Powerful Quote by Maria Montessori
Aug 26"A man has substituted himself for God, desiring to form the minds of children in his own image and likeness; and this cannot be done without subjecting a free creature to torture." -- Maria Montessori”
I have many Christ following friends who have questions about Maria’s conventions relative to the Science of her time (specifically, human evolutionary theory). And I at times have struggled in applying some of her teachings as a result of my own young earth creationist beliefs.
For example, the clock of eras–a reference to millions of years–is a big hurdle for me that I’ve translated into a geological layers work. It’s no longer a clock.
Quotes like this help me keep a clear head about where Montessori’s heart was.
It’s an eloquently written truth not just about education, but about so much of our lives.
Makes me think about all my little ‘g,’ gods. What other gods—little ‘g,’ gods do you have in your life?
Decoding & Encoding: Montessori Learn to Read
Aug 25Today I was able to watch a friend work with their child and it reminded me of the importance of allowing a child the chance to use their own decoding skills when learning how to read.
My son is learning to read largely by using Montessori Three Part Cards and Classified Nomenclature cards. The clues that the pictures on these cards give help a child to develop confidence in their ability to try to ‘solve,’ or decode a word.
Don’t get me wrong. Picture books and easy readers are great. We use them and will continue to. And there are days when I simply “tell,” him what a word is that is set before him in a book or on a sign.
But what a great sense of accomplishment a child can feel when they are able to figure out what just one word might be relative to a picture on a card.
And how amazingly advanced the words can be when there is only one word and one picture.
Be sure that the next time a word shows up in a child’s easy reader that they previously learned on their own, that they will be thrilled to share that they “already know that word!”
Link to Downloadable Montessori Three-Part Cards
Aug 25I received this link today for some great Montessori three part cards.
They cover these topics:
Zoology
Solar System
Occupation
Land & Water Forms
Continents
Human Body
They are stored on box.net so they should be virus free, etc! Enjoy!
“Let’s Explode the Sink!”–Montessori Great Lesson Style
Aug 23Aidan said, "Great! Let's explode the sink!" I told him that it was not a good week to blow up the sink because we were having company on Wednesday. He replied, "Okay, we'll give me a time bomb and I'll set it." I asked, "Aidan, but where will you set it?" "On your head," he commented with a sly smirk. "Again, Aidan," I said, "it's simply not a good week to blow anything up. Company is coming on Wednesday." "Okay, maybe next week," he chortled. Six is such a great age, isn't it?”
The kids finished up their volcano models for me today, which we will use as part of the Montessori First Great Lesson on Wednesday with our new club, The Montessori Great Lessons Club. We’re expecting 16 kids, including Ana & Aidan. Needless to say we are all very excited!
The were especially excited to test their new volcanoes, but since it was very late in the day, I told them they needed to erupt them in the sink.
The Hand That Gives the Rose: Montessori Peace
Aug 23We started our day today by watching this video (thank you, Montessori Mama), as a reminder of the meaning of our peace rose in our home. Aidan was very concerned about the rose that was lying on the wooden decking in the video. Interesting, as that concern had never crossed my mind. We were all very touched by the importance of kindness in our lives after watching this song.
We placed our montessori peace rose in a spot chosen by the children and the children explained to me how they would use it. And I offered the fact that they could use the peace rose with Dad and me too.
So as to not make you think we have a perfect home, free of sibling rivalry, the kids were back to fighting and arguing-having forgotten about the peace rose–by about 3:00. It was a pretty good run, however.
I’m looking forward to another day tomorrow. The end of summer has turned into a more peaceful time than the constant running through summer within our family. And I think the Montessori Peace rose has something to do with that.
Quotes By Maria Montessori
Aug 23I found this great youtube video of quotes by Maria Montessori. Enjoy.
Another Year of Life Experience
Aug 23
Well, tomorrow’s the day.
Our 1st, unofficial day of our Montessori Home Schooling year for 2010/2011.
It’s hard to believe it’s here already.
Since we home school “year ’round,” the concept of our unofficial first day of school isn’t as simple as my telling my kids, our friends and our family that “our first day of school is tomorrow.”
Since we never really stopped, we ease into it.
Tomorrow is the day we switch to our new 2010/2011 school year planners, and new 2010/2o11 Journals. We’ll sit down together and the children will create our classroom rules and daily schedule. After all, it’s a new year. A new game. Same players, but with another year of life experience under their belt.
I of course have some suggestions that I will share. Options, really. After all, Montessori is really about allowing the child to lead within a prepared environment.
Am I 100% prepared? No, not by my standards. But this is a new year for me too. With another year of life experience under my belt.
I’m excited to see what it will bring for all of us.
Hints from Aidan–Empty Prescription Drug Containers
Aug 23
“You take the labels off and then you put a type of salad dressing in it and you put the lid on it and if you drop it, it won’t break, so it’s portable.”