montessori and t

2011-08-05T13:27:00.000-07:00

This is a sweet photo of a student who just baked banana bread. She is in an all-day program, and baking is the best thing that ever happened to all-day Montessori. It is such a wonderful opportunity for the child to either contribute to the environment or to the family dinner or breakfast. We all want to feel like we have contributed in a meaningful way. The perfect project and, for me, the perfect snack at the end of the day.

The Value of Humility

2011-07-14T16:37:00.000-07:00

I have been considering the subject of compromise and humility lately. At the Aspen Idea Festival, David Brooks spoke about how we as a nation have turned away from the idea of humility, and into a nation concerned with self-empowerment. The sixties and seventies spawned the "me" generation. It seems everyone these days thinks they are above average in most ways. Most Americans feel that compromise is for those who are unsure or possess a weak opinion of themselves. There is a lot of ego involved in this self-confidence -- in effect saying, "I'm right and you're wrong". Yet, our forefathers compromised heavily to create our nation. They were humbled by the task and held the notion that we were all created equal, with valid points of view. We show our intellect when we acknowledge that others may have ideas that are relevant, and perhaps, ideas that even lead us to change our outlook. We show our compassion when we give up a little for the greater good. I know that in our Montessori schools we present the art of compromise every day. We respect others and their opinions. Sometimes, the solution the children arrive at involves giving up a little, and acknowledging the needs and wants of others. Most often, we become aware that everyone possesses wants and needs, and the trick is discerning the difference. See the David Brooks speech below.

Another Year

2011-06-14T11:24:00.000-07:00

What a great school year we had! I have only been off two days and I am already missing all the funny and thoughtful things the children say and, of course, all their hugs! Here are the graduates and a few of their activities: baking, writing, enjoying our feast together, celebrating birthdays, and visiting the elders. They are a strong and self-assured group, more than ready to make the world a better place!

Preschool Pays Off

2011-06-10T07:19:00.000-07:00

Today in the Minneapolis StarTribune there was an article on a study the University of MN did on preschool efficacy. Again, as in other studies, the importance of preschool to later adult success was noted. It is obviously necessary to find a way to offer all children the opportunity to go to a quality preschool. When these studies are coupled with the brain research studies that are mapping the young child's brain, the evidence points to a Montessori approach. We have a responsibility as educators to find avenues that lead to at least the possibility of a Montessori early childhood experience for all children. Here is a link to the article: http://www.startribune.com/nation/123589354.html.

The Whole, Wide World

2011-06-01T19:23:00.000-07:00

I wanted to share this with you to note my sister's work. Years ago, after she returned from a Peace Corps assignment she made this scaled copy of the world. While she was in Cameroon, she helped paint a larger version of it on the side of her village school. It makes me happy to see this painting in our Casa. It almost feels like the earth itself is looking over, protecting, and blessing our environment. It also is a great reference tool and conversation starter. What a very cool planet we live on. That is my assistant of nine years with two of our children in the photo.

Sunnier Days

2011-05-31T03:48:00.000-07:00

Being that it is "supposed" to be spring, we have been working on the flower in our Casa. One of the children took this work a step further. I have classified cards of the scientific names of flower shapes. This child did watercolor renditions of the flowers and labeled them. As much as it has rained this spring, this work brought a ray of sunshine to the day.

Back on the Farm

2011-04-20T18:36:00.000-07:00

A few pictures say it all. We had a great day out in the country. The children saw, fed, touched and interacted with chickens, cows, sheep, lambs, HUGE dogs, pigs, and also cooked and planted seeds. All in a day's work on the farm.

Empathy in Action

2011-04-09T18:12:00.000-07:00

Last week, I overheard this conversation: "I feel like nobody likes me, " states one girl. "Why do you feel that way?" asks another. "I don't know." A third girl says, "It seems like you need a hug." "Group hug!" they exclaim. Everyone then goes back to their work. I don't care how many tests these girls score 100% on, or how many times they win sporting events--the perfection of this exchange tops all of that. In its essence, this is how education prepares a child for life.

Still "Good at Doing Things"

2011-04-05T19:38:00.000-07:00

I wanted to remind all of you of the wonderful resource we have in Dr. Steven Hughes. As a pediatric neuropsychologist, he has special insight into what school environment is the best for children. He became a huge proponent of the Montessori method as he noted that two facts: how the method correlated to the actual stages of the development of the brain, and how a Montessori education emphasizes what parents, children and teachers find to be important for success in life. Here is the recording of his entire talk. It takes a while to get going, so be patient! Check out his website, goodatdoingthings.com for other information.

Good at Doing Things: Montessori Education and Higher Order Cognitive Functions from Steve Hughes on Vimeo.

Meditation and Children

2011-03-26T12:29:00.000-07:00

We have been using meditation as a tool in our Casa to relax and release stress. Our favorite chant is "Om Shanti," with the "om" indicative as the sound or symbol of the universe, and "shanti" meaning deep peace. It is usually chanted in threes. We use a song from a yoga cd that we like. Our children are beginning to go off and take a few minutes to meditate when things in the Casa are too loud or chaotic for them, or when they need to calm themselves because they are frustrated over some incident. I hope we can all carry some sort of coping device within ourselves that helps us be calm, relaxed, and aware of the great gifts inside and around us. I came across an article about meditation and children that you might enjoy: http://www.mumzine.com/2010/06/02/benefits-of-meditation-for-children/. The photo is from a children's meditation garden in Wimbledon, London. They are a Buddhist club, but I think it would be lovely to develop meditation gardens in our Montessori schools, complete with a labyrinth! I know I would love to spend a portion of each day there.

Hands

2011-03-25T07:10:00.000-07:00

I had to post this beautiful poem by Sara Kay, as hands are the cornerstone of our Montessori work. Montessori says, "The hands are the instruments of man's intelligence," and "The human hand allows the mind to reveal itself." In a myriad of ways, our hands create lasting expressions of life, both concrete and abstract. For more Sara Kay, see the TED website.

Interpreting the Farm

2011-03-25T06:40:00.000-07:00

I had to share this rather humorous take on the farm. This child has only been presented through the preposition, so there are a few mistakes, for all you Montessorians out there. She decided to embellish her work by drawing pictures of the animals. I think it says, "The pig is feeding her pigs. The geese ate the mother dog. The horse is standing on the barn and the geese on ________. The big fat _________ fainted on Sunday and the donkeys on _______________________ in the barn." If you have any ideas to fill in the blanks, let me know by commenting!

More Bunny Love

2011-03-19T07:44:00.000-07:00

Can you stand the cuteness! Marley, our rabbit, is going on five years. He is a Mini-Rex and their lifespan is 5-7 years. Get ready for the tears when the big day comes! I hope he takes a cue from our guinea pig Robby and lives much longer than predicted. Robby lived to be 9 or 10, which is extremely long for a guinea pig. Cross your fingers for Marley--he turns 5 on July 4!

