Show t The Kindergarten WHAT WHAT is is a kindergarten f The great educator al and d philos philosopher pher f. f Froebel thought the little children r. r organic beings whose growth must be led and followed by the gardener or teacher hence the name kindergarten a garden for c. c children ildren Wa have all read what the kindergarten ten does for the little ones who are gathered under the warming the warming influence of Froebel's genius le let us see what the study of the kindergarten system does for the training school A young girl who has finished her school life a lover of children and wanting to prepare herself to earn her living if necessary decides that the should become her field of labor Undoubtedly she had visited a kindergarten under the instruction of an anable anable anable able teacher watched the little ones play with and singing to the the balls build with the blocks weave the mats and sew the beautiful cards All of which she enjoys II Yes the Kindergarten shall be my work When she enters the work how different it is to visiting the kindergarten kindergarten kindergarten kin kin- she now has ha to join in the he games songs stories and all the occupations occupations occupations of the little ones The training teachers propose a game request all to tot tor t r join in forming a ring When When our our new s 1 teacher for the first time is of j her awkwardness thinks all eyes are upon her and she begins to wish she had never heard of of ofa a kindergarten However all passes off successfully and T day by day she enjoys the work more finally becomes so devoted to her work and the dear children that all thought though t of self is forgotten r. r The intellectual training gained by bythe bythe the kindergarten work is of such a character character character char char- acter that even University graduates cannot afford to o be with out t it Fr Froebel's Froebel's Froe Froe- ebels ebel's e- e n canno bels bel's Education of Man in m connection with a thorough study of his Mother Play Book is an education in itself of education education education Then the study of the history tion enlarges the students student's mental hori hori- horizon horizon horizon hori hori- zon zon as well as deepens her respect for 1 her work bringing before her the fact I that this subject of the education of j y children has occupied the minds of the M c greatest thinkers for hundreds of years and that Froeble's method was not the inspiration of the ni but the j c results of the thoughts of men for years before him which made his own r rand J Jand and united with his genius gave us the kindergarten What are the GIFTS OCCUPATIONS 5 and MATERIALS 1 The First Gift is composed of 1 worsted balls of the primary and secondary colors red orange and yellow yellow yellow yel yel- low green blue white The second z j gift cubes sphere cylinder and square ti tiThe The third fourth fifth and s sixth gifts are building blocks cubes divided into small cubes oblong and blocks Capable of an infinite variety t of transformations and can be made to f express a childs child's thoughts in many Y r ways They gratify the natural love of building afford scope for creative activity y and present concrete number to the learner in a manner that enlists enlists 1 his attention To the primary teacher 1 their best value is is found in their use r t J v for number lessons and as an aid to tor r related number work of which she now 1 ff n hears so much The seventh gift is the tablet square and nd triangular With these surfaces are represented and geometrical forms produced In connection with this gift the s study tu d y 0 of f t the h e II Kindergarten K In d G Guide d e r LL by Maria Krans Krans would be of j great help to the teacher r The eighth gift is the connected t the use of which depends greatly upon r th the inventive powers of the teacher 1 The ninth gift the disconnected slat is capable of much in the way of representing representing representing outlines but the tenth gift or small sticks of different lengths is perhaps perhaps perhaps per per- haps better adapted for this purpose in int inthe inthe t the school For number work Es busy work reproduction and expression r. r r. the sticks are of great use in the primary room The eleventh gift consists of steel y f yX rings in wholes halves and quarters Ideas of curved surfaces can be worked be-worked worked 3 i 5 out with them p perhaps better than anything anything any any- it c thing else t The twelfth gift seeds or lentils used 1 0 J to illustrate the point are when used 0 with the right motive of great service t otherwise do no not t use it as it affords Orr Jr rt amusement for the children The occupations ons pricking and picture sewing cards are a source of hand training training training train train- ing and afford the little children much pleasure Clay drawing painting and C color work are so well known in the school-room school the they need no further men men- tion t Peas and sticks paper and scissors paste and paper never fail to give de de- t light For number and form lessons ST in paper folding are valuable after a afew at t few lessons under the teachers' teachers direction the child develops a wonderful power for invention In conclusion will say that it would be well for all intending to teach school 0 cli i young men or young women if possible possible possible ble to supply themselves with building building building build build- ing blocks Hailman beads tablets sticks rings seeds pricking and sewing cards peas and sticks paste paper scissors sand clay crayon and paints Never will the teacher regret having the material when necessity calls for it Katherine B. B Parsons |