Thursday, February 26, 2009

What I Like Most About Montessori

Today our students made a list of what they like most about Montessori. It's such a great list and really says a lot about what our children get from a Montessori education. This list starts with our youngest learners and goes through our oldest. Watch as their answers change from concrete to abstract - just like their Montessori education!

Our tots like Fridays, lunch, their friends, playing, and painting.

Our primary students like their teachers, Accelerated Reader books, color box three, the bank, the 10 board, the bead stair, nouns and verbs, the 100 board, BOB books, the puzzles, the cutting works, the calendar work, the flag ceremony, the hanging beads, writing word families, working on chains, word building, the movable alphabet, the U.S. map, stamping, practical life, push pinning, frame papers, and storytelling.

Our lower elementary students like time tests, the large bead frame, spelling, checker board, math operations, function of words, grammar boxes, adjective cards, live animals, reading skills, S.R.A.s, stamp game division, stamp game subtraction, rhyming words and verbs, fractions, and punctuation.

Our upper elementary students like the materials, the good teachers, the challenges, the self-selection of personal research, the group projects, the uniqueness of the school, and the privileges they get as the oldest kids in the school. The like that they are independent, impromptu, responsible, good time managers, respectful, and intelligent because they attend a Montessori school. The believe their school is inspirational, welcoming, and known for grace, courtesy, love, hope, and peace. They listed the familiarity they have with the staff and other adults as one of their favorite things. They say it is a comforting place where individuality is respected and fundamental needs are met. They like that they can have snacks in class. They think their school is a special place with great friends.

And, just for fun, here's a short list of what some of our parents said during a recent survey about what a Montessori education means for their child. It means:
  • independence
  • a chance to use all the senses to learn
  • getting the foundation they need to start the educational process for life
  • a peaceful environment with individual guidance
  • the chance to learn by doing
  • a love of learning
  • confidence
  • not treating a child as a test score
  • learning rather than memorizing
  • helping a child have pride in herself and to reach her greatest potential
  • attention to individual pace of learning
  • joyful learning and a natural curiosity
  • learning in a fun and constructive way
  • a happy and well-balanced child

It's been an awesome week celebrating 102 years of Montessori; and there's obviously a lot to celebrate! Happy Birthday, Montessori!

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Montessori Picnic

Today was our picnic lunch celebrating Montessori Education Week. We had a good turn out and it seemed everyone had a great time. And the weather cooperated...quite a feat for late February. It was a little breezy but otherwise great. The kids were so excited. Every which way we turned this morning was another kid saying, "Is it time for the picnic???"

Community events like these are so important, not only for the children to have fun but also for the parents to feel connected. I know that not everyone could take off from work today to come to a picnic, but it is important that you make an effort to get involved at the school. Events like today's picnic give you ample opportunity to watch your child interact with his peers, get to know other parents, and communicate with the teachers. In fact, there are many good reasons and opportunities for you to get involved in your child's education. Did you know that parental involvement has a strong, positive effect on student achievement?

If you couldn't join us for today's picnic, be on the look out for your next opportunity to get involved at The Montessori School. Your child absolutely loves it when you show interest in their school. Believe us, we hear all about!

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Hand Crafted

There are many Montessorians who believe that, had it not been for World War II, the Montessori method would have become the predominant model for U.S. schools. Unfortunately, the turn of events that led the U.S. into the second World War also led our nation farther and farther away from the basic principles of a Montessori education.

Did you ever watch Little House on the Prairie? This was my favorite television show growing up. It's one of the best views into the one room school house that was the beginning of the American education system. And what did you see in that classroom...multi-age groups, children learning at their own pace, an interwoven and integrated curriculum that was preparing children for life. It was Montessori.

With the birth of the assembly line in the early 20th century and then the factory mentality of World War II, Americans chose to do away with the one room school house for a more "effective" model. We began to streamline our schools. It became imperative that we tell teachers what to teach so that every child learns the same material. We built bigger schools and put all children who were the same age in one room to more effectively impart appropriate knowledge. We did away with learning things that interest us and focused more on memorizing things other people told us were important to know. And we began a systematic "tossing aside" any child coming down the conveyor belt who didn't fit the mold.

It saddens me that we've turned our education system into a factory line...cranking out inferior products in large quantities as fast as we possibly can. I don't know about you, but my children are special and unique. They are one-of-a-kinds and I prefer that their education help handcraft them rather than hard pressing them into a mold that doesn't fit them or throwing them out because they are different from the rest of the models rolling off the assembly line.

Think about it, when it comes to your child's education, do you want the cheap factory version or the handcrafted version? I choose Montessori.