Tea Time

2011-03-13T11:07:00.000-07:00

There has been a lot of tea work in our room lately. It is a lovely activity. We use herbal tea and have an airpot of warm water. The children prepare the tea, and while it is steeping, they may invite a friend to share teatime with them. After they prepare the tea table, they clean up their work, bring the tea to the table, and enjoy the time with a friend. The sort of crumbly cheese snack in the middle photo is a quesadilla, which is another activity in our room.

Searching for Spring

2011-03-10T15:19:00.000-08:00

We are all a little winter weary in our Casa. We put the window washing work out in hopes of spring cleaning being just around the corner. I love the juxtaposition of the spring dress and kelly green tights against the window and the never-ending snow. On this same day, we also started some seeds. Now, all we need is a little sun and a little luck.

Честита Баба Марта-- Happy Baba Marta

2011-03-01T18:11:00.000-08:00

Today we celebrated Happy Grandmother March (a Bulgarian holiday) in our Casa, as one child's mother is originally from Bulgaria. Here is what skyscrapercity.com has to say about the holiday:

Martenitsa (Bulgarian: мартеница /ˈmar.tɛ.ni.ʦa/, plural мартеници, martenitsi) is a small piece of adornment, made of white and red yarn and worn from March 1st until the 22nd March (or the first time an individual sees a stork, swallow or budding tree). The name of the holiday is Baba Marta. "Baba" (баба) is the Bulgarian word for "grandmother" and Mart (март) is the Bulgarian word for the month of March. Baba Marta is a Bulgarian tradition related to welcoming the upcoming spring. The month of March, according to Bulgarian folklore, marks the beginning of springtime. Therefore, the first day of March is a traditional holiday associated with sending off winter and welcoming spring.

We made our own martenitsas in our room, and welcomed the first day of March, which was sunny and warm. Hopefully, spring is on the way soon!

Continents and Confusion

2011-02-27T08:31:00.000-08:00

This continent work has been popular in our Casa lately. The children punch out the continents in colors that correspond with the puzzle map, cut out the hemispheres, glue the continents on the hemispheres, and label the continents. My trainer always said we MUST NOT do this because the punched continents are not accurate representations of the continents. However, many of my colleagues (AMI and AMS) offer this activity so I decided to try it. It does seem to give the children a real and remembered sense of the continents and their names. I always try to help the children realize what our continent is in relation to country, state (in our case) and city. On Thursday I asked a small group, "What is our continent?" Most replied with our city name, finally, "North America!" "Okay, what is our country?" City names again, then, from the same child, "United States!" "Okay, what state do we live in?" A few missteps but eventually, "Minnesota!" "And what city are we in?" Thank goodness they got that. I then went the other way, what city, state, country, continent. My last question was, "And what planet do we live on?" Someone shouts out, "The Sun!" I've got some work to do.

A Truly Logical Consequence

2011-02-26T08:20:00.000-08:00

I thought you might enjoy seeing our little baking set-up. We've been making tortillas (gluten-free) for some time now. The children use them later to prepare quesadillas for a snack. This looks like a fairly successful baking adventure as I don't see flour all over the floor. Rice flour can be extremely slippery. Yesterday two children had "accidentally" spilled all of their flour and were slipping around on it as they "cleaned" up. I just said, "Oh, it looks like you could use some help cleaning up," and we moved on. Later, one of the children said, "Where are my tortillas," and was truly confused. I said, "Remember, your dough fell all over the floor?" He wore such a crestfallen look. I love it when logical consequences are actually natural. There was no need for any further words.

Serendipitous Success

2011-01-31T16:12:00.000-08:00

We have a Parent Night every school year where the children show their parents the room and the work. We teachers and assistants sit back and let the children take the lead. It is sometimes necessary for me to sit on my hands as I see: 1) Children using the material incorrectly, and 2) Children choosing material that they have never been presented! Imagine my delight (all you Montessorians will understand) when this girl went up to the sandpaper letters, traced them, and told her parents the sound! I'm glad I decided to display the letters this way. It takes up a great deal of space but gives the letters the importance they deserve.

Vertebrate Floor Mat

2011-01-29T08:37:00.000-08:00

This is a project we created for a fundraiser our school is having. Each Casa donates a project for the live auction. We decided to do a canvas floor mat of the five animal vertebrates. We used primed canvas and cut a square.

We folded the canvas into a square and used a pencil attached to a string to cut our circle. The children help cut it out and lay it down.

Next, we paint on the background color with acrylics.

I pencil in the basic design that we devise, and the painting begins! We use the fractions of five to draw evenly spaced lines for the five spaces by setting the fraction in the middle and extending the lines.

After the basic design is done, I pencil in the animals and the children paint them.

We paint the outer border next.

I add details to the animals, do the lettering, we edge with binding, and add a coat of polyurethane. Voila!

Baby Penguins are Chicks

2011-01-26T19:34:00.000-08:00

I forgot all about this sweet (and very short) video a parent made for me. The children remind me of giant penguins--just hanging out and having a good time!

Inclusion

2011-01-23T16:09:00.000-08:00

I went to a great workshop yesterday on Special Needs Children and Montessori. Dr. Ann Epstein from the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse was the presenter. She is a former Children's House teacher so she had wonderful ideas for making special needs work in the Montessori environment. One school she mentioned that has had much success with special needs and inclusion is www.raintreemontessori.org. Topics of discussion at the workshop: Risk Factors, Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (United States), Assessing Special Needs, Cognitive Disorders and Delays, Inclusion, Learning Disabilities, Behavioral Disorders, Sensory Integrations Disorder, Autism and Asperger's, and Partnering with Families. I hope to blog on some specific disorders and the adaptations in the Montessori environment in the future. What a great resource: a Montessori teacher with a doctorate in Special Education!

Who is the love?

2011-01-15T15:42:00.000-08:00

One of my students came in at four years old knowing all her letter sounds with the manuscript letters (we generally present cursive first but I always check to see what they know when they are older). I dictated the first phrase and then got busy with something. She came up with the second phrase.

Tests Are Not The Thing

2011-01-10T15:09:00.000-08:00

This is an excerpt from Dan Pink's (wrote A Whole New Mind) blog at www.danpink.com. Brian Greene is an amazing physicist whose books include The Elegant Universe and Fabric of the Cosmos (fabulous reads). As one commenting reader says (and I paraphrase), "If Brian Greene says it, I'm going with it.

December 22nd, 2010

Interview exchange of the day

From Deborah Solomon’s New York Times Magazine interview with superstar physicist Brian Greene . . .
SOLOMON: Do you think SAT scores define intelligence?
GREENE: No. They define the capacity to answer questions on an SAT test.

Just another reminder that the tests are not the thing.

What Makes You a Good Parent?

