HAPPY MONTESSORI EDUCATION WEEK!

This is such a great time to be a Montessori teacher.

With school reform being discussed so heavily in the media, isn't it great to know that Montessori's ideas are still current and cutting edge?

Children's human tendencies need to be met at school in order for them to see success at school. 

Those tendencesies are:

• exploration
• orientation
• order
• imagination
• manipulation
• repitition
• precision
• control of error leading to prefection
• communication

Through these tendencies we get students who will become:

inquirers

knowledgeable

thinkers

communicators

principled

open-minded

caring

risk-takers

balanced

reflective

Chapter 2

Montessori believed that the young child changes the physiology of the brain through interaction with the environment at specific stages of development. (pg. 26)

Thinking of this fact reminds me of how important our environments are and the fact that what we do inside them is equally important. We have such a huge responsibility to ensure our classrooms are prepared and that we expose our students with all of the rich lessons and materials that Montessori created for student discovery.


Thoughts?

Montessori's educational plan contains three essential elements: (pg. 21)

1. a prepared environment
2. a prepared adult
3. freedom with responsibility

The first two, although very complex, seem easier  to define.  The last one has me thinking about today's pressures of accountability. Sometimes that freedom can be threatened by parent pressure, school pressure, the untrained teacher or one who is not completely sold on the philosophy.


Thoughts?

Goals of the first, second, third plane of development

On page 5 of Montessori Today, it says that "Montessori discovered that 3 things happen in each plane of development."  One being, each has a specific goal in development. What do we feel is /are the goals in each plane?

CHAPTER 1

Montessori believed that the goal of education should be our focus rather then the methods we use.  What do you feel the goal of education is/should be?

 Welcome Colleagues!

The  Somersfield book club is a way for us to come together and actively promote our Core Values. Somersfield Core Values state that:

We are a learning community
We practice peace
We inspire intellectual curiosity   
We instill respect for self and others
We foster independence and responsibility
We embrace a sense of joy and wonder
We honor the strength and courage to stand for truth

I am excited to introduce our very first book club title, Montessori Today. I look forward to meeting with all of you to discuss and reflect on our practices as well as being around good company.

Montessori Today

by Paula Polk Lillard
Written for parents, teachers, and administrators, this book presents Maria Montessori's theories on learning at each developmental stage. A brief overview of the 3-6 years is followed by an in-depth description of the characteristics of the 6-12 child as well as the Montessori approach for the elementary years. Finally, Lillard presents the planes of adulthood, ages 12-18 and 18-24, describing Montessori theory along with examples from existing Montessori middle schools.