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hobbitmom
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| Posted: May 14 2008 at 2:51pm | IP Logged
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Saving time, money and sanity......by choosing a philosophy of education that stands a good chance of actually working for you and your dc BEFORE investing heavily in it!
I know of moms who, after investing much time and money in a curriculum, find that it doesn't work for their family. I am working to prepare a Montessori environment, and am shadowed by the doubt and fear that my experience will end up this way too.
On the other hand, there are many moms here on this board who are delighted with their family's experience with Montessori. So my question is, is there a way to be reasonably sure that the educational approach you choose -- whatever that approach might be -- is at least a decent choice for your family, if not the Absolutely Best Way? Are some mothers, children, and families more naturally inclined to certain approaches over others? Or do we simply "calls our bets and takes our chances," as my dad would say?
With a limited amount of time, money and sanity -- especially sanity! -- at my disposal, I have more than a hypothetical interest in the question.
Amy
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Amy
Mom to Mr. Mischief (5/05) and Mr. Happy (9/07)
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lapazfarm
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Wow! I think this is an excellent question!
I think I have dabbled in just about every approach to educating my children. I have tried it all, I think. Some may see this as indecisive, but I prefer to think of it as narrowing the field, getting closer and closer to hitting our true groove.I think this is a good thing---a voyage of discovery, so to speak. But, as you say, it has had a cost involved. The cost has been not only monetary, but in time and energy invested.
It would be GREAT if I had known then what I know now: that what I call "us-schooling"--a bizarre combination of unschooling and Montessori, would fit us best. But I am not sure I would have believed it, you know? I think I really had to educate myself, and like my children I am a hands-on learner!LOL!
Some things I have been able to weed out without much investment. Obvious non-fits for us were school-in-a-box, classical, and Waldorf.I could tell just from reading and listening to others that they would not suit us. Other things that seemed to fit (CM, notebooking, unit-studies) we tried and they actually did work for awhile, or parts of them did. From those methods we took the best parts (for us)and left the rest behind.
And eventually we came to where we are now. Us-schooling.
Would I have ended up here had I not traveled the twisted path I took to get here? I'm not so sure. I think I learned an awful lot from the scenery along the way.
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Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
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JuliaT
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Amy, what a great question. I don't think that I can adequately answer it but I can give you my experience about finding the right fit.
I have used every educational method known to man in homeschooling my children. We have tried out Montessori, curriculum-in-a-box, Waldorf, Classical, LCC, CM, and TJED. Each time we started a new method, I would gush about it on my blog announcing that I had finally found the 'right fit' for us. Then, a few months later, I would have to eat crow because it wasn't the right fit after all.
The reason for the bouncing back and forth was that I couldn't find the right method that would work for both me and my kids. CM and Classical works well for me but all of that reading does not do well for my hands-on dd. TJED worked very well for my kids but I kept sliding my toe back on to the conveyor belt. So this didn't work for me.
I was quite discouraged about this flip-flopping. I saw myself as an indecisive flake who wasn't capable of actually teaching her children anything because she was too worried about method. But a very good friend told me that I was not being flaky, I was just evolving, trying to find the right fit for our family. It would take time but she knew that I would find it eventually. She was right. I have finally found our fit this year.
After three yrs of hsing, I have found the way to teach my kids that resonates deep with both my kids and myself. I have discovered that my kids do not learn well with a pure method. We use the buffet method. We pick and choose from the various methods and have squished it all together. This squishing has been an answer to my prayers. We have had an absolutely amazing year. We have taken elements from Classical, Waldorf, a dash of CM and TJED,and sprinkle them throughout our day. This is working for our family.
I truly wish that we could just do one method and stick with it. This would make life so easy for me. But it doesn't work for us. I know that there are many families who do use just one method and are very happy. All I can say is "Yay for them!" We just can't do it this way.
I have spent alot of money, not so much on curriculum, but on books explaining the various methods that we have used. I don't begrudge that money as it has made me wiser about what I want to do for my children as far as education goes. I don't consider it a waste of money. I consider it a part of my evolving.
Blessings,
Julia
mom of 3 (8,7,5)
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Cay Gibson
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| Posted: May 14 2008 at 4:03pm | IP Logged
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JuliaT wrote:
| We use the buffet method. We pick and choose from the various methods and have squished it all together. This squishing has been an answer to my prayers. |
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That's the way it works around here too. So if you read one month I'm using this science book and this month read that I'm using another science book, I'm just "squishing" them together. That's all. 
