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LucyP
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I couldn't even think of a real title - sorry!
Can you just home educate with pens/paper, what you have in the house (pastas as manipulatives that kind of thing), story books, and talking? Our son seems to learn best that way to me, but it isn't a "curriculum", and he wouldn't be producing stuff on paper, and I have no idea how to teach a very anxious, oppositional little boy how to read, but well, the summer feels quite short as I look ahead to starting some learning in the autumn/winter.
I have been reading about Montessori and thinking it sounds good but I can't get my head around all the "bits" you need - the beads and so on and on and on, even the practical life bits I know ladies say they have picked up at thrift stores - where would I store them all? I tend to get overwhelmed by stuff and we live in a small small house and I have literally no budget to speak of.
BUT our son's therapist was saying that she thinks montessori would really work for our son's personality. And my heart sinks, thinking of all the stuff you need, and how it is a "system" and I don't like systems. So I am wondering, is there a really basic basic basic guide online so I could get a feel for things. I get so overwhelmed by all I have read and seen so far that I feel like a rabbit in headlights.
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montessori_lori
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What you're describing sounds like unschooling. It's not Montessori, since you do need the Montessori materials and theory to call it "montessori".
There are plenty of unschoolers who just use library books and the world around them as their classroom.
First of all, you can relax. No one "teaches" a child to read; they do it on their own, when they are ready. Some people give children up to the age of 12 to learn to read - that's too old for me, personally, but neither should you feel any pressure about WHEN it has to happen.
Start by reading to your son. Read, read, read. Read every day. Take a walk every day. Give him a tray of sand and have him trace letters and say the sounds. Gather stones and leaves and draw pictures of them. Dig in the dirt. Then read some more.
That's about it...he will learn without you having to "teach" him, and you will gain confidence as you go. He'll start coming up with his own ideas of topics to study. Throw in some math when you feel like it. But most of all, take a deep breath and have a great time.
You can Google "unschooling" to get info on that, too.
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MrsM
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Is your little guy starting kindergarten? If so, I think what you mentioned would work fine. Keep it simple and fun. We recently added some montessori pratical life activities into our home, and they are easy and cheap. Practice pouring with water, moving large glass beads from one bowl to another using a spoon, pouring beans through a funnel, etc.
Reading stories and manipulatives are key to kindergarten learning. Does he know the alphabet? You can use flashcards to introduce letters and sounds. All very low key.
So if you're talking kindergarten, I think you can relax and enjoy yourself. 
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JennGM
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Lucy,
How old is your son? Are we talking grade school curriculum or still preschool/Kindergarten age. Sorry, my mind is a bit fuzzy and can't remember...and the baby is on my lap, or I'd look it up.
I've had some discussions about this very same thing with others. I have a few thoughts, but remember that I'm no Montessori purist. I was just like you, trying to grasp Montessori and feeling overwhelmed by the technicalities and the cost.
First of all, Maria Montessori would be the first to say it's not about "the stuff" but it's her philosophy. And you can apply many of her ideas at home. The materials do have controls, so that helps in the child learning a concept by himself.
When Montessori philosophy originally came to the US in the early 1900s, it wasn't about all the materials. Kim at Starry Sky Ranch has recommended Dorothy Canfield Fisher's writings. She had some books for parents on how to incorporate Montessori in the home. Yes, she had some of the very basic traditional materials, but there was also some great philosophy that could be used at home.
With various historical events, Montessori faded from sight until around the 1960s. Maria Montessori first did her work for backward, underprivileged children and she had a Catholic focus in her work. By the 1960s most Montessori schools had been washed of its Catholic or Christian outlook, so that everyone could attend, and it became a more elitist type of education. And only real Montessori schools could afford the official Neinhuis type of materials which were well-made but expensive and many Montessori schools were destined to be for the "rich kids".
Now we have a surge of Montessori material manufacturers and many people with smaller budgets able to buy more. In my mind Montessori in this country has pressure from materialism and consumerism. The "stuff" is SOOO attractive. It's pretty, it's clean and streamlined, the shelves are orderly -- we all want it. And because the materials are more readily available, we feel like we could recreate a classroom.
But you don't want the home to be a classroom. If your child is young, you really can do simple things, like practical life with hardly anything at all.
Another author that will make you feel better is Elizaheth Hainstock. I love all her books, especially Teaching Montessori in the Home, preschool and elementary years.. Even her Essential Montessori is a breath of fresh air, because she gives a brief history of Montessori, how it was accepted in the US (I summarized above). She was harshly criticized for writing something for parents in the home. But her ideas to me are still quite refreshing, basic and mother friendly.
When I read Fisher's book, I was struck by how few basic materials there really are. I think you should remember that. You don't need them all. You are not recreating a classroom for multiple children, but fulfilling only your son's needs. So depending on what level he is, start there, and start with baby steps.
