4Real Forums: Short Lesson CM vs Montessori

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Philosophy of Education
4Real Forums : Philosophy of Education

Topic: Short Lesson CM vs Montessori

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Tina P.
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Posted: Sept 25 2008 at 11:50pm \| IP Logged

I'd read about CM's short lessons so as not to tax children's attention spans. And then I read about Montessori's three HOUR blocks of time after the teacher introduces an interesting tidbit. In one way, I completely understand the Montessori approach. Why interrupt a child when he's deeply involved in whatever? But THREE HOURS! I don't think even *I* could spend such time focusing on ONE subject. Any thoughts? I'd like to know the benefits and drawbacks of either view.

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lapazfarm
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Posted: Sept 26 2008 at 1:16am \| IP Logged

The three hours are not spent on a single subject, unless, of course, the child wants to spend that much time on it.
The child in a Montessori classroom is free to move from material to material as his interest and attention directs him, with the teacher there to facilitate. During that 3 hour time there may be one or several short presentations by the teacher to a group or to individual children, as well as independent and group work chosen by the children.
The three hour work period is the whole school day, basically.

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Sarah M
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Posted: Sept 26 2008 at 9:18am \| IP Logged

I like allowing my children to have as much time as they need to work through any given work/project (although I definately see a place for CM's short lessons- in phonics and math, especially), but 3 hours does seem pretty long. My almost-5-year-old recently told me that she gets bored with atrium after the first half. I can't imagine being bored in atrium.

At our parish, atrium lasts 2 hours and they have *plenty* of works available to keep anyone busy. I think it's just a personality thing for her. When she's done, she's done, and she wants the freedom to move onto something *completely* different, like playing outside or making a racket.

I guess I just think it depends on the child. At home, I prefer to watch them for signs, and then just go wtih the flow. That might mean that child A always does short lessons, and child B prefers them long, or it could mean that we all change it up day to day!

Meredith
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Posted: Sept 26 2008 at 10:51am \| IP Logged

Tina, it does seem a bit of a conflict, but as Theresa pointed out, there are many things *going on* during any given three hour work time, and keeping in mind that is the *classroom* model, not necessarily the home school model. My 3yo sort of sets his own time limits on himself as he moves from one activity to another and he could no way last 3 hours at ANYTHING right now, so we just go with the flow and try to keep him from interrupting the older ones

When my chidren were all younger and we only had three, I did several terms with the short lesson periods and they liked it very much, but, there was also the feeling that maybe we should have spent more time on certain things they were involved in but felt we must move on so as not to let boredom set in. Or to make sure we "got it all in" for the day.

Now we just take as much time as we have or need for whatever the subjects are for the day and the younger ones do their work however long they want. It's much more enjoyable for us all

Blessings,

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