JuliaT wrote:
I have spent alot of money, not so much on curriculum, but on books explaining the various methods that we have used. I don't begrudge that money as it has made me wiser about what I want to do for my children as far as education goes. I don't consider it a waste of money. I consider it a part of my evolving.
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Exactly---Exactly!---what I was going to write. I don't think any book or any curriculum is without its contribution.
If my children aren't wiser, more creative, smarter, gentler, at least I am.   And our children will benefit as long as we are inspired and motivated...no matter what we use that particular day...week...month...year.
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Cay Gibson
"There are 49 states, then there is Louisiana." ~ Chef Emeril
wife to Mark '86
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Elizabeth
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hobbitmom wrote:
| Are some mothers, children, and families more naturally inclined to certain approaches over others? |
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Amy,
I do think that we have natural inclinations. And I think that Mom's teaching style is as important as learning style in a home environment.
I know that I have shelves groaning under the weight of educational philosophy books read, digested, and abandoned. I am honored to have been in the company of some of these ladies for nearly ten years and I've watched and wondered with them as we have all sifted through the plethora of great (and not so great) ideas and chosen what is best for our families.
I don't believe there is one philosophy that suits every child, every family, all the time. One of the great blessings of the freedom to educate our children ourselves is that we can pick and choose and prayerfully discern. And sometimes trying something on for awhile is part of the process. Even if you discard it, chances are very good that you will retain a little bit of the best of it forever.
Try not to invest too much time and money before giving it a good trial run and remember that used curriculum venues can be very guilt-assuaging. 
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Elizabeth Foss is no longer a member of this forum. Discussions now reflect the current management & are not necessarily expressions of her book, *Real Learning*, her current work, or her philosophy. (posted by E. Foss, Jan 2011)
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Willa
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hobbitmom wrote:
On the other hand, there are many moms here on this board who are delighted with their family's experience with Montessori. So my question is, is there a way to be reasonably sure that the educational approach you choose -- whatever that approach might be -- is at least a decent choice for your family, if not the Absolutely Best Way? Are some mothers, children, and families more naturally inclined to certain approaches over others? Or do we simply "calls our bets and takes our chances," as my dad would say?
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It is a wonderful question. I remember when I first started homeschooling, I read a book that advised that mistakes can be learning events in our lives. In other words, rather than regret a false start, take what you have learned from it and don't regret the time and $$ spent. So, it's a lifetime endeavour to know ourselves and that would count knowing what works for one's family in learning.
That made sense to me and has helped me many times to avoid feeling horrible about the curriculum I bought and never used.
I think the more confidently you learn to follow your own judgment, the easier it is to decide if something is right for you. I think I used to buy things hoping that they would make me into something I wanted to be. Say I wanted to be a hands-on science type mom -- I would buy a resource that was suited for that type of mom, but I would never be able to use it because it was outside my comfort zone. The only time those purchases actually worked were if one of my kids was just that type of person and was able to grab the resource and use it in spite of me ;-).
Montessori seems to me to work best with concrete, sensorial types of moms/children.
I never could get a handle personally on how Montessori worked. And the materials were way too expensive for us. However, what I did research was very valuable because my delayed child does respond very well to concrete materials that he can use over and over again. Even though I don't order from Montessori catalogs I have been able to find or make some equivalents that have helped him progress.
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Willa
hsing boys ages 11, 14, almost 18 (+ 4 homeschool grads ages 20 to 27)
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Angie Mc
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Great question that I've enjoyed thinking about today, Amy. Thanks!
I do think that there are ways to save money, time, and sanity while home educating. My short answer is that I need to know myself and be satisfied. Knowing myself (and each child and my family as a unit) is hard work and does take time and I will meander while I'm learning. It makes sense to me, too, that most of my meanderings will be done in my earlier years of home educating. It is reasonable to expect to gain clarity, confidence, and consistency with each passing year and each child taught, in particular with principles that underlie methods.
