March

Life is busy with my Masters Program so enjoy some March shelves for now.

February Practical Life Shelves

New month means new works!

Art

 

Top Shelf- Art Mats, Tissue paper tearing and glue for card making

Bottom Shelf- Paper folding/drawing/cutting, Heart hole punching

 Practical Life

Top Shelf- Dry pouring, Wet pouring

Middle Shelf- Spoon transfer, Wet spoon transfer, Pouring and straining

Bottom Shelf- Tong transfer

Aha! Parenting- Choosing a preschool

A little while back I ran across this article from Aha! Parenting- Choosing preschool: Montessori vs. Gifted
which claimed that play-based learning is best for children.
The author mentioned how for children, their play is work. This reminds me of Montessori's findings. In her first school she offered children toys as well her famous materials. She found children gravitating away from the toys towards the learning materials.  They were thirsty for real things, no pretend things, and their work became their play.
The article continues on to discuss what is not so great with Montessori schools. How it is too rigid, 100 years old, and does not allow for creativity or play. Clearly as a Montessorian these are things I disagree with.
While I understand how it could be viewed as rigid (a child must have a presentation from a teacher before being able to do a work, materials are to be used for their purpose, etc...) it is often because the reasons why these things are in place in not known or understood. I would argue though, that the Montessori Method's age, is not a negative. What Maria Montessori found to be best for children a hundred years ago completely changed the way people viewed the young child and greatly influences how preschools are set up today (child sized furniture, freedom to choose, sensitive periods, the need for manipulatives, etc). Her findings continue to be relevant and continue to guide use towards a better understanding on the child and his development.
Montessori found that children thirst for freedom but this freedom (as it should be with adults) comes with boundaries for the benefits of the group. Freedom does not mean you get to do what ever you want!
Also as a scientist, Montessori based her method on observations of the child. She found that children needed to be based in reality first in order for their creativity and imagination to flourish.
The author concludes by mentioning how anyone can call themselves and Montessori school and that the most important factor then becomes the people in the school more than the philosophy. I would agree that the people are just as important as the learning. No matter the approach, a good or bad teacher can have a huge impact, as can a good or bad school community!
It thus becomes crucial for Montessori schools to be continuously working towards a better understanding and practice of the Method while building a strong and happy community!

QRIS and Montessori

QRIS or Quality Rating  and Improvement Systems are widely used in preschools and daycare settings throughout the country. There are many systems used such as ECERS (assessing environment, materials, curriculum, health and safety, parent relationship, management, and staff credentials) and CLASS (assessing interactions, language, and climate).
These systems offer ratings to different setting based on what is considered "best practice". While it is a good thing to keep establishments accountable, encourage progress and improvements, and assess current practices, these systems are primarily "play-based" centered. This often leads to Montessori settings receiving lower scores regardless of authenticity or quality.Many of these QRIS are becoming a part of licensing requirements.
As a teacher who has gone through the process twice (ECERS and CLASS) I have learned a lot. It has been a helpful experience in many ways and has shown me ways to become a better teacher and create a better environment. Yet I have also seen many core Montessori principles and practices being disregarded or rated poorly due to the systems' core focus on "play-based" practices.
This is an important topic for Montessorians to research and understand. We need to be aware of the changes coming up and how they will effect Montessori schools. We can use this as an opportunity to further the awareness of the method and better ourselves in the process.

For more details please check out the links below and share your thoughts and experiences!

Video from AMS and AMI/USA
 

Links
http://www.montessoriforward.org/
http://www.macte.org/
http://ers.fpg.unc.edu/node/324
http://www.montessoriratingscales.com/node/15

The Importance of Parent Education on the Montessori Method

The Importance of Parent Education on the Montessori Method

The Montessori Method offers a unique learning experience for students. Often parents choose to enroll their child in a Montessori program with minimal information on the depth and value of the method. Through parent education nights, Montessori schools hope to present parents with a deeper understanding of the Method. By presenting parents with more information, schools hope that parents and their children can get the most out of this form of education through a strong partnership and clear expectations. Research shows the importance of a parent teacher partnership in order to provide students with the best education possible. This illustrates the importance of connecting the school and the home environment. There are many ways for schools to achieve this.

According to the National Education Association, parent involvement makes a difference to children’s learning no matter the family’s income or background (NEA, n.d.). Plevyak (2003) warns of the many possible barriers such as cultural differences, fear of authority, and family problems that may be involved in parents’ lack of participation. Yet she also discusses how schools and teachers can find ways to overcome these barriers through an open and trusting environment and regular communication (Plevyak, 2003). This is a crucial first step in creating a relationship between home and school as well as involving parents more into their children’s education. When parents are involved in the children’s education, children tend to do better in school (NEA, n.d.).  