Kim at Starry Sky Ranch is a wonderful example of applying some of the ideas in the home on a shoestring budget and limited time. Take some time on her blog to draw out some GREAT, GREAT ideas.
And I could say the same about Theresa's LaPaz Farm blog also had some great practical ideas of making trays of materials out of a shoestring budget.
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montessori_lori
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For many of us (I know I speak only for myself), the materials are the philosophy. They're inseparable. However, I haven't tried to re-create a Montessori classroom in my home either, because of space and money considerations. I've chosen the most important materials that have the most uses and we get a lot out of them.
I'm not sure that Montessori is the route you want to go - or even need to go - to accomplish your goals. I'm a Montessori-trained teacher, and my homeschooling is about 70% unschooling and 30% Montessori. So there's a lot of room to do hands-on activities, field trips, etc. without having to bring Montessori into it.
Either way, there are lots of resources online - pretty much any concept or lesson you're thinking of doing, you can search for it and find something about it on the internet.
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JennGM
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I'm sorry, I went on and on about Montessori which isn't EXACTLY your question. When I reread your question I thought of Jennifer at S/V Mari Hal-O-Jen. She is the ideal for minimalism -- after all, there's not much space on a boat.
I saved this post on her boat schooling.
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JennGM
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Oh, I had this quote from Kim's blog marked. This is from Dorothy Canfield Fisher:
Quote:
The Montessori child at home
A child who is being trained in the Montessori system should also, as soon as it is at all possible, beging to share in the work of the household. If he is provided with a small broom and dustpan there is no reason why he should not keep his room fresh and clean and also clean up the litter of paper or dirt which he makes in the course of the day.
Pains should be taken to allow even the very little child to watch from a comfortable position any household operation in which he shows an interest. Fortunate indeed the child whose mother still cooks and sews and bakes and washes and allows her children to aid in these processes. Such children receive Montessori training without any formal apparatus.
-Dorothy Canfield Fisher 1913 |
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montessori_lori
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So, basically it comes down to how you define "formal apparatus". To me, sewing and washing work in the 3-6 classroom are every bit as much "Montessori materials" as the golden beads and movable alphabet. That's what I meant when I said you couldn't separate the materials out from the philosophy.
I've never said that families should go out and buy thousands of dollars worth of materials from Nienhuis et al. But if you are going to do Montessori at home, you will need some sort of materials, whether they're homemade or improvised or what have you.
Sorry, Lucy, that's not really related to your initial query but hopefully we've given you a starting-off point.
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doris
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I'm only a couple of years along from you, Lucy, but already I feel like I got anxious about the formal stuff much too quickly -- especially with my son.
I would relax and try to enjoy your time as much as possible. Am I right that he's only 4? If he's anything like my son, he won't be at all ready for formal sit-down stuff.
I did use Montessori Read and Write by Lynn Lawrence (sp?) and made my own sandpaper letters and a few games. I got my copy off ebay and there always seem to be a few on there. There's also a title called Montessori Play and Learn. Both give a quick overview of Montessori.
There are also plenty of games you can make with household items (edible ones go down especially well I find!).
If I were you I'd do a bit of gentle reading, maybe make a few games/activities over the summer, have a bit of a reading list for your son (Mater Amabilis is a great start) and basically relax!
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Willa
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When I read your question, Lucy, I thought of this post of Donna Marie's Leading the Curriculum. It was sort of a freeing post for me to read because it was about celebrating what you have around you and making use of it in a learning Montessori-inspired environment.
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Willa
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JennGM
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Willa wrote:
| When I read your question, Lucy, I thought of this post of Donna Marie's Leading the Curriculum. It was sort of a freeing post for me to read because it was about celebrating what you have around you and making use of it in a learning Montessori-inspired environment. |
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Yes, yes, and yes! Oh, I'm glad you remembered Donna's blog! Mea culpa, Donna! I've always been so impressed by how you make it work with what you have!
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Mackfam
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Lucy,
I'm going to ask too...how old is your little guy? Someone mentioned 4 - is that right?
I'm going to advocate the sit-back-and-relax-and-enjoy-this-time approach if he's 4.
Chances are, you already have a Montessori type environment in your home. Most of us do without really realizing it or labeling it as such. Does he help you with cooking at the counter? Sweep up after lunch? Stand at the sink and rinse dishes? If so - you have practical life covered.
Getting Montessori materials and philosophy in my home has been a bit of a journey for me, and I resisted at first. I put my heart half into it, not willing to make the time or effort investment required to really commit. I have a son that would not flourish under any other circumstances though. He needed to have his hands busy and doing something productive and real. He has to make learning connections on his own to see something in his mind - that cannot be accomplished for him on a worksheet. Montessori has been an answer to prayers for him - truthfully, I'd rather be reading or writing or drawing, but he needs to be doing. Could this be your son?
