Thinking Of Trying Montessori Style

[countrymom]

I think the problem with montessorri is that its all about problem sloving. Look at all the pictures, go see the places. They stress over and over that they want kids to figure things out. Which is great and I do that here, but I also offer them other things. I also find that all they do is teach knowledgable stuff, like people around the world, they know everything about it.
I like to take components from montessori and mix it with my own stuff, its like a balance. Also, right now, I have all younger children, montessori would not work for them, heck if we can get thru the day with just not fighting over a toy I'm doing well for the day.

[Nickel]

Ummmm.. i started the thread to learn more about montessori methods, not to cause a debate. If you all have resources, websites, names of books, i would love to hear about it. It is something i would like to try with my daycare. Not every style ot method is rigjt for every provider, child, school. So lets agree to disagree.

Now if anyonr has a book list. I am definitely a touch it see it read it mark it kind of girl. I live my highlighters! Lol

[Blackcat31]

wow, I did not think that it would be so costly. This is just to get certified correct? Then I will need to also purchase all of the equipment too correct?

Yes, it is rather spendy to do...that is the only downside. Well, I suppose the cost of toys too but I guess I figured since my DH is a woodworker, I hadn't considered that cost.

If you don't want to actually go the whole certification route, you could still self-study and learn the methods and ideas and then incorporate them into your program.

[daycare]

Yes, it is rather spendy to do...that is the only downside. Well, I suppose the cost of toys too but I guess I figured since my DH is a woodworker, I hadn't considered that cost.

If you don't want to actually go the whole certification route, you could still self-study and learn the methods and ideas and then incorporate them into your program.

I wish my husband knew how to do any form of handy work. Only firefighter I know that is not a good handy man... sorry did I say that out loud?

I guess I could always do that too, but I am not good at teaching myself much....

[Blackcat31]

Ummmm.. i started the thread to learn more about montessori methods, not to cause a debate. If you all have resources, websites, names of books, i would love to hear about it. It is something i would like to try with my daycare. Not every style ot method is rigjt for every provider, child, school. So lets agree to disagree.

Now if anyonr has a book list. I am definitely a touch it see it read it mark it kind of girl. I live my highlighters! Lol

Here are a few of my favorite books. I looked on Amazon.com too to see if they were still in print and available..which ALL of them are so I provided the link to them as well.

• Teach Me to Do It Myself: Montessori Activities for You and Your Child
  

  http://www.amazon.com/Teach-Me-Myself-Montessori-Activities/dp/0764127896/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1349112018&sr=1-2&keywords=Montessori

  
  
• Teaching Montessori in the Home: Pre-School Years
  

  http://www.amazon.com/Teaching-Montessori-Home-Pre-School-Years/dp/0452279097/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1349112073&sr=1-3&keywords=Montessori

  
  
• Montessori: The Science Behind the Genius
  

  http://www.amazon.com/Montessori-Science-Angeline-Stoll-Lillard/dp/019536936X/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1349112111&sr=1-5&keywords=Montessori

  
  
• Montessori Play And Learn: A Parent's Guide to Purposeful Play from Two to Six
  

  http://www.amazon.com/Montessori-Play-Learn-Parents-Purposeful/dp/0517591820/ref=sr_1_10?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1349112155&sr=1-10&keywords=Montessori

  
  
• Beginning Montessori With Infants and Tots Birth to 24 Months
  

  http://www.amazon.com/Beginning-Montessori-Infants-Months-ebook/dp/B004TMM4XQ/ref=sr_1_17?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1349112208&sr=1-17&keywords=Montessori

  
  
• Understanding Montessori: A Guide for Parents
  http://www.amazon.com/Understanding-...rds=Montessori

Those should keep you busy for a while. If you are looking for anything in a specific area or topic, let me know. I have shelves of books about Montessori. Some textbook, some easy to read and follow and others...just plain intersting.

[My3cents]

There are 6 basic concepts to the Montessori method:

1). Natural, inner guidance: All children have unique, innate directives that come from within to guide them in the natural course of their development

2). Self-directed learning: Children are competent, capable beings and can direct their own learning, choosing their activities and duration of engagement with them. This creates the most natural way for the children to learn and express their unique potentials, talents, skills, and interests. It also encourages the child to maintain their natural joy of learning.Is this a set up for a downfall towards the real world and how the "norm" operates? Always being able to do what you want when you want? Real life is not that way.

