Recently, a friend challenged me to use this blog as an opportunity to give those outside of the Montessori community, a peek inside a Montessori classroom. I've been mulling this challenge over for a bit and I think I'm ready to take it on. I like that it forces me to look with fresh eyes upon the Montessori classroom I get to spend my days in. I also find myself a little nervous at the opportunity to potentially glorify the truth in an attempt to stroke my ego. My goal is to present the Montessori Method through my experiences, not promote me through this blog. We'll see how it goes. So I present to you, installment one of a Peek Inside courtesy of RM 146.
I'd like to start with the idea of choice. One of the great misunderstandings of the Montessori Method, is the notion that students generally do whatever they want, whenever they want. Are you kidding me? Do you know what a classroom of 23 9-12 year olds given the freedom to do whatever they want would actually be like? I have an idea. Click here.
The classroom environment is prepared in a way that gives students boundaries and opportunities to make choices within those boundaries. Here's example from RM146 today:
After lunch we had a science workshop. Our theme in science this year is Biology. Currently we are focusing on the different Kingdoms of Life and the classification of living things. We have a shelf with various activities for the students to choose from that cover this topic. Here's what you would have seen today:
-Five students painting their homemade play-do model of a plant cell.
-One student using a microscope to observe and document a fungus she found in her back yard.
-Two students laying out a poster with pictures and descriptions of different fungi and plant life and matching it up with actual specimens in jars.
-Eight students reading short Biology articles and answering questions about the article.
-One student reading from a college level Biology text.
-One student figuring out how to use a compass for the first time.
-One student watching the other student figure out how to use a compass for the first time.
-One student floating from person to person, kind of checking in on what others were doing.
As you can see, not everyone is committed to Biology, and none of it looks quite as pretty as it sounds. But they have chosen to do these activities and that makes all the difference.
Why?
More on that next time.
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3 comments:
I agree that a lot of people don't truly understand Montessori. I have told family and friends that I am a Montessori teacher, and the responses are interesting. Some even say I must be lucky since I can just let the kids do whatever they want. I think the most important thing to remember is that while we are "following the child", we are not "following them off a cliff".
This is AWESOME. I'm such an examples person, so this is a huge help to understanding the methodology.
Which reminds me, I need to pick up that montessori book you mentioned a while back again, I think I'm ready for the next level.
Great point Beth! I love that quote. Ariah, there is a new one out called Montessori Madness. It is written by a parent to parents.
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