2011-01-01T10:22:00.000-08:00

In the November 2010 issue of Scientific American Mind a new study is covered that examines what makes a good parent. Notably, the number two attribute is managing stress for yourself and your children. The number three attribute is having good relationships with people both in and out of the home, as opposed to a more child-centered relationship model. Take a look at the article at: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=what-makes-a-good-parent. Here is the list of the top ten attributes:

1. Love and Affection.

2. Stress Management.

3. Relationship Skills.

4. Autonomy and Independence (treating your children with respect and trust).

5. Education and Learning.

6. Life Skills.

7. Behavior Management.

8. Health.

9. Religion.

10. Safety.

Here is a link to take Robert Epstein's (author of the article) parenting test: http://myparentingskills.com/. For those of you who are teachers, this might be an interesting conversation on a parenting night.

Practical Life in Practice

2010-12-28T19:17:00.000-08:00

One favorite activity in our Casa is window cleaning. We have been using the cake cleanser from www.montessoriservices.com and the children enjoy using it. It leaves a residue that takes a bit of elbow grease to remove, so we use paper towels to polish the windows, and it works well. We often need to direct the children back to the work, with a comment such as, "I think you missed a small area, here, let me help you," or some such thing to help them really remove all the polish the first few times they do the activity. I have also included a photo of our cookie baking. We are making tortillas from scratch right now for a baking activity but we also added cookie baking. We have the children make a huge batch of gluten-free cookie dough (we have celiac disease in our Casa), and then they separate it into small amounts to be used for individual baking, wrapping them in cling wrap and storing them in the refrigerator. The children roll out the sugar cookies and then use cookie cutters. I love seeing them in the bakers hat, apron, and oven mitts that my assistant makes. You can find them at www.threadcreationsbywendy.com.

Sponges for Practical Life

2010-12-27T08:28:00.000-08:00

This a sample of the sponges we've been making. On the premise that you never know what is going to excite a child's interest, we cut the sponges to fit the containers and relate to the activity. I purchased these flat sponge sheets through http://www.ellisoneducation.com/catalog?w=sponge&submit.x=0&submit.y=0&per_page=24. Although they were a bit expensive (I believe $15 a package), I bought a package of assorted colors that I suspect will last two to three years. Our school is on break right now, and we are having a fabulously snowy winter, so it is back to material making for me!

Peace on Earth

2010-12-21T18:16:00.000-08:00

I couldn't resist taking this photo today while these girls were completing the third color box with the globe as the center. As another year ends, I look forward to a new year, and the chance for peace on earth. I believe that within the hearts and minds of all our Montessori children lies the best chance for a peaceful world.

Animal Class

2010-12-18T07:31:00.000-08:00

This presentation took an unexpected turn. I gathered a group to review the classes of the vertebrates. This led to the children wanting to do research: drawing a picture of an animal and writing a sentence or two about the animal. This particular child decided to write about the horse and took a different direction than the rest. You never know what will lead to inspiration! The translation of the text is: "I love you Rock Pony."

Going Back to Move Forward

2010-12-12T19:16:00.000-08:00

It is interesting to see the older children go back to material they used when they were younger and manipulate it in a different way. Here, one of the children decided she wanted to know which tower of cylinders was the tallest. She persevered in stacking the blue cylinders, which is difficult because they all have the same diameter. She has since went back to this work several times, and added measuring items around the room and writing the measurements down. The other photo shows one of the children going back to the puzzle that illustrates the parts of the horse. He spent a long time looking at the bones under the puzzle pieces before replacing this puzzle and going through the other vertebrate puzzles. I asked him what he was doing (when he was in transition) and he said "just looking at the puzzle." I wonder what connections he made. I'm glad we have the time to "just look."

Praise Junkies

2010-12-07T15:31:00.000-08:00

At our third Parent Partnership meeting we discussed Chapters 2 and 3 of Alfie Kohn's, Unconditional Parenting. One difficult aspect of this book is all the "bad" stuff (mistakes parents make), is put before all of the "good" stuff (practical advice on better parenting).
One idea that stood out for us was that the words "good job" can be powerful. Do these simple words give the impression to our children that we love them more when they are doing what we deem as "good" and love them less when they are doing what we see as "bad?" It is hard to know, but we do run the risk of turning our children into "praise junkies," or people that perform only for some sort of reward. The intriguing part of this is that by continually praising our children, they can become afraid to take risks. They do not want to fail and lose the praise, so instead they do what comes easily to them so that they can win approval, or grades, or whatever the reward is. It is easy to see what a death knell that could be for innovation and creativity. We also talked a bit about food. Most research agrees, children eat what they need over a period of days, as long as what is in front of them is healthy. Adults often feel the need to control a child's intake, but the result can be a pattern of struggles over food, leading to eating disorders. When young children are not given the opportunity to self-regulate, they often lose their innate ability to do so, and become obese. That young children have an innate ability to self-regulate is another marvelous example of how nature has provided for the development of humans. We decided to work through Chapters 4,5,6, and 7 for next time so that we can get to the good stuff! We are looking forward to some positivity!

Thanks For Patience

2010-11-30T14:59:00.000-08:00

We had a great Thanksgiving Feast this year. The children prepared baked macaroni and cheese, fruit salad, baked potatoes, turkey loaf, cranberry sauce, corn, and had ice cream for dessert. We made new tablecloths (although we didn't finish the napkins), little pilgrim hat place cards, candles and arranged mums in vases and pumpkins. I had planned for us to sing our Thanksgiving song before our meal but one of the older children said, "Let's hold hands and each say what we are thankful for." The list included the usual things: family, friends, food, love, etc. However, one child added that she was thankful for patience for her mom. Rather a sophisticated idea for a four year old! Patience is indeed a blessing.

Alphorns

2010-11-22T05:58:00.000-08:00

I had to share this quick video with you. On Saturday, we had an International Family Fun Fest that featured six countries (one from each continent), and Switzerland was one of the countries. We were lucky enough to find Swiss Alphorn players to demonstrate their instruments.

Two Cool Things

2010-11-16T17:49:00.000-08:00

Isn't this the coolest use of the pentagon? One of my artist friends told me it is extremely difficult to envision an existing object in a totally new way. The soul of an artist. The second cool thing was the answer one of my children gave to a visitor. The visitor wanted to do a difficult activity, and my student told her it was probably a bit too hard. When the visitor said, "But I'm five!" my student said, "It doesn't matter how old you are, it matters what you know how to do." Enough said.

Channeling Beethoven

2010-11-13T09:43:00.000-08:00

I had to pass on this video I found on Yahoo. As a parent, musician, and Montessori guide I find this child to be amazing. The full embodiment of emotion, physicality, and interpretation here is astonishing. This child embodies Beethoven, and perhaps is even channeling him! I've had musical children in my environments but this child is exceptional. I hope he is composing music--he needs our Montessori music materials and we may need to add conducting to our repertoire of presentations! I love how he is moving and exercising so intensely, yet remains firmly planted on his little conducting stand. Enjoy!

