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montessori_lori
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| Posted: March 13 2008 at 12:41pm | IP Logged
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Hi, ladies! I am working on an article for the Montessori Foundation on homeschooling & Montessori.
I wanted to ask if some of you wouldn't mind posting some reasons why you've chosen to bring the Montessori method & materials into your homeschooling experience.
It's perfectly fine if you only use some Montessori "stuff", as a matter of fact, I'm also interested in how Montessori can be a part of a homeschool curriculum without being the sole educational method used.
If I think your quote could be used in my article, I will PM you to ask for permission to quote you. Once the article is done (probably a few months away), I will post back here with the link so everyone can read it.
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montessori_lori
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| Posted: March 14 2008 at 10:57am | IP Logged
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Anyone? Anyone?
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Maryan
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| Posted: March 14 2008 at 11:47am | IP Logged
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Me me... but I'm not very "quotable" these days, Lorri!!  So here's my stream-of-though-without-editing sharing. 
Having taught junior high and high school for years, I began to wonder what to "do" with the "younger set" when I first learned I was pregnant... with a son. Having "heard" that boys learned better through "hands-on" methods, I wanted to learn more about Montessori style of learning. I neither had the time or money for official training, so I began reading the Clio Montessori series books to learn what I could. Furthermore, I was aware the price of Montessori tuition and knew that I never could afford to send my son... and definitely wouldn't be able to send my sons (plural) since I hoped God would bless us with a large family, so I also bought Montessori catalogs (Michael Olaf, Montessori services, etc.) to learn from their pictures how I could set things up in my own home. For the last two years, I've also benefitted from many at home Montessori Moms' blogs (like yours!) to help me get a better idea how to use a Montessori style of learning in my home.
However... in my attempt to do this, I have to admit that I am not capable of providing a truly Montessori environment at home for a couple of reasons. First I have five children six and under... so leaving materials readily accessible is not possible with a 16 month old and a small house. Second, my temperament is not nearly patient or gentle enough... but this is probably even more a reason why Montessori's thoughts and methods have been so helpful. Third, I can't afford to buy all the materials, but try to make due as I can. However, as I seem to have a propensity for having BOYS... my determination to learn more about this method has grown... as well as my patience.
My vision for my boys' education was an education steeped in lots of great literature and in a love of nature and brought to life through lots of hands-on activities. Montessori has greatly helped in the "hands-on" department. Practical life tools like brooms, sponges, small table and chairs have been big hits. Pom-pom sorting kits, shoe polishing activities, and color mixing bottle squeezing trays that I made have also kept their atttention. Recently I added more "educational" type materials like knobbed cylinders for the little ones, geographical and botanical puzzles, and nomenclature cards. For my six year old, we worked on using the pink, blue and green language series while I'm learning how to make grammar boxes and use grammar sybols which we will start next year. For studying our faith, we try to do a home atrium in a Catechesis of the Good Shepherd style as well.
By the way, I was too daunted to try and make/buy all the Montessori Math materials, so I decided to use Right Start... designed by a Montessori trained teacher.
So... that's most of my reasons! I wish I had time to really answer this question -- especially with all the help that you have been to me. But that's all I have time to write!!
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Maryan
Mom to 6 boys & 1 girl: JP('01), B ('03), M('05), L('06), Ph ('08), M ('10), James born 5/1/12
A Lee in the Woudes
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Mackfam
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| Posted: March 14 2008 at 12:34pm | IP Logged
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I'm sorry Lori - my two handed typing time is limited with the new little one - I wanted to respond last night, but....
I don't have a lot of time right now, so if it's ok can I just link you to my Montessori posts??? This one I think covers more than most what you're looking for. I have no idea if there's anything even remotely quotable in there though!!! But, you're welcome to anything I've got if it's helpful!
Can't wait to read your article!
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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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CrunchyMom
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| Posted: March 14 2008 at 12:44pm | IP Logged
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I really like the life skills aspect of Montessori. Reading about the theory has helped me make a more conscious effort not to interfere or correct my toddlers when they are learning to do something themselves.
Though I haven't succeeded yet in creating an ordered home, her views on order have really made me more aware of the influence my housekeeping can have on my children.
I also have a new awareness for how readily young children can recognize goodness, truth, and beauty. These ideas came along at a time when our family was trying to simplify, and it was encouraging to realize that a few well made playthings are better than a quantity of poorer ones.
I initially liked the more formal set-ups: preparing trays for specific play and instruction. A lot of that fell to the wayside with little brother making messes and mom's lack of discipline.
But, just this morning, I looked out the window to find my almost four year old crawling on his belly on the patio picking up all the loose little pebbles with tweezers and sticking them in the box from his new bug finding kit. It reminded me that while I can't recreate the perfect Montessori classroom in my home, a lot of her principles can still be applied. (And also how, though on the outside it may seem contrived, it must come from children's natural tendencies. I never suggested my son do that rather Montessori act--he came up with it himself!)
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Lindsay
Five Boys(6/04) (6/06) (9/08)(3/11),(7/13), and 1 girl (5/16)
My Symphony
[URL=http://mysymphonygarden.blogspot.com/]Lost in the Cosmos[/UR
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Mackfam
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| Posted: March 14 2008 at 1:00pm | IP Logged
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Mackfam wrote:
| This one I think covers more than most what you're looking for. |
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Oh dear. I hit post, and after re-reading that sounds so boastful! I didn't mean that my post was the "be all, end all" at all!!!! I was just typing in a hurry, and I only meant that of my posts, none of which are terribly inspirational, this one probably covered my why's more than any other of my posts.
Good grief! I'm so in need of half a brain cell and a little sleep!  
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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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mary theresa
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| Posted: March 14 2008 at 1:36pm | IP Logged
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Oh, I SO wish I had time to write all my thoughts!