Parent involvement has shown to improve regular school attendance, higher grades, overall better social behavior, and increase graduation rates (NEA, n.d.). Yet parents’ involvement depends primarily on the school. There must be a system in place to give parents information, build relationships, and create a positive atmosphere for communication. According to the NEA (n.d.), this can be done through clear expectations of what parents should do, consistent communication, and well-planned events such as education nights, open houses, and family home visits.

Williams (2008) researches in depth the importance of knowing how parents and teachers perceive each other in order to break down any barriers and build a relationship of collaboration for the best for the students. In her research, she observes how often parents and teachers are seen to be enemies or at odds with each other (2008). This perception creates a dangerous barrier in education as parent involvement has been proven to impact student success (Hawes, Plourde, 2005). According to Williams (2008), the first step in breaking down barriers is understanding. Parents and teachers alike need to create a safe environment where both entities can share their beliefs on education and their goals for the school. This will allow for both sides to understand each other and from there begin a relationship.

The article, “Parental Involvement in Our School”, offers five strategies to build better relationships between parents and teachers (Rygus, 2009). The author proposes that first, the school must be a comfortable place, it must be a place for parents to communicate with each other and feel welcome into the school. The second and third strategies focus on creating an environment of trust where parents know they can discuss concerns and know you are around by seeing you regularly. Next, parents must feel valued and be able to participate in a variety of tasks. Finally, it is crucial to offer a variety of events to strengthen the relationship. These events can be casual as well as formal and should encourage parents’ participation (Rygus, 2009).

Every school should have a plan in place to achieve these goals. Being different from what most people have experienced, Montessori schools should go above and beyond these expectations.  Maria Montessori illustrates her belief on the importance of harmony between the school and the home in her book Dr. Montessori’s Own Handbook (1965). She reminds us that children need to learn in both places and finds many similarities between the two. Montessori’s schools or Children Houses were created specifically to bridge the gap between school and home and to create a safe environment where parents could trust their children to be cared for (Montessori, 1965). This remains a critical goal for Montessori schools around the world.

AMI USA’s article “Montessori in the Home: Why Family Matters” (2012) reiterates the vital importance parent involvement plays in a child’s future success in school. The article highlights Montessori’s foundation on universal human principles that not only relate to educational practices but also to ways of parenting (AMI USA 2012). When the school environment and the home environment are in harmony, following the same philosophies, children are more likely to fulfill their unique potential. AMI USA strongly underlines the importance of parents and teachers working as a team to help each other in order to help each child (AMI USA 2012).

In her study, “Public Knowledge of Montessori Education”, Angela Murray (2012), surveys people’s basic knowledge on what Montessori education is all about. In her findings, we see many important misconceptions and gaps of knowledge. Teachers in Montessori schools often find parents being unaware of key Montessori concepts and believing myths as seen in Murray’s survey. Anu Karna (2013) found that parents’ knowledge is often based on misconceptions. This creates a barrier which does not match what most parents want for their child. Karna highlights her desires for her child such as success, confidence, critical thinking, caring for himself and others, and a love of learning. She presents Montessori as the ideal method for her as a parent to offer all these life skills to her child. Schools need to present parents this ideal and to collaborate in order to foster in both environments these crucial life skills.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church (2011) clearly emphasizes the important role parents have in their children’s education. “Parents have the first responsibility for the education of their children. They bear witness to this responsibility first by creating a home where tenderness, forgiveness, respect, fidelity, and disinterested service are the rule” (Catechism, 2011, p. 537). Schools must not only respect parents’ roles but also be there to support them in educating their children. Educating parents on the Montessori Method and a school’s philosophy is one way this can be done.

Montessori schools have a responsibility to create a trusting and positive environment that offers parents information on the Montessori Method and builds a spirit of collaboration.  AMI USA (2012) proposes a large variety of ways to do this such as lecture, classroom observation, study groups, conferences, and open-houses. NAMC’s article, “A Montessori Approach to Parent Night: Tips for Community Building and Sharing Curriculum”, offers clearer details on how to present Montessori to parents (2012). The article proposes greeting parents as if they were students coming into the classroom and offering them presentations on authentic Montessori materials as well as allowing them time to work as their child does (NAMC, 2012). Many schools have put into place programs to support parent education. Edward Fidellow from Hillside Montessori School, has written an ebook called Becoming a Montessori Parent to further parent education and involvement in his school (Fidellow, n.d.). This is a valuable resource for all Montessori parents.

As of now, little to no research has been done specifically on the impact parent education programs have on boosting parents’ knowledge of the Montessori Method or involvement. Based on research, one can clearly see the importance of parent involvement and how it can be achieved. I plan to research how offering parents more opportunities to learn about Montessori can deepen their knowledge and strengthen their involvement in the school.