3). Prepared environment: The conditions for children to be able to follow their inner guidance and self-direct their learning must be created to support this process. This means providing an environment with a variety of objects that are accessible and easily available for free and independent use.

4). Observation and indirect teaching: The teacher does not lead lectures or read from books, and rarely leads large-group activities. Rather, the teacher observes the children in order to continually modify the environment to suit the childrens' needs. The teacher also provides one-on-one instruction when a child has reached a point where they are ready for a new lesson or the introduction of a new concept. The teacher doesn't read books? How can a child know what a child does not know? I love exploration but there is more to learning then exploration.

5). Learning through all the senses: The activities and things available in the classroom for childrens' self-directed learning are designed to allow for learning through all of the senses, rather than just listening or reading. This helps to create a process of discovery, which fosters the development of concentration, motivation, self-discipline, and ultimately a love of learning.

6). Grouped learning: rather than being divided up by each year, the children are put into mixed groups by age and ability, usually in three or six year age spans. This allows for socialization and normalization, and both older and younger children teach and learn from one another.


The implementation of these concepts are spread out over 6 areas of the classroom:

• Practical Life
• Sensorial
• Language
• Math
• Geopgraphy
• Science

The basic idea behind the Montessori method of teaching is:

Children are capable of self-directed learning.

The teacher is an observer of the child, rather than a lecturer to the child.

In each child there resides a 'sensitive period' in which they are particularly open to learning a specific skill or type of knowledge. At these times, learning is effortless and joyful.

Children learn by doing. By using Montessori specific materials the child is able to learn and correct their own mistakes without input from the teacher.

So in a sense those of you who do not necessarily have a strictly structured day and allow for the children to play freely for a large portion of the day and learn from that play are already using a very primative style of Montessori teaching.

I don't run a 100% Montessori environment but I absolutely have a Montessori "inspired" environment and one that is a work in progress towards becoming 100%.

I just wanted to comment on a bit of this..... I am inspired by the Montessori approach. For myself I like to mix it up to make it my own and use what works when it works. I am very laid back but like things that I like.I like to talk with the children, read to them and engage with them and facilitate play.

The rest of the picking here is taking away from this interesting subject. Makes me feel like I just went back to middle school and again takes away from the interest here. Can we just let the picking at each other go?

I will respond above in red........and hope I don't come across as a picker myself.

Thank you-

[Heidi]

Oooh, I can help with that too but I am on my phone so I will try and PM you the info later

he he...on the phone with who????

[Nickel]

Here are a few of my favorite books. I looked on Amazon.com too to see if they were still in print and available..which ALL of them are so I provided the link to them as well.

• Teach Me to Do It Myself: Montessori Activities for You and Your Child
  

  http://www.amazon.com/Teach-Me-Myself-Montessori-Activities/dp/0764127896/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1349112018&sr=1-2&keywords=Montessori

  
  
• Teaching Montessori in the Home: Pre-School Years
  

  http://www.amazon.com/Teaching-Montessori-Home-Pre-School-Years/dp/0452279097/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1349112073&sr=1-3&keywords=Montessori

  
  
• Montessori: The Science Behind the Genius
  

  http://www.amazon.com/Montessori-Science-Angeline-Stoll-Lillard/dp/019536936X/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1349112111&sr=1-5&keywords=Montessori

  
  
• Montessori Play And Learn: A Parent's Guide to Purposeful Play from Two to Six
  

  http://www.amazon.com/Montessori-Play-Learn-Parents-Purposeful/dp/0517591820/ref=sr_1_10?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1349112155&sr=1-10&keywords=Montessori

  
  
• Beginning Montessori With Infants and Tots Birth to 24 Months
  

  http://www.amazon.com/Beginning-Montessori-Infants-Months-ebook/dp/B004TMM4XQ/ref=sr_1_17?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1349112208&sr=1-17&keywords=Montessori

  
  
• Understanding Montessori: A Guide for Parents
  http://www.amazon.com/Understanding-...rds=Montessori

Those should keep you busy for a while. If you are looking for anything in a specific area or topic, let me know. I have shelves of books about Montessori. Some textbook, some easy to read and follow and others...just plain intersting.