I am more confident in my educational principles now and let them guide my methods. One principle that has worked beautifully over time was first shared with me by Leonie, dividing *knowledge* work from *skill* work. Knowledge is gained through reading books, watching movies, discussion, nature walks, etc. Skills are gained by being developmentally ready for the skill, breaking the code (either by yourself or with help,) then regular and ongoing practice. Therefore, I'm not attracted to any curriculum that treats knowledge like a skill (think about a really bad history textbook used solely to memorize names, places, and dates.) Other tried and true principles for me include St. John Bosco's "preventative system of education/love rather than punishment," Charlotte Mason's "education is an atmosphere, a discipline, and a life", the Moore's "better late than early," and Holt's "learning all the time." Being comfortable and confident with these principles (and others) save a lot of time and money because I don't have to *think* about every option and decision.
One of the things I love about having experience under my belt is that I'm quicker to catch meanderings that really are needless and wasteful for me. For example, I know that I hate details so I have a quick eye for fussiness. Honestly, if there are too many pieces to a program, too many ingredients in a recipe, or too many instructions for a project, I don't go there no matter how lovely and how much of a blessing it is for another mom and her family. I also know that I have a weakness for living books...no curriculum entices me anywhere near the level of an excellent picture book. Since I'm not inclined to spend money on curriculum I'm OK there, but for books, I have a budget (bother, grumble, grumble.)
It also helps me to save money, time, and sanity when our home education is in proper relationship and proportion to our family priorities. Far too easily home educating mothers can find themselves so wrapped up in *doing school* or *being educators* or *the latest and coolest thing* that it takes over other priorities. On our list of family values, formal education ranks below God (growing in our relationship with Him through our faith and character formation/growth in virtue,) personal care (food, exercise, sleep, etc.,) relationships (with each other and others), and service (chores, etc.) In this way, I don't make home educating either more important or less important than it needs to be as my dh and I have prayerfully discerned.
I also thought today that the way I find variety, which I do need throughout years of home educating, is through an endless variety of living books, media, nature locations, the liturgical year, and the like. So even though we are doing the same methods (books, media, nature study, liturgical year, etc.) we are honestly never bored or burned out. Variety is built right in!
I definitely squish or meld together an educational philosophy, take what works for me and have really settled into a new season of being satisfied with my tried and true. I'm very happy for all the meanderings that have helped me to reach this place and I know I couldn't have reached this place without the meanderings.
Love,
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Angie Mc
Maimeo to Henry! Dave's wife, mom to Mrs. Devin+Michael Pope, Aiden 20,Ian 17,John Paul 11,Catherine (heaven 6/07)
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LLMom
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Angie,
You stated this so wonderfully. It really resonated with me.
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For veteran & former homeschool moms
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ALmom
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Angie and Willa:
I could ditto a lot of what you each said. Willa - even down to all those science books that were hands on. They were rediscovered by my hands on science fan when they were in a pile for giveaway!  I couldn't even get the experiments to work and they were a flop for the first 3 children. They didn't end up being given away after all.
Edited to add: The philosophies all sound wonderful at least in some aspects (with a few exceptions) so it wasn't studying philosophies but trying to get a realistic feel for how the philosophy is practically implemented in a program that makes more of a difference. IF a classical assumes huge skill and background on the part of the teacher, then I'd better get a tutor!!!! If it involves a real sit on the floor and use manipulatives with the children and juggling many different children doing many different things at once, I'd better not have that as the sole backdrop of my school. If it assumes that every subject must be drilled and killed and that every child must do umpity exercises in writing to make something stick, then I guarantee my children would be crushed and hating school in early elementary if they lasted that long. If it requires tons of research and tons of gathering of supplies and making something without which you will not learn, then it better not be the sole means but mostly an optional change of pace for certain so inclined children where they don't have to depend on mom to help a lot - it would take me far too long and I have trouble even getting it to work. There is something positive in points that each make - but I have to realistically squish it all together in my home with what are my own strengths and weaknesses and my children's and try to create a balance that really works in my home without promoting lack of discipline or feeding into our weaknesses either.
My advice, if you have already bought the stuff and have a lot of younger children, don't sell it unless you can get close to what you paid for it. I lended mine out (and have just about every kind of approach somewhere on my shelves - unit studies, great books, classical, traditional, Montessori, projects, ...) but held onto it for many years. Now I'm finding that there are few things that we have totally not used and sometimes having this stuff here saves (but it has been 6 or more years before some of it turned up useful)me both time and money and allows me to have a great deal of supplemental things to try with different children. Now my investments are almost always real books or projects for my hands on child.