If he's 4, you have some time to look into this. Don't feel like you need to commit to an entire 3-6 Montessori program with all of its accompanying materials and presentations and shelves and mats and, and, and...
Why not just do some reading on Montessori's philosophy. I'm warning you - it is compelling. Just reading, just information seeking. See if it speaks to you and to the needs you see your son has. If it does, then perhaps start small with a few materials and do lots of reading and snuggling together. There's no rule that says that you have to have every single material out there! Montessori_lori has a very helpful section of her blog on Montessori Basics - including a post on essentials for the 3-6ers. It would be a good place to start. If it doesn't speak to his needs, do lots of reading and snuggling together. Nothing lost.
A few favorite reads:
The Montessori Method by Maria Montessori
The Absorbent Mind
The Essential Montessori: An Introduction...
Teaching Montessori in the Home: The Preschool Years
I don't want to overwhelm you with a list of books a mile long. These should give you a good introduction though - if that's what you're looking for. HTH! 
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LucyP
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Thank you thank you to you all. So much to follow up on and think about.
Our son is 4.5, a rather young four in many ways. He has to be "in education" by January 2009, and I'd like a slow start up for him.
I think he would do well with "stuff", rather than words and worksheets. From what I've read of montessori, the philosophy behind it and the doing-of-it, I think it would suit him. But I am struggling to imagine how to fund it and all the practical side of things. Plus dh is more of a classical inclination.
I don't know if unschooling is "us", as I am uptight, perfectionist, wordy, goal-orientated. Reading books, snuggling, drawing and art, nature walks, rhymes and games and following DS's interests just feels like what we do now and not like an "education".
With the difficulties of daily life, where every little thing can throw DS for a loop, I feel like I need a structure of some sort to "hold my hand" and keep me going. Yesterday I was with his therapist for a couple fo hours while the children stayed home with their daddy - both were nutjobs when they came to pick me up, and carried on that way all afternoon and evening and on through the night! I can't imagine how to build some learning opportunities into that chaos!
But yes, he does do a lot of practical things - washing little cloths, folding things, doing dishes, cooking, helping clean. And a lot of learning by talking. A lot of time looking at books and exploring things.
I need more time to really really think things through and get to grips with it all.
Thanks for the input ladies. I just love how helpful and wise you all are
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AndreaG
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Lucy,
Have you seen the book Natural Structure? I believe CHC sells, it, It combines Montessori with classical education, and uses cheaper alternatives to montessori equipment. It has a list of materials for each year.
I have intense/emotional children also especially my oldest, so I can relate to your concerns.
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Angel
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LucyP wrote:
With the difficulties of daily life, where every little thing can throw DS for a loop, I feel like I need a structure of some sort to "hold my hand" and keep me going. Yesterday I was with his therapist for a couple fo hours while the children stayed home with their daddy - both were nutjobs when they came to pick me up, and carried on that way all afternoon and evening and on through the night! I can't imagine how to build some learning opportunities into that chaos!
But yes, he does do a lot of practical things - washing little cloths, folding things, doing dishes, cooking, helping clean. And a lot of learning by talking. A lot of time looking at books and exploring things.
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Goodness, Lucy, I think you are raising a clone of my oldest! (Well, probably not, but it does sound familiar, and believe me, I can relate to chaos.  )
We decided to homeschool when my ds was about 4 because of the issues he was having at preschool. My ds has Tourette Syndrome/ADHD/sensory integration issues... and at 4, we were still dealing with late-talking... fine motor difficulties... but our real problem has always been his low tolerance for frustration, which used to result in enormous kicking-screaming-throwing things tantrums. He's always been *extremely* dependent on routine. He also had visual perpection problems, which meant he didn't read until age 8.5.
My own trip toward a more Montessori-inspired environment began with him, but it was only in the last 3 years that I started trying to implement shelves, etc. I do wish I had incorporated more Montessori into his learning routine earlier, because -- as you noted -- unschooling is tough when you have a little guy who really, really requires routine. But when the oppositional side kicks in -- well, having you be the one who dictates everything that he does, even in the gentle way undertaken by many moms on these boards, is probably not going to work either.
I think the most helpful thing I've gotten from Montessori is the concept *freedom within limits*. It's kind of a middle way, and gives me something to hang onto while I'm threading my way through all the chaos. While I do like the materials -- particularly as they apply to my 9 yo dd who really, really needs to learn with her hands -- I find that what has been most valuable to me is much more intangible.
I imagine that your therapist may be identifying your son's learning style as "hands-on" and "independent". I certainly do not think that Montessori is the only way to accomplish such an education, and in fact, when my ds was age 4-5, what we mostly did was read and look at books, follow his rather obsessive interests in flowers, ships, clocks, and calendars, play outside and go to the park a lot, do art (including activities that would improve his fine motor skills), bake, garden... and go to therapy appointments. I do wish that I had followed up my interests in a few things, like dressing frames and a true movable alphabet, but the plastic tactile letters I bought at a teacher supply shop worked okay, too.