Reference List

AMI USA. (2012). Montessori in the home: why family matters. Retrieved from https://amiusa.org/montessori-in-the-home/

Catholic Church. (2011). Catechism of the Catholic Church. 2nd ed. Vatican: Libreria Editrice Vaticana.

Fidellow, E. (n.d.) Becoming a Montessori Parent. Hillside Montessori. Retrieved from http://hillsidemontessori.org/wp-content/themes/Avada/custom/eBook/Montessori-Parent-eBook.pdf

Hawes, C. & Plourde, L. (2005). Parental involvement and its influence on the reading achievement of 6th grade students. Reading Improvement, 42, 47-57.

Karna, A. (2013). Why Montessori? from a parent's perspective. Montessori Life 25.1  (Spring 2013): 24-29.

Montessori, M. (1965) Dr. Montessori’s own handbook. New York, NY: Schocken Books, Inc.

Murray, A. (2012). Public knowledge of Montessori education. Montessori Life. Spring:18-21.

NAMC. (2012). A montessori approach to parent night: tips for community building and sharing curriculum. Montessori Teacher Training. Retrieved from http://montessoritraining.blogspot.com/2012/10/a-montessori-approach-to-parent-

night.html#.Uoj7YOKomBV

NEA. (n.d.) Research spotlight on parental involvement in education. National Education Association. Retrieved from http://www.nea.org/tools/17360.htm

Plevyak, L. H. (2003).  Parent involvement in education: who decides? The Education Digest69.2 (Oct 2003): 32-38.

Rygus, E. (2009). Parental involvement in our schools. ATA Magazine. 10, 12-13

Williams, L. (2008). Parental Perceptions and Involvement. (Doctoral Dissertation). Retrieved from ProQuest Dissertations and Theses. (UMI No. 3325447)

Colorado Montessori Association

Check out my article on Authentic Montessori in Colorado Montessori Association's November Newsletter- Colorado Montessori Association

December- Parents' favorite month for discipline

In the last week of November the Elves on the Shelves have already come back as have Santa songs such as "Santa Claus is Coming to Town". This also brings for parents the easiest month for discipline.

The Elf on the Shelf, a sweet book which comes with a cute elf doll, has been quite the phenomenon for the past few years. After enjoying the story and naming the elf, parents place the elf in fun to find places throughout the house everyday. This shows how the elf moves around the house, gets into mischief, but most importantly spies on the little children and goes to tattle on them to Santa every night.
For more info- http://www.elfontheshelf.com/

The famous song-  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtytbHrs5RY&noredirect=1 reminds children that during the night or day, Santa's watching! What a great way to encourage positive behavior! You are being watched, all day and all night.... and the amount and quality of presents you will receive on Christmas depends on you behavior! But don't worry this form of discipline is not from your parents, they're just here to remind you. This does make for easier "discipline" for them but is it best for children?

While the book and doll are very sweet, there is something I find quite disturbing about the whole thing. Parents use this as their means of discipline during the holidays. It's a nice break from having to be the "bad guys".  All you have to do this point out to the children that their behavior determines the "gifts" they will receive and that they are being watched. This is very manipulative.

I see three things particularly wrong with this.

1. This is a complete misunderstanding of what discipline is. Maria Montessori saw discipline as in internal developmental process in which the child learns to control his impulses. She did not find rewards and punishments to be the way to achieve this. Discipline is a life long process and should not simply be the means to an end such as avoiding the tantrum in the store by threatening coal.


2. This is feeding children lies. While there is a beauty to the myth of Santa, why are we forcing children to believe this? This creates a lack of trust. It is very illogical. Why spend so much time making "Santa" real and no or little time on Christ who is actually real?! Children have a need for reality. Maria Montessori always emphasized children's need for reality.Anyone who has spent time with children will know that the line between reality and fiction is very blurry for young children (until about age 5-6).

3. Christmas is about Christ, the King of kings making himself man for our salvation. THE greatest gift of all. But we do not receive this gift because we "earned" it by being "good". A gift is receiving something even if we do not deserve it. It is something done out of love, not out of manipulation! A gift loses its meaning if it has to be earned. A true gift is free, with no strings attached, and with no expectation of anything in return.

Anyway, here are my thoughts. What is the real focus of Christmas? How do we make Christmas real for children? How do you celebrate Christmas with your children?

Edit- please note- I love St. Nicholas, he is a holy example of faith and generosity. I love teaching the children about him and loved when my dad would dress up like him and hand us out gifts. It is lovely to offer gift in remembrance of his life. This very different from Santa Claus (inspired by St. Nick) who is fictional.

Two other blog posts on the topic
http://nateandrachael.com/believe-or-not-to-believe-in-santa-claus/
http://jenhatmaker.com/blog/2011/11/29/the-christmas-conundrum