One thing that came to me is how much money I thought I wasted in the early years. Now, when the family is larger and the budget is tighter, I'm finding that a lot of that stuff is actually quite usable - just maybe not in ways it was pushed/advertised. Now I try to think about whether or not I have something that will work well enough and save investing for the really flop areas. I also think that spending some time praying and reflecting with my husband AFTER we have discerned basic goals is the best money/time saver. I don't go looking at all the neat stuff out there first - way too overwhelming. I look at what we want our children to learn/weak areas, things that need improvement. We discuss why something wasn't a good fit, how the child learns, why I was frustrated with something - and then we have a better idea of what we need. Then we look at it, think about whether or not this would help us do what we think we need to do. My husband helps tremendously in decisiveness. I have the ideas and quite a bit of observation and knowledge about how each child will learn best. My dh seems to be better able to cut through the hyperbole and advertisement and know which thing will actually do what we want.
Funniest thing - I tried a Montessorish approach way earlier when the children were younger. It was a total, 100% flop (partially because I didn't understand the practical implementation of the philosophy which I loved). Last year, we tried a Montessorish approach in some areas of our curriculum but with specific goals in mind with a realistic awareness of my time limits and that I am not a hands on/projects type of person and usually am unable to do more than 1 thing at a time. (Is that what is meant by squishing? I cannot call it Montessori as I did not do presentations every week, I did not give my children free choice all the time, I was not always the best of observer at the moment in a formal way. We never have group/circle time But as a detail person and keen observer naturally, I was quite aware of what children gravitated to and how it impacted some of our traditional seatwork. I like the children being self directed and self discovering most of the time and where they help me efficiently discover. Whenever Montessori helps me in how to efficiently help this happen, we jump on it. If it takes too much time to implement, it waits until there is more time or a pressing need. I like detail and lots of it and trying to set up a Montessori classroom in my home would have driven me and the children to insanity if I had to use it as the sole means of education. I'd be in a panic not remembering what next step or what needed to be in place. But with a combination of more traditional/classical or CMish real books and short lessons, I can relax and allow some free choice more like Montessori. Often my lesson plans asked that they pick a Montessori activity in science. Other times, they had several hours to pick anything they wanted Montessori (this is the default for whenever a child is waiting around to work with mom and I'm working with a different child). I am plain not organized enough and not tempermentally suited to the directress role to pull Montessori off as a full stand alone program/method. My older children usually figure out how to use the materials from the manuals before I do. 
Anyways, a lot of what I purchased many years ago when things flopped, have served me well this year - really. Now my goals were limited and realistic for my family - not some attempt to recreate the precise philosophy and imitate some book writers version in my home. I am lousy in science, my children don't learn from textbooks and we hate them so how in the world was this science illiterate going to somehow catch up on science and manage to help my children have even rudimentary basics. 3-part cards have been a real hit. Following other aspects of a Montessori classroom in terms of care of materials, resposibility and order has as well, etc. The other thing I wanted from Montessori materials was to remediate eye/hand or fine motor issues. The insets, puzzles, the particular way in which everything must be done, reinforces these things and very inexpensive practical life were big plusses. My 8 yo who would not put a pencil to paper before became fascinated with art after using the insets, cylinders, etc. over and over and over again. My other goal was to have gainful employment for my 5 yo. I need to plan better for next year, but no regrets. It doesn't matter to me that I didn't use the pink reading kit. I spent some time on it but very little money and it is there if one of my children needs a bit of phonics reinforcement. I've learned to relax. We may cylcle some things out for a while - but they may turn out to be quite useful in a year or two.
I also am using Kolbe now - but truly - one year we signed up (a long time ago) and after getting all the books in, I ended up cancelling my enrollment and sending all the materials back again and losing my $100 deposit.  I felt terrible. My husband said it was a pretty good investment to help me see that I really was a good teacher for our children. (Great guy, at least I felt a little better). When we were desperate in high school and one of our children really needed something, I was a lot wiser about what I wanted and needed and could communicate that and in discussion found that Kolbe could be a great fit for us - squished to be used our own way. I wasn't about to jump on the Kolbe bandwagon again as it had seemed like a disaster the first go round so I spent a lot more time talking to them about what I wanted to do and what I wanted from them and whether or not they would be willing to provide me with the specifics I wanted without holding me to copying their stuff to a tee. Without the year I ordered and sent everything back, I don't know if I'd thought to simply tell a provider what it was, in very specific terms, that we wanted. Actually without several years of teaching experience under my belt, and finding all the things that didn't work and wondering why they didn't, I'm not even sure I'd have known what it was I really wanted or needed support wise.