Can I just do like Jennifer and link you to my blog? 
Here is my post on what I really feel is one of the most beautiful and richest notions in Montessori education: "Normalization."
Here's the excerpt from that post that probably explains the most what this gives to me in my parent as well as educator role:
"While the word "deviation" may sound harsh, this view sees detours as normal and healthy parts of the process of growth. Mistakes are -- dare I say this? -- a positive thing. They should always be handled in a positive way. A mistake is a sign that someone has attempted to do something on their own. They have tried. A mistake is an opportunity for more work to be done, and, for the child, and indeed for any human being, meaningful, rewarding, necessary work is the solution for and the way out of everything that is negative.
There should never be shame attached to making a mistake. For a child that is busy with the work of constructing themselves and finding out who they are this is so damaging. If a mistake means something to be ashamed of, the child will grow up learning to attempt to pass the blame to someone else, rather than being able to accept the responsibility for what he or she has done and fix it. Mistakes are normal and natural. Timidity, sloth, disorder, caprice -- these are the results in a person who does not see that this is so.
I have done much thinking over the past weeks on this meeting and what was discussed there. I have begun to see many problems in the world, in my family, and in myself in the light of this view of "normalization", peace, and making mistakes. I have been thinking of God and how He sees us as we struggle to attain peace or "normalcy" way into adulthood and beyond, not understanding what will bring us that peacefulness. How does God treat our mistakes? Have I ever seen mistakes in that way? I have been thinking of the child in my womb, and the little girl whose voice and footsteps brighten this home. How must I guide them to achieve this peace? How will they teach me along the way in my own journey?"
This is another post on specifically the Atrium/CGS, which was my first experience with Montessori and thus my main love.
Hope those are of use to you?
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Mary Theresa
mother to 3 little girls --March '06, Dec '07 and Jan '10
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montessori_lori
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| Posted: March 14 2008 at 2:36pm | IP Logged
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Oh, guys, this is fantastic! I will definitely be reading & re-reading these posts and your blogs in the next few weeks.
I think the Montessori community at large is sort of curious about homeschooling with Montessori and I hope to give them some insight.
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AndreaG
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| Posted: March 15 2008 at 3:29pm | IP Logged
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Cool, Lori! I'll try to come up with some coherent thoughts for you! Feel free to search the montessori posts on my blog too, though I think I post mostly just pictures.
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Andrea
GrayFamilyCircus
Read Through the Catechism in a Year- For Moms!
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AndreaG
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| Posted: March 24 2008 at 10:18am | IP Logged
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Ok, I tried to come up with some thoughts, I'm not too quotable these days either!
This is a very timely topic for me, as I have just gone through the experience of having to temporarily transfer all my schooling materials from the school room and school closet into the kitchen so that the floors could be refinished. It was a momentous task, and it left me wondering (as I spent hours putting various cylinder blocks, painted color tablets, art postcards, and envelope after envelope of laminated 3-part cards into boxes) just what exactly I was doing with all this Montessori STUFF??? Wouldn’t it be simpler and more efficient to just use workbooks?
And then I remembered some of the reasons I was originally attracted to Montessori, why I sought to implement it at home, and why I feel compelled- and I would even say “called”- to continue using Montessori materials and principles to educate my children.
I love that Montessori education is about discovery. I am not a teacher. I am not good at teaching, leading, or disciplining. I had real doubts about my ability to home school. It is a struggle for me to get my kids to brush their teeth, how was I going to handle formal lessons? I love that with Montessori learning to read, write, and do mathematics is as natural as a baby learning to talk. Homeschooling Montessori style is like an extension of mothering, preparing the environment so that the child can make discoveries and gradually build new skills. I enjoy my role of facilitator and guide rather than a traditional teacher.
Coupled with this freedom of discovery is a sense of order. I am horrendously disorganized; I knew Montessori would be good for me in addition to the children! With Montessori there are specific materials, introduced in a certain sequence in a certain way. Orderliness is emphasized and it is because of this order that so much freedom is possible. This freedom within limits seemed to be the best of both worlds when I first read about it, and after five years of learning about and using Montessori Methods I am still struck by the genius of it.
I also love that the Montessori Method is so developmental. Montessori’s theories about sensitive periods (periods where children are most capable and interested in learning certain skills) and planes of development really mesh with my understanding of childhood ages and stages that I studied as a child psychology major in college. Montessori developed her method and materials by observing children, and her method of education is uniquely suited to meet the needs of children where they are. I am constantly amazed that I am able to observe my own children coming up with their own “Montessori” activities: my toddler pouring water from one cup to another, my 3-year-old using a tweezers to put beads in a dish, and my 6-year-old sorting his rubber dinosaurs into carnivores and herbivores.
My appreciation of Montessori Education has only increased with time and experience. When I was starting out with my 3-year-old son, I was looking for a fun way to teach him, and Montessori seemed to fit the bill for the reasons I have described. If my first born had been more into workbooks and writing I might never have had the chance to learn about Montessori and I am so glad I did. As I have learned more and had the chance to observe my four children responding to this method I appreciate it on a much deeper level. Montessori really has become an underpinning of the way I am raising my children.
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Andrea
GrayFamilyCircus
Read Through the Catechism in a Year- For Moms!
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CatholicMommy
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| Posted: March 24 2008 at 12:39pm | IP Logged
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I very much want to post to this thread, as to why I chose Montessori intially and as an ongoing thing... which are also my reasons for ultimately taking the training... but I've been studying for my written exams and took part I this morning, so I'm "thoughted-out"!
I do look forward to contributing something in the very near future...
:)
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4Real Forums : Nurturing the Years of Wonder
Topic: Love Montessori? Tell Me Why!
