A Peek Inside...

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.

Montessori and The Onion

Recently, there have been several articles in the Onion focusing on the Montessori Method. While The Onion is a satirical rag, I consider it an honor for the Montessori Method to recieve the attention.

Here are the links to the articles. Enjoy!

"Something Weird Going On In That Montessori School, Neighbor Reports"


"Montessori School Of Dentistry Lets Students Discover Their Own Root Canal Procedures"

Who Is McGraw Hill?

Every where I look around my school I see the name McGraw-Hill. This is the company that produces our annual standardized test called ISTEP. It is also the company that produces a majority of our text books. It is also the company that makes the test that we use every quarter to measure student progress to see if the students will be ready to take ISTEP. It is also the company that provides the resources to understand the data gathered from the tests.

It seems to make sense that a company could provide these similar resources and supplies for schools, and of course they are not the only ones that do this. But this is a huge company making a lot of money off of public schools and the demand that they meet certain state academic requirements. This company has offices all around the world and also provides financial services and information and media services.

So what is the point? My point is this: McGraw Hill controls what is taught in Fort Wayne Community schools, along with many other school districts around the world. Is this a good thing? What is their underlying motivation? Who's interests do they have in mind? How much are they able to lobby the government to keep policy that involves high stakes testing (McGraw Hill products) as a must for public schools?

Who are you McGraw-Hill?

Brain Research

One of my favorite things happening in education right now is the Harlem Children's Zone.

The brain research that is behind alot of what is happening at HCZ is the same as the core of the Montessori philosophy. It is beautiful. Here is a link to a podcast on "This American Life" about HCZ and brain research.

Common Threads

I spent the first part of the summer doing alot of thinking and some reading, and came across these common threads.

The first one is this video: The Story of Stuff

The second one came from trying to understand the history of the American education system and philosophy.
The third thread, which I've linked to before, is from Riane Eisler's book, "The Real Wealth of Nations."

I'll let you make the connections. As a Montessorian, these threads cry out for us to continue moving forward with the Montessori philosophy. The future depends on it.

Montessori Movement

Here is an interesting article about the Montessori Philosophy and Jewish schools. I love this thought from the article...

"Montessori schools offer not only a specific model of education, but also a vision of the type of people they want their graduates to become.

“I don’t want [my children] to be crushed into a mold,” Yoni Gershan said. “Where are the leaders going to come from? They’re not going to come from a place where the goal is conformity.”

Parkinsons and Montessori

Here is another great article about one of the founders of Google. The more success these guys have, the more the Montessori story gets told.