides
(11:14) Keeping spare clothes and shoes at school
(17:23) The trial days
(21:03) Episode Closure
 
 
 
 
 
 

#08 - Meet a CH Guide

SUMARYIn this Meet the Casa Community episode, the White Rabbit has a conversation with Archanha, one of the guides working in Children's House.
In this episode, Archanha shares the beautiful story of how she discovered Maria Montessori's work. We also talk about her AMI training in India, the relationship between parents and guides, and how we can help children find their passion.
 
TIME STAMPS
(00:00) Episode Introduction
(00:40) Archanha's background in Financial Management
(03:04) Discovering Maria Montessori's Work
(06:58) The value of having corporate experience
(07:21) Archanha's AMI training in India
(13:56) The relationship between parents and teachers
(16:03) Difficult conversations with parents
(19:43) Helping children find their passion
(21:46) Episode Closure
 

#07 - LE-UE Kanjer Training Lessons

SUMARYIn this Casa Behind the Scenes episode, the White Rabbit has a follow up conversation with Jeanet, one of the Upper Elementary guides that is also doing Kanjer Trainer lessons at Casa. 
In this story, Jeanet gives us an introduction to Kanjer Training, explains how she is implementing this method at Casa, and shares examples of exercises that she is doing with the children during the Kanjer Lessons.
 
TIME STAMPS(00:00) Episode Introduction(00:28) Background information about Kanjer training(01:59) The Kanjer caps(04:33) What is a Kanjer?(05:18) Why Kanjer Training is not done in CH?(05:56) Jeanet's Kanjer lessons structure(08:39) Approach in UE(10:08) Approach in UE(10:28) Tailoring Kanjer Training to the children's needs(12:47) How Kanjer Training is currently implemented at Casa(15:45) Kanjer Lessons with UE graduates: going to high school(16:25) Kanjer Lessons with UE graduates: giving feedback(19:27) Closing the gasoline station(21:41) Tracking children's progress(22:33) Episode Closure