What Dr.Montessori said about Her Method...

“From such a system there comes forth a school where the children work for themselves - that is, they are free. In this freedom they work much more than heretofore has been customary in school...
and they attain culture more rapidly and more efficaciously... This educational problem, which today science propounds, is solved, though it was considered among the insoluble questions such as the fourth dimension, perpetual motion, and the squaring of the circle. The problem is to lessen effort and at the same time increase output.”

Words of Peace....from Gandhi to Montessori...

Did you know that Maria Montessori was loved by Gandhi?  Yep!  In fact, I read today that he once said this to her at a conference in London (1931).  I slowly read these words today before starting my day. I share peace with my students.  "You have very truly remarked that if we are to reach real peace in this world, and if we are to carry on a real war against war, we shall have to begin with children and if they will grow up in their natural innocence, we won't have to struggle, we won't have to pass fruitless idle resolutions, but we shall go from love to love and peace to peace, until at last all the corners of the world are covered with that peace and love for which, consciously or unconsciously, the whole world is hungering."  I am blessed to have found such lovely words today...

What Maria Montessori said about, "At Home Montesori"

When I think of what it means to conduct "At Home Montessori", I think of this quote by Maria Montessori, "The human personality, or the care of it, is broken up.  On the one side is the home...on the other side is the school...There is no unity of conception."  Taken from "The Absorbent Mind."

Inspiring YouTube Video...

Okay...I HAD to post this.  I am so inspired by this girl and her video.  I do not know her name, but I do know that she is a SAHM who is not Montessori trained (like me) yet she had the motivation to read a few books by Maria Montessori and implement what she learned into her home.  She is very gracious to allow the audience into her home and show other families that they too can do "At Home Montessori!"  THANK!

1-11-11

When I used to be a SAHM (stay-at-home mom) I had days where I got stuck on what to teach my two young children.  I needed some kind of beginning or inspiration to get me going.  Trust me, I drink plenty of coffee, but when there was no adult interaction I needed a bit of an "a-ha" moment.  Well, that happened today in class with my 21 beautiful friends (students).  We were doing our daily job board and when the calendar date was shown I was so excited (when I realized it) that today's date reads 1-11-11.  I always abbreviate the date on the board so that the older friends can write the date next to their name on their art work.  Today's discovery gave me so much energy- we missed 15 minutes of playground time!  Don't worry, we did make up for it later...the beauty of Montessori.  My friends were amazed that this date will never happen again in their lifetime.  Remember to look at the little clues in life....I know big and valuable lessons naturally appear as a result.

Maria Once Said...

 ‎"The secret of good teaching is to regard the child's intelligence as a fertile field in which seeds may be sown, to grow under the heat of flaming imagination."

Cutting Lesson...

Fold a 3 or 4 inch square of duet paper in half diagonally.  Make 2 or 3 diagonal (slanted) cuts on the fold.  Then, open the paper and fold the triangular shape formed by each cut back and press.  Glue to a background.  I like to wait until the child glues down the square and then have him or her fold the points back.  Remember to just glue around the edges.

Early Morning Mosaic Art...

Today as my two beautiful children woke up early on a Saturday, I quickly put this lesson together for them.  Here, the child can cut 1/2" wide strips of various colors in to "snips" and glue the snips into either a free form shape that the child draws or use a shape traced from stencils (cookie cutter) creating a mosaic.  See the attached picture for how I set it up in our home. Enjoy!

What is Montessori?

I sometimes get asked the question.  I believe that, Montessori offers children a Prepared Environment, completely set up for them by the adult.  The children learn to respect the classroom environment, their peers, the materials that they get to work with and the world.  Children work with the materials in the classroom--they are exposed to beautiful items, breakable things, cooking opportunities, methods of grace and courtesy, learning how to take care of the environment (from putting their chosen work away, to cleaning up after spills, to recycling), and academics!

An art thought...

When my students are done with an art project I always ask them, “Can you tell me about this art you created?”  They then go on to tell me a story about it.  If it is a water color or painting, I take a pencil and write exactly what they said on the drawing with quotations around it.  For example, they may say “This is a city in the sky”.  I smile because some of their words are incredible.  Like, “This is my mom…do you see…she is an angel”.  The Montessori directress never corrects or adds to a student’s art work.

January

The month of January always makes me think of winter.  Today I wondered the classroom in peace while my 20-something students buzzed about doing "their work". I got inspired to take pictures of our classroom.  We are studying everything cold, winter and Antarctica.

Thought of the Day...

This is such an inspiring quote by Maria Montessori, “Whoever touches the life of the child, touches the most sensitive point of a whole which has roots in the most distant past and climbs towards the infinite future.”
When I write my emails to parents, I often thank them for the "opportunity to serve their children".  I consider it such a gift to be with each of them daily.  Luckily for me, I get to take two of them home with me each night!  What a blessing!

Happy New Year!

As the holiday break quickly comes to an end I am reminded of the many blessing I have.  It's a new year!  With a new year I am anticipating exciting conversations tomorrow when I see my students (friends) as they return to class.  I remember how last year they all looked bigger! 

Tonight I sit with a cup of coffee and reflect on lesson plans.  We will be discussing 2011, January and the theme of winter.  I shared this video with my own two kids in preparation of that conversation.  Peace.