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JennGM
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I'm trying to understand the philosophy and concepts of Montessori. I had a discussion with my sister yesterday and am wondering some things. My ds is really into identifying colors right now. I didn't sit down with him for long periods of time to teach him, but just in our daily conversations I would say this is a red jacket, this cup is blue. Now the world is his rainbow.
My sister's son is 2 1/2 years old...and I thought he knew his colors. When I asked when did he learn them, she said he didn't (whoops  ), but that she doesn't sit down with him...he'll learn soon enough when he wants to.
So is that a Montessori approach? To just let the child find things out without guidance from the parent? I don't introduce new concepts unless he shows interest? Should I be sitting back more and not pointing out things? I'm not trying to fight here, I'm just trying to understand....
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Jennifer G. Miller
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Marybeth
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| Posted: Sept 21 2005 at 7:25pm | IP Logged
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Jenn,
I did exactly what you did in regards to showing and teaching color to my ds. I, too, am curious about the Montessori approach would be for this.
My former neighbor had her children in a Montessori school for several years. The teachers always encouraged her to talk and point things out to her dc during the day. They felt you directed the dc to various objects and then allowed the dc to take lead/interest from that point on.
Something to think about....
Marybeth
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JennGM
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| Posted: Sept 21 2005 at 7:32pm | IP Logged
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Well, I talked to another sister, and she thought that maybe it was just a number-3-child-out-of-4-under-the-age-of-6 not doing all the things you do with your first child. I can understand that....
Thanks, Marybeth. You just helped clarify that I was doing a similar approach. I start to wonder...always questioning myself! 
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Jennifer G. Miller
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MaryM
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jenngm67 wrote:
Well, I talked to another sister, and she thought that maybe it was just a number-3-child-out-of-4-under-the-age-of-6 not doing all the things you do with your first child. I can understand that....
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BINGO - sounds like an astute ovservation. I know I was able to be way more involved one-on-one with my first than with any subsequent.
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Mary M. in Denver
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Erin
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MaryM wrote:
| I know I was able to be way more involved one-on-one with my first than with any subsequent. |
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This is so true. After I got over the guilt with my younger ones I realised that they had other compensations. Their siblings bring a richness to their life that is different to what I can offer.
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Erin
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Mary G
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Erin wrote:
MaryM wrote:
| I know I was able to be way more involved one-on-one with my first than with any subsequent. |
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This is so true. After I got over the guilt with my younger ones I realised that they had other compensations. Their siblings bring a richness to their life that is different to what I can offer.
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Also, never forget how much they pickup "osmotically" (that is, through osmosis) -- my almost 3 yr old is already starting to recognize letters and count because he hears his older one doing it. He'll know so much when he gets to be "school age" he just might teach us a thing or two 
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MaryG
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Mari
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Mary G. wrote:
Also, never forget how much they pickup "osmotically" (that is, through osmosis) |
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Yes they do! That is why their environmnet is so important. Children at this age cannot chose what they want to learn or not. That is why Montessori calls it "the absorbent mind".
Apart from everyday examples of when we can incorporate talking to children, this is how you could give a lesson.
In a montessori class/home lesson, we start with the 3 primary colours (red, blue, yellow). There are 2 examples of each tablet.
We use the 3 part lesson:
Invite the child to take the tray with the colours. Sit to his/her right (or to the left, if left handed).
Show him/her how to pair the two sets together.
Lesson 1: This is yellow. This is red. This is blue.
We don't ask them to repeat or question theM
We ask if they want to try. If so great. If not that's fine. Then we carry the tray back to its place and tell the child that he/she can do it again when they like.
When and only when you feel they are ready.....
Lesson 2: Where is yellow? Where is red? Where is blue?
It is more sure that the child will get it right (and therefore successful) than asking them what is this? straight away.
Then, when you observe readiness
Lesson 3: "What is this colour?" etc...
If ever the child is unsure, just calmly STOP, go back to the previous stage. When they are ready MOVE ON! We never want them to feel as if the can't do it, or leave them feeling unchallenged.
When this is done, there are the 2nd box of colours (primary and secondary - for matching and naming) and the 3rd box (loads more - for helping the child to differentiate between different shades)
Any montessori stockist would have these - take a look at a site to see what they look like. You can make these yourself although it is great to have a boxed version of the 3rd one.
Hope this helps.
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Mari, mother of 2 loving daughters aged 8 and 10
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Jen L.
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jenngm67 wrote:
| Well, I talked to another sister, and she thought that maybe it was just a number-3-child-out-of-4-under-the-age-of-6 not doing all the things you do with your first child. I can understand that.... |
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I have to comment on this one too --
When my son (1st born) was about 2 and my nephew (7th born) was around 3, my sister was impressed to hear that my son could identify his colors. She KNEW her son didn't know them and wasn't concerned. The funny thing was that he DID know them, but being the 7th he just hadn't been asked/talked to about it!
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Meredith
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Mari wrote:
Any montessori stockist would have these - take a look at a site to see what they look like. You can make these yourself although it is great to have a boxed version of the 3rd one.
Hope this helps. |
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Mari would you mind sharing where you pick up your materials for this and maybe email me a picture??
meresfab4@peoplepc.com
Thanks so much, the lesson sounds great!!
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Meredith
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Genevieve
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Meredith, Make your own using paint samples at your local home improvement stores. 
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Genevieve
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Donna Marie
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We made ours with paint samples and the cards that came in a case for embroidery thread....worked like a charm...they even had a hole in the corner of them which I used to place each group of colors on a large binder ring. I kept all of the rings in a tackle box. We later added other things to this box for experiments with light, optics and color...i know it's kinda going off on a tangent, but we had fun!
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Donna Marie from NJ
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4Real Forums : Nurturing the Years of Wonder
Topic: Montessori Question