Nature Rules

2010-11-11T19:05:00.000-08:00

The children at our school have a wonderful manufactured playground, yet often choose to play in the woods and on the stumps of trees. I think it is one more case of that which is authentic and real always trumps manufactured and simulated.

Humans Love Each Other

2010-11-07T17:07:00.000-08:00

This is a sample of writing from a developing author. I love using pictures to inspire the children's writing. The top one reads, "Humans are mammals. Humans love each other (did you translate that)? There is a maturity in the insight that although humans are mammals, love elevates us. The other reads, "Cats love milk," (again, I'm sure milk sometimes sounds like "melc"). I'm excited to read this child's writing as her small motor skills develop, and her ability to compose continues.

Helping Children Flourish

2010-11-06T08:08:00.000-07:00

We had our second parent education meeting and book club on Thursday. We are discussing Alfie Kohn's book Unconditional Parenting. As one parent noted, his approach is very different from what we've been taught about parenting in the past, which tends to be very behavior-oriented. In other words, many parenting directives are intended to get children to comply with our expectations, as opposed to focusing on what the child needs or is feeling. We discussed our long-term objectives for our children, and examined how our contributions can help lead to those outcomes. We asked ourselves, "How do we help a child develop traits like independence, happiness, patience, responsibility and confidence?" Certainly not by getting the child to always do only what we want. If we place a premium on obedience, we may be helping produce a child who is blindly obedient not only to us, but to others. We may also produce a child who believes they are loved only when they act the way we demand, or when they perform well in school or at sports. We discussed the importance of unconditional love, or loving a child for who they are, and as they are. This sort of love is not tied to what they do. This love allows a child to flourish, because they are freer to accept themselves and others as fundamentally "good" people. However, unconditional parenting is not about letting children do whatever they want. Kohn says, "It's very important (once the storm has passed) to teach, to reflect together . . . Whatever lesson we [hope] to impart [is] far more likely to be learned if the child [knows] that our love for her [is] undimmed by how she had acted." We are covering Chapters 2 and 3 next month, which focus on giving and withholding love, and too much control.

The Line

2010-11-01T17:55:00.000-07:00

We love to walk on the line. Dr. Montessori noted how children loved to perfect their balance and carriage by balancing and walking on the natural lines in nature. As we Montessorians know, she incorporated this phenomena in the environment with a walking line, painted or laid down with tape. The children develop control of their body, balancing with grace. Eventually, other challenges are added, such as holding a full glass of water without spilling, or balancing a bean bag on the head while walking on the line. My own children love to walk to music where they walk, march, run on their tip-toes, process and skip. Hopefully, we will progress to the aforementioned challenges as the year goes on. I notice that the children are refreshed and focused after walking on the line. Maybe it is time for all work places to have a walking line!

Lunch

2010-10-28T14:45:00.000-07:00

We've been working really hard on coming up with a better lunch procedure. My school planned a visit to Chicago to visit Countryside Montessori, and I remembered I had viewed a video of their All Year Montessori lunch procedure. I re-watched it and liked it, and decided to have my children watch it. They liked the ideas they saw, and we are now implementing this procedure. It is not without its difficulties, but it is working better that what we were doing, which was having each child clean their own plate, cup and flatware, and then sweep and crumb their own area. I love the communal spirit of the new procedure. Our children bring their own lunch to school, so that aspect is different. We also do not have any napping children this year. We do empty the food from the lunch boxes onto the plates, and throw any trash away before we start lunch. We also use tablecloths, cloth napkins, a full set of flatware, and glass plates and cups. Before we eat we say together: "We wish for peace, food, happiness, and love for all the children of the world." I added the Countryside video to my video bar, and also have it here for your viewing pleasure.

A Little Mysterious

2010-10-23T09:58:00.000-07:00

These photos are from a day we spent at a farm. We went on a hayride, picked pumpkins and other gourds, found out why certain vegetables and/or fruits sink or float, and walked in a corn maze. It is always a beautiful thing to get outside and connect with nature. This place is a small organic farm that is filled with love. Definitely a happy place. When I look at the photo of the child in the corn maze I wonder if that is how the whole world seems to a small child-- giant and a little mysterious.

Work the Natural Way

2010-10-18T17:17:00.000-07:00

I love the old photos of Montessori children working outside. We often bring our work outside and the beautiful fall has prolonged our use of the outdoor garden. In winter we do get the chance to use the area but in a different way. Notice our corn in the background. We were able to use the corn for activities in the room. We have yet to dig up our sweet potatoes but Thanksgiving is around the corner!

Who Needs Flour?

2010-10-14T16:52:00.000-07:00

This young man and another young lady were baking today. They were pretty much on their own, as my fabulous assistant was gone. When the baking trays were removed from the oven, the scones were pretty much a lump of raisins with butter bubbling all around them. "Hmmm," I said, "What do you think happened?" After some discussion, they realized they had not added the flour. "Do you want to try again?" I asked. "YES!" they beamed. The second time around the scones were perfect! I'm so glad they had the opportunity to experience a mistake. I'm also glad they had the time to work on their skills. We are often in such a hurry, or so overly solicitous that our children never experience failure. This was a happy failure on all sides.

Turning the Key

2010-10-09T15:27:00.000-07:00

We had our first "Parent Partnership" meeting last Thursday. We are focusing on Alfie Kohn's book, Unconditional Parenting, but also leaving time for guest speakers and Montessori education. We will meet once a month. We devoted the first third of the meeting to finding out what parents are looking for and to an overview of the book. The last two-thirds of the meeting was an overview of the environment, with lots of pictures. I sense that the Alfie Kohn material will provoke a lot of good discussion, as parents who were already reading the book had some emotional responses to the material. Of course, the parents love seeing photos of their children doing the work in the environment and learning why it is important. We showed many photos of children concentrating. Concentration is so amazingly important to the child. Once the child begins to concentrate, the real work of developing the intelligence can begin. We guides have the responsibility to find the work that helps the child turn the key and open the door to concentration.

Where Did All the Acorns Go?

2010-10-06T16:55:00.000-07:00

We went on a lovely walk today to look for acorns for a project. It was a beautiful day, with a light breeze and sunny skies--but no acorns! Usually, we are inundated with acorns but not this fall. Any theories? Too many squirrels? Global warming? Oak tree pests? Let me know. I love acorns.

Twice is Nice

2010-09-29T17:46:00.000-07:00

This photo makes me laugh. One of the children decided to do cloth washing, which is a big job. She wasn't doing just little cloths and doilies, but all our laundry, including hand towels and tablecloths. In another area of the room, I was folding laundry with a different child. As we put our folded towels into piles he kept saying, "Now I'll bring these to the library," which I assumed was the drawer and the shelves where the cloths belong. However, he was bringing them to the cloth washer, who then proceeded to wash all the clean laundry! Note my assistant's reaction. All in a day's work!