Now, granted, when we started, there weren't a lot of homeschoolers and even less Catholic ones and very, very few providers (Seton and OLR were it, I think). We placed early orders with a lot of companies when we were in our 4th or 5th year of homeschooling and these companies were just getting started. One way I look at all my expenditures - we kept the Catholic providers from going under before they had a chance to get started and now they are still around for you guys . Now, if we have materials that are Catholic (and some that are not Catholic but seem to be full of detail cause I like detail and they tend to serve as great quick references even if you never assign them), lovely but just didn't work well for us, we save them in case they do later and turn it into a lending library and share resources locally or at least let folks look at something before they order. So in that sense, I don't think we wasted money. When we get to the point where things are too tight - many of those families loan books and materials to us now as well.
Janet
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SallyT
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Well, hm, our field was narrowed considerably at the beginning by the fact that we had NO money to spend on curriculum -- we pretty much had to lean in the direction of CM and unschooling, because we already liked to read books together, and there was the library.
I am one of those people who can be convinced that just about anything is the right approach -- talk to me about whatever it is, and nine to one I will think it sounds GREAT and we should do it (a tiny budget is a blessing in this regard as well -- that kind of reality hits faster than any other, it seems). But in five years, we have evolved a good bit, and I have been able to eliminate things that just don't do it for us. Box curriculum has never appealed to any of us. I love elements of classical, especially the trivium model and the emphasis on the importance of Latin, but the method isn't for us.I like certain ideas from Montessori -- my little kids have switched to using china cups instead of plastic, and I've tried to give them "real" things to play with, "real" jobs to do, and that kind of thing -- but I cannot in a million years see myself investing in the whole shebang. In Waldorf I like the emphasis on hands as well as mind , and on beautiful natural things like wood and beeswax -- all that sensory stuff. Again, I'm not a method-follower, and I have no patience with crafts, but I can incorporate those things easily into our household. CM is probably the closest to "me" -- literature-based, opposed to "twaddle," aimed at educating and developing the whole child in every area of life. My kids hate narration, so we don't do it. We do do copywork. Otherwise we just read.
It came as an epiphany to me not long ago that our default mode -- just reading (with math and writing and Latin on the side) -- was actually an approach and not just a default mode. Why not let the books drive the homeschool? It's what we've always done anyway, even when I've told myself we were going to do something else -- I buy the books (or find them at the library), and we read them, and they suggest things for us to do, and we do that.
The most valuable lesson I learned in our first year was that no curriculum, plan, or philosophy is worth fighting with your child all day every day. You have to figure out what works for that child, and that involves a good bit of trial and error and also listening to the child. But you can do that, I think, without being totally schizophrenic, if you already have some philosophical parameters -- those are your non-negotiables. It might just be that you'll bend on anything but doing Latin (that's been one of mine). Or that you'll buy any book as long as it's not dumbed-down or otherwise tripey (another one of mine). As kids get older it does become easier to look at things and know what a given child will like or not like, or learn from or not learn from, which isn't always the same thing.
I think if I'd had the money to spend at the beginning, I might have made many, many expensive mistakes. As it was, I made plenty of cheap ones. But I do think it's probably wise NOT to commit yourself financially at the outset to a lot of elaborate materials, when you don't know if it's all going to work for you. Maybe you ask yourself first what you really, really love about Montessori, and then you ask yourself what you really, absolutely need to begin bringing that spirit into your home, bit by bit, over time, and ease into it. You can also look at what you already have -- okay, so maybe it's not all "real" Montessori stuff, but do you have things that will work to achieve some of the same ends, while you're figuring out whether Montessori as a full-blown approach is going to work for you? That would be my question, I think, in your shoes, mainly because I've long been in the habit of going, "I don't want to buy that; what do I have here that I can pretend IS that?" Some things have no substitute, but other things do.
