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mooreboyz
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| Posted: July 14 2012 at 9:10am | IP Logged
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Has anyone ever thought about doing a unit on the montessori method or waldorf or the psychology behind them? I'm considering having my 8th grader spend 3 weeks or so on learning the philosophy behind these methods, especially focusing on the years prior to 6. He has two brothers in this age range and I thought he could help me with the planning of their baskets and shelves, check out some blogs and schools on line, and read some of my books on the subject.
In the 8th grade year I have my kids do a "survey" of different sciences that interest them before undertaking the more rigorous high school sciences to get introduced to them so they can pick the ones in high school that interest them. While this isn't really scienc-y I thought it would be a nice and useful unit for the month of December.
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Jackie
7 boys - 1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 15, 17 years
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Mackfam
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| Posted: July 14 2012 at 10:13am | IP Logged
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mooreboyz wrote:
| Has anyone ever thought about doing a unit on the montessori method >> snip <<? I'm considering having my 8th grader spend 3 weeks or so on learning the philosophy behind these methods, especially focusing on the years prior to 6. He has two brothers in this age range and I thought he could help me with the planning of their baskets and shelves, check out some blogs and schools on line, and read some of my books on the subject. |
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I have done some introductions to various home education philosophies for my older dd, and my older ds helps with some of the practicals and the effect of their involvement and learning has been fruitful. They're both very helpful when it comes to assisting with the little ones, setting up reading baskets, teaching a foreign language, setting out Montessori activities, taking charge of music instruction, and both my older children are a HUGE help in fostering and nurturing good habits.
We do talk a good bit about philosophy, but not as part of a focused unit for the purpose of learning about education, it's more within the context of understanding different educational philosophies and in particular the history of education (going back to the Greeks & Classical Ed)....and inviting questions and brainstorming so the older child can begin to think creatively when it comes to encountering challenges in the learning spaces.
mooreboyz wrote:
| ....or waldorf or the psychology behind them |
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Yes. I do talk with my older children about Waldorf and its philosophy a little. We approach it in light of the Church's teaching on Rudolf Steiner, and use that as a jumping off point for discussing some New Age issues. This past week, my teen dd and I have really been digging into/discussing a quote I found from G.K. Chesterton, The Common Man (p. 167), and how it speaks to the atmosphere which conveys a philosophy of education:
Chesterton wrote:
| Every education teaches a philosophy; if not by dogma then by suggestion, by implication, by atmosphere. Every part of that education has a connection with every other part. If it does not all combine to convey some general view of life, it is not an education at all." |
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As a board, we have a specific policy on discussion of the Waldorf philosophy which stipulates that the 4Real board does not host discussions of Waldorf philosophy. It's possible that some of those links in the explanation of the policy on Waldorf, especially to Church documents, could provide some fruitful discussions if you decided to undertake an explanation of this philosophy with your older children.
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I really enjoy inviting my older children to learn about philosophies of education because learning about that philosophy and seeing it lived out in the home helps the child begin to animate some of the methods, especially with younger children. It's a huge help for me practically speaking, but I also remember how much *I* learned just from watching my mom home educate my brother and sister using the CM philosophy/method. She didn't teach me anything formal AT ALL - I learned entirely through the atmosphere of our home, and I value that experience so much now that I have my own home! My own experience and strong memory of the atmosphere in our home is very motivating to me in setting the atmosphere in my own home. I wasn't even involved in Mom/brother/sister's home education experience - I was on the peripheral of it all (in school). But, I fall back on those rich experiences and memories of our home atmosphere, and the lessons I learned there. If I got rid of all the curriculum tools in my home, that one experience would be enough for me. That's just how much I value it, and it's how I know that Charlotte Mason and G.K. Chesterton were so right in their great esteem of nurturing a living atmosphere in education.
Hope something there is a help for you, Jackie! 
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Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19 , ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
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mooreboyz
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| Posted: July 14 2012 at 12:19pm | IP Logged
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Jen,
Thank you so much for your thoughtful response. I loved to hear your story of natural learning. I tend to doubt myself sometimes that we aren't doing enough; but, then I see all that is learned in the summer months when we are just "living" and I smile to myself.
All my boys help one another too. I love it when a younger is doing say the 1000 chain for the first time and an older brother comes over and says something like, "oh! you get to do that today? I remember doing that." and then proceeds to assist with advice or stories. They do the same with their piano learning...one will be playing along with a new song and pretty soon an older brother will come over and help with a rhythm they are struggling with. I just love these moments.
Anyway, for my 8th grader I am trying to bring experiences into his life to help him find his way. My oldest is getting past this stage and has strong interests in things and seems to have a vision of his future. In 8th grade though it seems things are fuzzy and so I like to give them many experiences to see where sparks might start. This child likes to help him baby brother with pouring and spooning and things like this. He has always been very patient with little ones and watchful...following the child as Montessori speaks of. And so, I thought this may be of interest. If for nothing else then for sharing with his own children some day.
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Jackie
7 boys - 1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 15, 17 years
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CatholicMommy
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| Posted: July 14 2012 at 1:10pm | IP Logged
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Jackie,
I have been considering something like this myself - my son is a bit young yet, but I've been thinking about a high school level study on various child development and educational philosophies. And I just spent a week with CGS training (as the course assistant) and how many ladies there wanted to bring their high schoolers along (one lady DID bring her high school daughter - who has 2 younger brothers in our local parish atrium).
I do not know of anything specifically geared for this age group, in regards to Montessori, but you might consider purchasing the theory albums for the two main age groups: primary and elementary. These two theory albums also cover a great deal of information on infancy/toddler and some on adolescence.
Keys of the World has both levels of theory albums, so you know they would correspond with one another - and they both offer suggested additional reading; I'm not sure who else offers theory albums.
It might be that the information on adolescence will help him clarify some of his own questions too!
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Garden of Francis
HS Elementary Montessori Training
Montessori Nuggets
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4Real Forums : High School Years and Beyond
Topic: teaching montessori