Learning To Move Again

2010-09-28T14:52:00.000-07:00

Our school and an assisted-living community have a long-standing relationship. At our orientation, the wonderful activities director talks about the elders and the changes they may be going through. The children try a walker, a wheelchair, and some funny glasses to approximate what an elder may be experiencing. They learn to be quite respectful and empathetic to their new friends. Here is a really short video:

Waiting for Montessori

2010-09-21T18:42:00.000-07:00

This trailer for Waiting for Superman made me cry. Another good movie on reforming education. Another opportunity for Montessori education to take the lead.

A Beautiful Mind

2010-09-18T09:56:00.000-07:00

The children are always drawn to beauty. Maria Montessori observed this years ago but it still feels like a revelation each time I see it in practice. Sometimes I've wondered if I'm too concerned with each little detail but when I see the children notice a lovely button, a carefully painted leaf, or a graceful pattern on an apron, I'm glad I took the time to beautify the environment. The children also show loving care to a healthy green plant, or a flower. My wonderful assistant provided the flowers that one girl is arranging and the other is "pounding." Using a small floral craft hammer she imprints the flower onto a piece of muslin. It is then suitable for framing, or making a small pillow or pincushion. Montessori writes, "The human hand allows the mind to reveal itself." In these children what I see revealed is diligence, cooperation, artistry, and so much more. How beautiful is the mind of the child!

Mature Enough

2010-09-12T16:58:00.000-07:00

There is new brain research using magnetic resonance imaging that can predict a person's maturity. The possible uses? Well, if you could identify an immature portion of the brain, you could use techniques that help that part of the brain mature. Ultimately, the research could provide imaging useful to treating autism and other brain disorders at a young age. So far, the research begins at age seven but is continuing. You can read the whole article in the current issue of Science magazine, however, it is a bit dense:

Group functional connectivity magnetic resonance imaging (fcMRI)studies have documented reliable changes in human functionalbrain maturity over development. Here we show that support vectormachine-based multivariate pattern analysis extracts sufficientinformation from fcMRI data to make accurate predictions aboutindividuals’ brain maturity across development. The useof only 5 minutes of resting-state fcMRI data from 238 scansof typically developing volunteers (ages 7 to 30 years) allowedprediction of individual brain maturity as a functional connectivitymaturation index. The resultant functional maturation curveaccounted for 55% of the sample variance and followed a nonlinearasymptotic growth curve shape. The greatest relative contributionto predicting individual brain maturity was made by the weakeningof short-range functional connections between the adult brain’smajor functional networks (September 10, 2010). Yikes (that is my comment).

This link provides the Businessweek analysis of the information (a little more my speed): http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/healthday/642966.html. The down side? Do you really want to know the maturity level of your partner? Yourself? I find the neuroscience that is emerging amazing. But, as Maria Montessori's approach has proven, an astute observer is worth over one hundred years of brain imaging.

Race to Nowhere?

2010-09-08T15:41:00.000-07:00

I don't know a lot about the movie "Race to Nowhere" but it has piqued my attention. Someone in the trailer asserts, "We need to redefine what success means for our kids." I've long thought that the educational system in the USA needs a complete overhaul, and I don't mean more testing. Of course, I believe Montessori is the best alternative route for us to follow. If we need creative,collaborative, resilient, motivated problem-solvers to ensure our economic future, look no further than Montessori graduates. We can't raise a generation of children afraid to make a mistake. Mistakes take us to the next level, which is sometimes a level we couldn't earlier even envision. Albert Einstein famously said, "Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new." Take a look at this trailer and see what you think.

In Celebration of Music

2010-09-05T10:37:00.000-07:00

I am a music lover. I study voice, play the piano and play the guitar (at school only for the guitar part!). I have spent years doing musical theater and I have also dabbled in strings. Now, I found the perfect book to explain the beauty of music to the children. The Blessing of Music by Welleran Poltarnees has absolutely stunning reproductions of art that capture the feeling of music. One line reads, "It [music] is a language for feelings that have no other expression. . . " Another line reads, "[Music] brings us into closer harmony with the universe, and with our deepest selves." The artists range from Klimt to Larsson to Degas, among others. The art ranges from the late 19th century to the early 20th. Not only does the book capture the blessing of music in words, it does so in illustration as well. I am so excited to find this book that I had to share it with you!

The Farm

2010-09-01T15:29:00.000-07:00

I did a bit of work on the farm this fall. A colleague offered up the short barn-board table. I made a sitting pillow, a label holder for the nouns, and one for the descriptive phrases. You can't see it well in the photo but the larger holder has a rick-rack embellishment--the first time I ever made that work! I used a large covered button to enhance the small holder, centering the farm. The pieces (animals, trees, farmers, etc.) reside in a coordinating fabric-covered box. While my barn is well-worn, (on its tenth year!) I'm fond of it. I hope these embellishments add to an already favorite activity.

Time to Prepare

2010-08-29T14:24:00.000-07:00

We have just spent a week preparing the environment, and are now moving on to the phase-in week. The AMI website has this to say about the prepared environment:

Montessori classrooms provide a prepared environment where children are free to respond to their natural tendency to work.

The prepared environment offers the essential elements for optimal development. The key components comprise the children, teacher and physical surroundings including the specifically designed Montessori educational material.

Characteristics of the prepared environment include:

	Beauty, order, reality, simplicity and accessibility.

	Children must be given freedom to work and move around within suitable guidelines that enable them to act as part of a social group.

	Children should be provided with specifically designed materials which help them to explore their world and enable them to develop essential cognitive skills.

	Mixed age groups (eg. three to six, six to nine, nine to twelve) encourage all children to develop their personalities socially and intellectually at their own pace. I have given lots of attention to the beauty and order of the physical environment this year, as I do every year. I painted materials, replaced worn materials, made new aprons and oilcloths, purchased beautiful items, made new materials, cleaned and the list goes on. But, in addition, there remains the spiritual preparation of the teacher. What keeps us refreshed and in the moment, ready to respond to the child as that important link between the materials and the children? I did a lot of reading this summer in preparation for parent education but I did not take out my albums once. I will be dedicating next week to spending time with my albums. In addition, we all need to remember to exercise, eat well, and sleep well. Personally, I need to allow myself enough preparation time in the morning to feel fully present by the time the children arrive. In addition, our conferences and refresher courses are excellent ways to keep challenging our intellect. In all, this process of preparation leads us to the reason we do what we do: the children.

What Works in Education

2010-08-20T06:40:00.000-07:00

There is an interesting article in Newsweek regarding preschool and the achievement gap. It states that the number one indicator for success in life is family circumstances. The number two indicator is early childhood education. "High-quality preschooling does more for a child’s chances in school and life than any other educational intervention. One study, which began in the 1960s, tracked two groups of students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Some were given the opportunity to attend a high-quality preschool; others were not. Thirty-five years later, the kids who went to preschool were earning more, had better jobs, and were less likely to have been in prison or divorced" (Mona Mourshed, Fenton Whelan. August 16, 2010. How to Close the Achievement Gap. Newsweek). If preschool is the number one educational intervention, it needs to be available to all children, regardless of income level or "family circumstances." The trick will be keeping the educational experience "high-quality" if there is government funding and intervention involved. We need a few Montessorians in high-level governmental positions to ensure program excellence and guard against testing mania. Anyone out there? The article can be found at: http://www.newsweek.com/2010/08/16/secrets-of-the-world-s-best-school-systems.html.

