“Information must be wholistically learned before it can be memorized and retained.”
Remembering Chinese Characters: a case study in computer-aided spaced repetition rehearsal has much more information about learning at this pdf
The Montessori classroom uses a wholistic type of learning as well.
Learning only happens when you have an overview and introduction for what you are learning. For example, preschool children can learn the sounds of the alphabet because they know how to talk. It would impossible to teach letter sounds to an infant who does not understand language.
Another example is music. How can children learn to play an instrument or learn music theory if they have never heard music or sang songs? Preparing children for learning takes into account the purpose of learning and providing a whole approach.

Yipee! Montessorimom.com is now working. The technobug was found and taken care of.

I’m sorry that montessorimom.com is down today. It seems as though the server is has some internal problems. Will keep you posted.

Question:
“The senses are points of contact with the environment”
How does activity with the sensorial
material encourage observation and perception of the
environment?

Answer
Babies and toddlers have uncountable impressions of
their environment, including language. Sensorial
education refines these impressions into concrete
representations. For example, the natural or pink
tower shows dimensions, shapes, sizes and
gradation. After the exercise is mastered, you
introduce the names, big and small, short and tall,
heavy and light, and so on. This helps the child
understand language expressions in a concrete way.

Each of the sensorial activities attempts to refine
the senses, and narrows the use of the senses with the
material. For example, the sound boxes are helpful in
refining the sense of hearing. The rough and smooth
boards refine the sense of touch. With all the
sesenorial exercises, vocabulary is introduced after
the exercise is complete.
Here are a few examples of vocabulary:
Sound Boxes-loud, soft, softer, louder, loudest, etc. –
Rough and Smooth Boards– rough, smooth, rougher, smoother,
roughest, and smoothest-
This vocabulary helps refine the abstraction of
gradation.

Sensorial exercises prepare for both math and reading.
Since most of the towers and cylinders are degrees of
10, they introduce the concept of counting, less and
more, and big and small. The vocabulary is helpful for
reading readiness. The refinement of the senses helps
later with number and letter recognition because a
child can see differences in objects, and eventually
symbols.
This key of analyzing the sensorial material helps the
child observe the prepared environment in order to classify it.
Montessori takes into consideration the sensitive periods
and absorbent mind of a preschool child in the prepared environment.
Montessori knew that young children are kinetic
learners, and that they learn by doing and using their
senses. An environment needs to provide hands on materials in order for
a child to develop normally.

Here is a link that may help about sensorial education verses sensory impressions.

It’s been thunder snowing here in Colorado. Yup, thunder, lightening and snow. Also, we have had tornado warnings!
We get some of our best snow storms in the Spring. I love it because the snow will be melted in a few days as the warm weather rolls in.

Springtime brings to mind caterpillars and butterflies. Here is a fun caterpillar printout maze. Check out more springtime activities at this awesome site.