Thanks Black cat! You are a life saver! I will add these to my wishlist and leave some BIG hints for my husband!

[Blackcat31]

he he...on the phone with who????

Oh, just someone I was really really looking forward to meeting IRL,

but the wonderful weather up here in our area of the country even has a hand in those kinds of plans. ::

Hopefully, we can just make plans for another time...maybe in much warmer weather.

[Blackcat31]

I just wanted to comment on a bit of this..... I am inspired by the Montessori approach. For myself I like to mix it up to make it my own and use what works when it works. I am very laid back but like things that I like.I like to talk with the children, read to them and engage with them and facilitate play.

The rest of the picking here is taking away from this interesting subject. Makes me feel like I just went back to middle school and again takes away from the interest here. Can we just let the picking at each other go?

I will respond above in red........and hope I don't come across as a picker myself.

Thank you-

Is this a set up for a downfall towards the real world and how the "norm" operates? Always being able to do what you want when you want? Real life is not that way

It is really deeper than that. The whole approach teaches children to not only do things on their own but to be motivated to do them. It also helps them be responsible for their choices and actually does the exact opposite of setting them up for failure and sets them up for success since they learn very early on that they ARE capable beings and are capable beings of doing things independently. It also teaches the children to try and not be afraid of trying things. Their own minds/brains do hold the key, they just need to be given the tools and the time to figure it out.

The teacher doesn't read books? How can a child know what a child does not know? I love exploration but there is more to learning then exploration.

It isn't that the teacher doesn't read books to the kids, it is that she doesn't teach from textbooks like seen in traditional classrooms. Books (children's) are a huge part of the Montessori classroom.

As far as learning to read/write, the Montessori approach to reading and literacy is much different than what you think about general about learning literacy skills.

Maria Montessori recognized that children as young as two had an interest in written letters. The "sandpaper letters" (letters cut out of sandpaper that can be traced) were developed to take advantage of this sensitive period. Montessori had an advantage when teaching in Italy; Italian is mostly phonetic. Once the basic phonetic sounds were learned, reading proceeded quite easily.

Montessori also observed that writing usually proceeded reading. When a child writes, all they need to do is turn sounds into letters. When a child reads, they need to pull apart the letters, turn them into phonetic sounds, and put them back together to make a word. It's a more complicated process. Children in Montessori classrooms often write stories with the movable alphabet long before they can read.

Hope that helps explain it a bit better.

[Willow]

Any one interested in really affordable materials I've ordered from a seller called "allergybegone" off ebay quite a few times.

They have loads of great brand new items (Melissa and Doug fanatics - HUGE selection) that work a wide variety of skills, are ridiculously inexpensive compared to retail and many have free shipping to boot.


I invest about $50 every month or so, the kids help me pick out what we're going to order. When the box comes you'd think it was Christmas morning ::


This is where I got my start playing around with the idea of which materials I wanted and why, it was incredibly helpful. Even if you're not interested in going all in 100% they have some great suggestions that help develop a wide variety of skills and explanations as to why/how they aid the child is accomplishing them:

http://montessoritoys.com/toy-reviews/

[Nickel]

Can you send me a link to one of her products. Or please explain how to search for a seller? I haven't used ebay in forever, but I wounldn't mind picking up some discounted items.

[Willow]

Can you send me a link to one of her products. Or please explain how to search for a seller? I haven't used ebay in forever, but I wounldn't mind picking up some discounted items.

Absolutely!

Here is their store:

http://stores.ebay.com/Allergy-Be-Gone/Melissa-and-Doug-/_i.html?_fsub=2736765018&_sid=30084638&_trksid=p4634.c0.m322

Keep in mind their prices are substantially lower than retail on M&D.


The best part is the wooden items especially will last for years and years, the quality is fantastic!

[Nickel]

Thanks I do have one other questions regarding wood toys. How do you clean and sanitize them? I have wood blocks that I spray lightly with bleach/water. Does anyone have advice on how to really get them cleaned? We just had a stomach bug come through and I am still on the fence on if I cleaned them well enough. So they are still sitting up away from the play area.

[Willow]

To clean I use vinegar and water. Spritz on (1C water to 1C white vinegar) and wipe dry immediately.