Letting Go With Love

2010-08-16T08:08:00.000-07:00

As time flows toward another school year we reflect on letting go. For parents of young children, this may be the first time they trust the outside world with their child. Every year there is separation anxiety, tears (from the parents too!), and conflicting emotions. We know it is best for our children to explore their individuality to grow in spirit, mind and body. We know we must let go to allow the child to soar; that they cannot fly with an anchor. They must separate to become their own person but whether that separation is at age 3 or at age 18, it is difficult for the parents. My own middle son is heading to college this fall, and even though I have been through the process with my oldest, I am still apprehensive. Will he make appropriate choices? Will he study? Will he get up for class? Will he ever wash his sheets? This list goes on. I know that what is best for me is not necessarily best for my child. This is a difficult message to impart to parents of the young child. We can help by being empathetic yet firm. We can help parents realize that the Montessori environment is a safe place for their child to grow, and an excellent place to try new activities. We can explain freedom within limits. The following article is from the AMI website, and may be useful to new parents. It is a bit long, but makes some important points, namely, that for children to grow, they need space, away from their parents. They need to know that we trust that they can do it for themselves. Maria Montessori called this the "secret of childhood." The link to the article is: http://amiusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/amiusa-the-greatest-love.pdf

Camping

2010-08-14T07:49:00.000-07:00

This week in our summer session we focused on camping. Not the kind of camping where you drive into a campsite with your car but the backpacking with your canoe into the Boundary Waters-type of camping. We put up our tent, hung our food pack in a tree (10 feet up and 10 feet over), went on hikes with our bear whistle, read and created maps, and made food that could be carried in our packs (camp fire dough--made with powdered milk). We also talked about recycling, and caring for the earth by taking care of our campsite so that our footprint is invisible. On our last day, we built a campfire, safely of course, and made smores and banana boats. The children also brought sleeping bags and we read stories in our tent. I applaud the children and staff for enthusiastically participating, because this past week has been like living in a tropical rain forest! If the heat and humidity don't bother you, the mosquitoes will! The children are ready for the wilderness.

Meditate

2010-08-11T14:46:00.000-07:00

This is a peaceful place in Casa II that receives many visitors throughout the day. There is a low table with a funky leather poof to sit on (for some reason it is adorned with Ancient Egyptian pictures in gold--a yard sale find). There is a personal size labyrinth from Montessori Services with an elegant chopstick resting in an olive dish for tracing the path on the labyrinth. The tiny lamp has an elephant base, and there is a tray with seven small marble elephants in descending size to manipulate. I enjoy seeing the elephants in unique configurations when I arrive each morning. This area is bordered by a larger area of shelves so that it almost feels like a small, open room. The children, particularly the ones that stay an extended day, enjoy having a quiet place of respite in their day. Inner peace is a priceless commodity.

The Business of Montessori

2010-08-03T16:52:00.000-07:00

It occurs to me that being a good manager in a business setting is much like being a good Montessori teacher. You need to get to know your employees, and find out what interests them. You need to access their strengths and weaknesses, finding ways to help them use their strengths, and finding ways to help them improve their areas of weakness. You need to help them bring their talents to the forefront, and find opportunities for them to help others with their skills In all of this observational and informational work, the teacher or manager helps the student or employee find projects that are enticing. Eventually, the student or employee is so assured of his skills that he uses them without needing a prompt. He also, through working with others, sees the unique skills and talents of others, and the special contributions they bring to collective work. Eventually, the group works together in a fulfilling manner, each contributing in a way that is meaningful and productive. In other words, normalization.

Food and Friends

2010-07-28T19:19:00.000-07:00

This week has been all about food. We really loved our Indian Rice Pudding (Kheer) with the yummy coconut milk. We made a cherry galette from France and pitted all the cherries ourselves. We also made some very yummy hummus which we served in scooped out cucumber slices with a garnish of scallion and red pepper. We also concocted some silly things, like fish from sugar snap peas, with olives for eyes and yellow peppers for fins, and strawberry mice. In the midst of all of this, our school is getting new flooring and we had to switch rooms! You know how important the sense of order is to children and adults alike when you have to set up a room that has all the materials and shelving shoved in one corner--with the children in attendance. Everyone is doing well though, and we love to eat! We are trying to take time with our meals and our treats--enjoying the company of our friends, and the exquisite taste and smell of our delicious food. We sometimes rush through our meals in the United States, and forget to give our food and our companions the respect they both deserve. Good food and good company is a gift.

Transformation

2010-07-16T16:48:00.000-07:00

Thanks to one of my assistants I had the opportunity to witness the transformation of egg to caterpillar to butterfly. I felt like cheering as the newest caterpillar made his way to the top of the habitat and began his journey to complete change. It reminded me of how Maria Montessori used this phenomena to explain the growth of a child from one plane of development to another. She said that each plane was not a linear ascent but a complete and dramatic change in the child. It can be easy in our daily life to forget this fact. We see the children grow and change almost imperceptibly. Yet, think of the child at age 3 and then again at age 6. The child who could not hold a pencil can now write a story. The child who could not walk across the room without bumping into every shelf now skips and processes. The child who had trouble enunciating is now telling jokes--and they make sense! What a joyful process we are privy to witnessing. In the ordinary flow of life we get to see the miracle.

Mini Summer

2010-07-07T15:16:00.000-07:00

We created a miniature garden today in our summer program, as the weather prevented us from going outside. The paths got a little full of turquoise stones but I'm sure they will be less intense as the plants and moss grow in. We used found objects and some cuttings from plants. The children chose the rocks and shells, and we had some lively discussions over placement. The swing needs a bit of work, but, as always, the process is the thing! Now, who will live in the house?

Transforming Words

2010-07-05T14:01:00.000-07:00

I'm looking for a book for our fall parent book club. My fall-back book is How to Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk. That book was my crutch when my children were small. I'm reading Raising Our Children, Raising Ourselves by Naomi Aldort. I've heard good things about it, and I am hopeful it will be a good Montessori fit. Aldort states, "It is our own mind-talk that prevents us from understanding the child and from knowing how to respond. A child's actions are not bad or good; they are simply expressions of emotional and physical needs or they are innocent play. Yet, our mind quickly evaluates a child's actions, and we respond not to the child, but to our own interpretations of her actions" (Raising Our Children, Raising Ourselves). We in Montessori know the value of observation freed from preconceived ideas. The book then identifies the five primary needs of children and how to respond to children authentically, with non-judgmental communication. The book cover says it is for parents of babies to teens. I'll keep you updated. Let me know if there are any books out there you love that would be appropriate for a parent book club. Thanks in advance!