Well, as usual, I've gone on way longer than my homeschooling experience really warrants. But I hope this is remotely useful!
Sally
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AndreaG
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| Posted: May 15 2008 at 11:04pm | IP Logged
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Amy-
I just wanted to chime in and encourage you to not go overboard preparing a montessori environment. Buy and make a few things and see how it goes! Give presentations on things you already have or gather from around the house that aren't necesarily montessori. Either it will work great and you'll feel good about spending the time and money on more materials, or it won't and you can move on to something else.
I definitely wish I would have not been so eager in making SO many materials. But I don't feel horrible regret about it either, I enjoyed the time spent making the montessori things and it was a learning experience.
I didn't buy any of that expensive montessori stuff until 2 or 3 years in, so I had confidence when I spent the money that I would use the materials, or at least a good shot at using them and they have a good resale value
I am always making changes and do use things more at different times with different children.
I don't think curriculum selection is a multiple choice test, with one right answer! Its more of an essay question
You learn as you go as others have stated so well.
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hobbitmom
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| Posted: May 16 2008 at 1:44pm | IP Logged
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Wow. Thanks, everybody. Some excellent points here, and much to chew on. I'm a slow thinker and it takes me a long time to process ideas.
Willa: your point hit home about how the materials won't magically turn you into something you're not. Or somebody you're not. I've made this error many times with non-curriculum type stuff, like gathering lots of craft supplies so I can be like Mom X, who does the most nifty crafts on a whim -- while my identical supplies sit unused and clutter up our closets, because I'm just not a crafty sort of gal.
Angie: "Know yourself and be satisfied." I ought to print that in big bold letters and tape it up all around the house!
Thank you also for the reminder to clarify and stay focused on my principles. And for keeping home education in its proper place. I winced when I read that one, as it's something I have definitely NOT been doing lately. I have a one-track mind (ask my long-suffering DH!) and have been eating/sleeping/breathing education now for way too long.
Janet: Bravo for the reminder to turn to DH for help! I needed to hear that!
And other good and apropos comments too...
If y'all don't mind me stepping briefly away from the general question and into my specific situation: my biggest worry is not that Montessori won't suit DS3 -- he seems a virtual Montessori poster child already. The effect of the practical life work and beginning sensorial materials I've already presented has astonished me, even though it's exactly what the theory said would happen. The child has a remarkable memory for details and an obvious love of work (he once picked dandelions for two hours straight and was upset when I called him into lunch... and our almost-three-acre yard was virtually clean of dandelions!) I laugh when people say toddlers have a short attention span, because before he turned 2 1/2 I watched him focus to the point of forgetting the rest of the world existed for 45 minutes and longer.
DH has listened to me chatter about educational theories for many moons now, and of all the things I've thrown at him, he is most pleased with and supportive of Montessori. He approves of the method and thinks it would be an excellent fit for DS.
We are blessed with both room and finances for the materials. So that's not a concern either.
No, the biggest potential problem is me. Sigh. This thread has raised a few possible red flags:
1. Willa's comment that Montessori is best suited to concrete/sensorial types. That would be my engineer DH, not me! I'm an abstract, big-picture, intuitive type. Or, less complimentary, plain old absentminded.
2. Janet's comment that her initial Montessori failure was due to a misunderstanding of the practical application, even when she loved the philosophy. This thread shows that I have the same problem. Her comment about not being able to multitask worries me too. I literally can't cook dinner and carry on a conversation at the same time! (DH knows from long experience not to talk to me until dinner's on the table.) Although since I only have the one preschooler right now, that may not be a problem for a while yet.
So are there profiles of the moms of different educational philosophies? I know there are lots of different personalities here, and that's not really what I'm asking... more like certain strengths/weaknesses that tend to lead some kinds of people to one method, and different kinds to another?
And what would the profile of a Montessori mom in particular look like?
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Amy
Mom to Mr. Mischief (5/05) and Mr. Happy (9/07)
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lapazfarm
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Here is the tricky thing about home education. It's obviously not just about us. AND it's not just about the child, either. The methods we use have to work for BOTH us, as teachers, and our children as learners.
It does sound as if your child is the picture-perfect Montessorian.
I have one of those myself. My 2yo grandson sounds exactly like what you describe (in between his amazing fits of temper, that is.)He is absolutely thriving on everything Montessori I throw at him. And the other children are having success with it as well, to various degrees.