As others have said, now is the time for you to read and educate yourself. Remember that you know your child far better than any therapist, so take what makes sense and leave the rest.
--Angela
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Katie
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You have received a lot of great advice. I won't add much to the Montessori debate, although I do integrate a lot of materials (bought and homemade) and the whole philosophy into our lives and our homeschool. I also understand the pressure to start "educating" in the UK earlier.
My children, with all their varying learning styles, like to produce something tangible. This has taken the form of lapbooks, notebooks, homemade books, and even workbooks. If I were you, I might buy a couple of blank or lined exercise books, and as you go about your day, your walks, your talks, find things to paste in the book. Have your son dictate stories to you, practice his letters, paste in his artwork. You don't need to separate by subject if you don't want to.
As the months progress, you can add simple math problems and words for your son to decode, just handwritten in his book by you. If he catches on, you can write little stories for him to read and gradually he may write more.
All this to say creating something tangible might help you feel that you are in fact "educating" and will give your son something to show off and be proud of, and be a record of his progress.
And some of our best homeschooling times have been when we have been somewhere with some white paper, a pack of coloured pencils, and a glue stick. So yes, it really can be done if you want!
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BrendaPeter
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AndreaG wrote:
Lucy,
Have you seen the book Natural Structure? I believe CHC sells, it, It combines Montessori with classical education, and uses cheaper alternatives to montessori equipment. It has a list of materials for each year.
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fyi - "Natural Structure" is OOP indefinately.
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BrendaPeter
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Willa wrote:
| When I read your question, Lucy, I thought of this post of Donna Marie's Leading the Curriculum. It was sort of a freeing post for me to read because it was about celebrating what you have around you and making use of it in a learning Montessori-inspired environment. |
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Oh Willa, thank you so much for that link! I hope it's okay to quote Donna but this was just beautiful:
I needed to go through my Montessori phase to have that kind of beauty and order in MY heart…then I had more insight as to how to present things to my dc as I observed they needed them.
I have really come to that conclusion myself as well. Since my youngest is 3 1/2 already, I often wonder why God led me down this path. Especially since I don't have the time or energy to delve into Montessori too deeply. BUT I do see such a purpose in it as it has changed the way I look at children and education.
Hope I'm not too OT here.
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SallyT
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Lucy, I'm trying to remember -- do they HAVE to be in reception by that age? Or can they do an extra year of nursery, or would he theoretically already have passed that point?
I wonder if it would help, if you haven't already, to sit down and think about what your goals are for your son's early schooling (and then maybe to separate the ideal goals from the ones you can realistically attain). If you know where you want and need to go -- realistically, given who your child is -- then it's a little easier to focus on ways of getting there, and to eliminate what you know in your heart WON'T get you there. You already have instincts about what will and won't work with your son at this stage, so let them inform your process of elimination with regards to methods and materials.
Snuggling, reading and playing may not sound like "education," but they are. You're nurturing your son's literacy by teaching him to love language through reading to him. That's something that happens in school (though not enough, and never with good enough books, IMO). You're nurturing his numeracy -- I still remember those key terms from my kids' time in school in the UK! -- by helping him to have fun counting, adding and taking away, seeing that numbers have reality. By playing with him and having him participate in daily family life you're helping him with socialization, life skills, and other things addressed in the formal classroom by the "home corner", "cooking time," and field trips. Seriously, my theory has long been that schools spend a lot of time attempting to replicate, in an artificial environment, what children would naturally do and learn from at home. So, you just do that, and you're doing more naturally what the schools are trying to do.
If you already love reading together, you can cover no end of bases: history stories, maths stories, science stories, geography stories, and so forth. The library can be your best friend and provide a very complete curriculum. We're very literature-based ourselves, which seems to work better with my 4 and 5yos than any kind of formal curriculum -- that, with some nature study and games and hands-on learning comprises our early-childhood program. The Mater Amabilis program does have an EXCELLENT booklist -- I second whoever recommended it.
The main thing is that you're laying the groundwork for the classical education you value by nurturing your children's love for learning. The rigorous formal work can come later. And when that time comes, you'll be amazed at how much they know from the things you've read them over the years -- fairy tales and history (my older kids adored an old Oxford Children's History book which narrated English history from Celtic times through the end of the Stuart dynasty), travel and adventure stories, maths stories . . . even though reading together doesn't FEEL like "education," if they love it, it's what will stay with them and make them want to learn more.
OK, I'm now trying to type around a "sleeping" baby doll, and there seems to be a blaster battle going on in the other room . . . also part of "early childhood education" around here!
Sally
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4Real Forums : Nurturing the Years of Wonder
Topic: Oh please someone help me!