Sliding to School

2010-06-29T08:38:00.000-07:00

When you enter our school there is a long set of stairs for the children to navigate. In the winter, it can get slippery. We've tried lots of surfaces, and the one we have now works pretty well, but I'm always nervous about the children. When we were looking for solutions, I semi-jokingly suggested a slide. Evidently, great minds think alike. I viewed this video on Dan Pink's website.

The End of Men

2010-06-27T11:07:00.000-07:00

Earlier in the year I wrote about boys being left behind. On NPR I heard Hanna Rosin being interviewed about an article she wrote titled, "The End of Men" for the Atlantic Monthly. While it is unclear why boys and men are lagging behind women, there are several hypotheses. One is that the supposed female right brain dominance is simply more suited for the social and managerial skills needed in today's economy. Another is that with the elimination of many blue-collar type jobs, college is the clear path to middle-class and upper-middle-class life, and women find more success in college. Some posit that schools throughout life are simply more amenable to female skills and less so for males. Montessorians believe that society benefits when all are valued and feel fulfilled. Let's figure this out. Women and men have much to offer. As societal norms change, let's find the change we need to help all people thrive. More widespread Montessori education is part of the answer, as the environment supports all kinds of learning styles. Read the article at: http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2010/07/the-end-of-men/8135/1/. T-shirt available at: www.zazzle.com.

The Difference Between Ordinary and Extraordinary

2010-06-22T08:36:00.000-07:00

I've been considering as of late what makes a good Montessori teacher. We can all agree that the teacher must be trained in the materials and the theory. The teacher must understand child development. The teacher must communicate effectively with the parents. The teacher must be able to present the materials effectively, and keep adequate records. But what is the element that elevates an ordinary teacher to extraordinary? Dr Montessori says, "To stimulate life,–leaving it then free to develop, to unfold,–herein lies the first task of the educator. In such a delicate task, a great art must suggest the moment, and limit the intervention, in order that we shall arouse no perturbation, cause no deviation, but rather that we shall help the soul which is coming into the fullness of life, and which shall live from its own forces. This art must accompany the scientific method. (The Montessori Method; Maria Montessori). It seems to achieve this "art" our observations must be discerning and unbiased, so that we may recognize the moment where we may stimulate the inner life of the child. We must also be attuned acutely to the child, so that we know when to leave the child free to use his own "force" to develop. Montessori also states, " It is my belief that the thing which we should cultivate in our teachers is more the spirit than the mechanical skill of the scientist; that is, the direction of the preparation should be toward the spirit rather than toward the mechanism (The Montessori Method)." So while we may possess all the mechanics of a Montessori teacher (materials, education, etc.) without the necessary inner spirit and art we will fall short of being the complete teacher. I think I understand. I have seen rooms which operate well, are managed well, but there is no great love. The children have not coalesced as a community, they show little excitement, and the work is confined to the materials. I have also seen rooms where there is a living spirit, where the children are respectful yet alive, where education comes in many shapes and forms. What do you think? What is the intangible something that transforms a Montessori teacher into a phenomenal Montessori teacher? Perhaps it is the living of life with a true excitement that is generated by all the possibilities.

Spread a Little Sunshine

2010-06-11T10:09:00.000-07:00

School's out, the graduates have graduated, the casa is clean, and it is World Cup Soccer time! Feeling happy, and thought you might enjoy this happy little song! As my children say, "Hip, hip hooray! It's such a beautiful day!"

An Ode to the Graduates

2010-06-05T09:52:00.000-07:00

A colleague of mine observed in the Casa on Tuesday and what she said struck a chord with me. She said, (and I paraphrase), "If every parent in Montessori could see your older children, they would all stay for the third year." She was most struck by the children's independence, their problem-solving ability, and their "living-out" of the grace and courtesy lessons. She noticed it with all the children, but especially with the older ones. One child offered her tea, without any prompting. The child made it herself, and when my colleague went to wash her dishes said, "You don't need to do that; I'll take care of it." Another child deflected a not-so-nice comment with grace and ease. An indication of their independence was my comment, "I can't get anyone to take a presentation this morning--they are all so busy." To me it seemed a chaotic morning, because as those last days of school wind down the energy level and noise level seems to rise, but to her, it was a community living with purpose and love. I will miss our lovely graduates, with their unique personalities and gifts. I know that regardless of where they go for first grade and beyond, the foundation they have laid will serve them well.

Sleeping With The Laundry

2010-06-03T19:03:00.000-07:00

There is a mom's blog called "Sleeping With the Laundry," the name of which, depending on my mood, I find funny or sad (been there, done that, and I can't believe I'm admitting it, although my name would be "Napping With the Laundry"). The blog is also now an iPhone app, for those of you with that capability. At both school and home, I felt like I was literally sleeping with the laundry, so we had a laundry folding party for the school laundry. The children fold laundry every day but it felt special when everyone pitched in. So many projects are like this--heavy work for few hands, and light work for many hands. It was satisfying for all of us to get our laundry under control, and we had fun doing it! Now I need a Montessori laundry folding party at my house--any takers?

Untimely Death

2010-05-28T15:36:00.000-07:00

We have been focusing on insects and arachnids in Casa II. One of the children was particularly interested in the spiders and how these scientific specimens were made. I suggested we write a letter to the manufacturer, so he did. Now, I have a pretty good idea how the specimens were produced but it will be interesting to find out how the manufacturer decides to word the answer. It was fulfilling to find a way to help this child want to write because it is not an activity he generally chooses, and it is difficult to guide him into doing this activity. A satisfying way to end the week, for both of us.

How Do I Look?

2010-05-21T17:41:00.000-07:00

I'm concerned lately about the rampant marketing of Disney princesses. I often hear children talking about princesses, drawing pictures of them, wearing clothes with images of the princesses, singing the songs, and more. While some of the latter princesses seem appropriate role models (Belle, Mulan, Pocohontas) many are sleeping, figuratively or literally, until their "prince" rescues them and they get married. Poor Ariel is only sixteen when she gives up her life for her prince (plus, the original story was "disneyfied" with a happy ending). In the princess movies there is also generally an evil, older woman who is mean and gets what she "deserves." I'm sure millions of feminist papers have been written on the subject. Regardless, are girls buying into the blue-eyed, blond-haired, nice, pretty and passive image (Snow White was dark-haired, but pretty, nice, and a very good housekeeper)? A landmark study by Dr. Sharon Hayes and Dr. Stacey Tantleff-Dunn on preschool girls (ages 3-6) shows that the girls are very concerned with body image but the researchers attribute that to all media, not just the princess movies. 31 percent of the girls said they always worry about being fat, and another 18 percent said they sometimes worried about it (Hayes and Tantleff-Dunn; University of Central Florida, 2009). 40 percent of the girls said that to be a princess you need to have blond hair and blue eyes. Given the controversy, I would have a fair amount of conversation with my children about what actually makes for success and happiness, rescue fantasies aside.