Am I a model-Montessori teacher? No, I don't think so.In fact, though I think some of my character traits make me suitable for this method,I think others make it very difficult for me to teach this way.
What pulls me through in the tough times are two things:
1. I agree with and respect the theory behind the method. In my mind Maria Montessori was a genius.
2. I see it working with my children.
So, my scientific mind respects the method, and my mother's heart sees it working with my children. That is enough to override my personality traits that create difficulties for me.
I think if either of those two things were missing, I would not be able to persevere.
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Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
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lapazfarm
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I wanted to add that this would be true of any home education method, not just Montessori.
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Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
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hobbitmom
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lapazfarm wrote:
What pulls me through in the tough times are two things:
1. I agree with and respect the theory behind the method. In my mind Maria Montessori was a genius.
2. I see it working with my children.
So, my scientific mind respects the method, and my mother's heart sees it working with my children. That is enough to override my personality traits that create difficulties for me.
I think if either of those two things were missing, I would not be able to persevere. |
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Wonderful, Theresa! Well said, and so encouraging! I totally agree with both 1 and 2, and that gives me hope. Thank you.
(I had to laugh at the "amazing fits of temper"... my DS has those too. Oy.)
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Amy
Mom to Mr. Mischief (5/05) and Mr. Happy (9/07)
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ALmom
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Don't be discouraged. If Montessori is a perfect fit for your ds, if your dh is behind it and you are beginning with one child and the support out there on how to do it, you should be fine.
I learned a lot this year with the online course. One reason I have to narrow my focus is that I have 6 children and the majority of them are reporting ages for the state. It has helped a lot that I started small and am adding gradually. (Realize that if I did Montessori full time, I'd be doing it with children in age ranges from 5 - 16 and none of them have had the early material presentations). Dh and I decided that while we might never reap the complete benefits of full Montessori having "missed" the sensitive periods, we could benefit greatly and fill in some real gaps. The one aspect of Montessori's philosophy that really doesn't resonate with me is the critical period. I do believe it may be easier to learn certain things at certain times, but I really have a tough time thinking it is never recoverable. God's grace and individual effort can overcome a lot. I've seen too much in terms of help being provided to children with various learning challenges. I've watched my children who were well beyond the sensitive period become quite taken with certain materials and repeat them over and over with intense concentration and have sudden and huge leaps in their ability to write. Better to do what you can and provide as best you can for a child who obviously learns well this way, then stymy for fear of not doing it well enough or perfectly enough. Be prepared to be patient with your foibles.
If your husband is more hands on, he may be able to demonstrate the material to you first or critique your presentation. I had my children laughing at my very practiced and careful demonstration of walking. They thought I was goose stepping so we just waited for dad and had him demonstrate to all of us for that one.
Just don't stress yourself and be patient and allow for "mistakes" and don't let them make things seem like a failure.
Janet
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Stephanie_Q
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hobbitmom wrote:
So are there profiles of the moms of different educational philosophies? I know there are lots of different personalities here, and that's not really what I'm asking... more like certain strengths/weaknesses that tend to lead some kinds of people to one method, and different kinds to another?
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I'm searching for an answer to this question (for many of the same reasons - to save time, money, and sanity!). I was reading through this thread and hoping that someone would answer this question! Hasn't anyone come up with a "homeschooling personality" test? I want to find a site where I can answer questions about myself and my kids and it will pick the best individual and overall homeschooling methods for my family. Why can't it be that easy?
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Stephanie dh 6.01
dd 6.02, dd 8.03, ds 3.05, ds 12.06 at Catholic school.
dd 12.09 at home.
Baby boy due 10.13
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folklaur
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Stephanie_Q wrote:
Hasn't anyone come up with a "homeschooling personality" test? I want to find a site where I can answer questions about myself and my kids and it will pick the best individual and overall homeschooling methods for my family. Why can't it be that easy? |
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I haven't tried it yet, maybe this?
And Mercy Academy has this
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BrendaPeter
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Very interesting post over at Kim's blog. Gives a great perspective from an experienced mom of a large family who also has used Montessori methods.
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Blessings,
Brenda (mom to 6)
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4Real Forums : Philosophy of Education
Topic: Saving time, money and sanity...