Why Not? OK Go

2010-05-12T19:49:00.000-07:00

As I was looking for something fun to jump-start my day, I remembered a song one of my Montessori compatriots had posted. I searched for the song, discovering that there were two videos. One was the marching band video I knew, the other was a video send-up of a Rube Goldberg machine. The video reminded me of the importance of creativity and imagination--just because. When we create for the sheer joy of invention and discovery--who knows where that could lead? Particularly in education, where so much is quantified by what little oval is filled in, it is important to remember it is not what is on the test that is important, but where the knowledge can take us. Whether a vision takes place in a burst of ephemeral genius, or on a carefully built pyramid of thought, creativity leads to innovation. Innovation takes us all to the next level. Enjoy the video!

Broadway Lights

2010-05-11T19:15:00.000-07:00

This year has produced the most prolific group of writers I have ever had in Casa II. In addition, the children often want to write and put on plays but generally lack the skills of direction they need to make it happen. Today, one of the girls wrote a lovely play about fish and frogs in a pond. The fish swim and play, the frogs lay eggs, tadpoles grow, and finally, the new frogs hop up on land. She assigned parts, and everyone actually did what they were supposed to do when they were supposed to do it! Of course, they did throw in three random dogs, a cat, and a unicorn at the end but at least there was a beginning, a middle and an end. Success! Next stop, Broadway!

Carrots Say Spring

2010-05-07T18:12:00.001-07:00

It is fun to see the carrot factory in action. The children wash, peel, and chop the carrots. The next step is to offer them as a snack. They have also been finding their way to the tea table, and of course, to Marley. Gluten-free carrot cake is next!

Children on the Farm

2010-05-04T19:23:00.000-07:00

We had a beautiful day today at Gale Woods Farm. Children could pet and feed sheep and their lambs, milk a cow, visit egg-laying chickens, tour green houses and fields, make a snack, and do a craft, among other activities. I have always wanted outside animals at our school. Maybe someday! In the meantime, children and animals--it doesn't get much better! The University of California has a specific program to facilitate this relationship. They say:

"Children’s relationships with animals are crucial to their emotional and social development and serve as the foundation for environmental stewardship. Interactions with pets and wildlife help children understand the diversity of animal life, deepen their connection to other species and develop positive attitudes toward animals.

Although pets are common in United States households, our increasingly metropolitan society has limited direct interaction with agricultural animals and wildlife. Exposure to live animals through schools and community-based programs is even more limited in urban areas due to logistical and budgetary restrictions."

You can find out more about this program by contacting:

Martin H. Smith
Assistant CE Specialist
Veterinary Medicine Extension
1373 Surge III
One Shields Avenue
University of California
Davis, CA 95616

May Day

2010-05-02T19:19:00.000-07:00

We had a May Day celebration at our school on May 1st. The children could listen to the elementary school rock band, tour a fire truck, see a police car and police officer, plant a seed to take home, get their face painted, eat ice cream, and finally, make a May basket! I remember that when I was a little girl, we would leave May baskets anonymously on our neighbor's door with candy and flowers inside. The idea was to celebrate spring. When I was a young mother, my neighbor would make posies of flowers and antique handkerchiefs, and pass them around the neighborhood. I have used those handkerchiefs in my Casa to embellish various materials, and I remember my neighbor's kindness every time I see my creations. May baskets are a lovely way to welcome beautiful weather and show people that you care. It is the sweet and simple gestures that sometimes count the most of all.

Coffee is a Good Thing

2010-05-01T08:12:00.000-07:00

When I was in training, my trainer always said that coffee grinding was inappropriate because coffee is bad for children. However, the children experience such joy when they can make a gift of freshly ground coffee to their parents that I decided to include it in my practical life area anyway (my apologies Mrs. Fernando)!

Playgrounds

2010-04-29T19:31:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking that most children's playgrounds are quite uninspired. It would be lovely if we could incorporate more natural elements into the playgrounds, echoing each area's unique history and beautiful topography. San Francisco's Bay Area Children's Museum does a beautiful job of building an interactive playground, with artist's contributions and integrated structures. They have a fish that "swims" when the children turn a crank (created by artist Ben Trautmann). Check it out! http://www.baykidsmuseum.org/tour-the-museum/lookout-cove

The Best Aprons

2010-04-25T07:27:00.000-07:00

My fabulous assistant Wendy has a new website: threadcreationsbywendy.com. She at this time has a collection of aprons for practical life and will be adding more items as time passes. We always get comments from visitors on the beauty of our aprons and practical life area. Wendy is doing this as more of a service to Montessorians and parents as she is selling these at such a low price. She is the quilter who helped the children make our quilt for our silent auction.

All in a Day's Work

2010-04-24T15:09:00.000-07:00

What a week! I was sick the first two days of the week and slowly recovering the rest of the week. I lost my voice but the children took it in stride. On Friday, I decided (or rather, my body demanded) to sit back and observe. Here is what I saw:

Fun with spoons

Counting and Observing

Marley and the bunny whisperer

Writing and Apples

Good Conversation

All in all, a pretty good day.

Here Comes The Sun

2010-04-16T17:55:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we had a staff meeting where we move a few shelves in Casa II and set up the chairs and tables for all the adults because we don't have a conference room. When we were putting things back in order, I moved a shelf 6 inches and everything came tumbling off with a huge crash! Almost everything broke: all the pieces for tea, pineapple slicing and apple cutting. If you are a Montessori guide you know how devastating this is--all the special little things you collect for years and years: the perfect teapot, the apple-shaped bowl, the beautiful cup and saucer, the ideal tiny dish. Then, on top of that, I lost my voice! Anyway, I was looking through photos and came upon this one. Usually this material is on a table, but this child found the perfect place to do his work. I can replace the china, but could never do my work without the materials that the genius of Montessori developed. A moment of illumination and humility.

Eliminating the Achievement Gap

2010-04-13T16:14:00.000-07:00

In the StarTribune today there was an editorial concerning early childhood education, budget cuts, and the Federal Reserve. Evidently, there was an early childhood "experiment" where 90 low-income, children of color were exposed to a quality preschool program. When third-graders, these children were tested in a pool of chldren in reading. Those that attended the preschool program tested at levels equal to all third grade children. Those low-income, children of color who did not attend the preschool program tested significantly below the average. Unfortunately, our governor is looking to cut funding to the types of programs that aid our at-risk preschoolers. If, as a state, and a nation, we truly want to cut the "achievement gap" that occurs between white, middle-class students, and minority, low-income students, we have seen persuasive evidence that preschool is the place to do it. If we are not convinced that we should spend the money simply to help these children, there is also persuasive evidence that preschool funding leads to cost-savings for the government down the line, in excess of the cost of funding at-risk preschool-age children (see: http://www.startribune.com/opinion/editorials/90704524.html?elr=KArksc8P:Pc:UthPacyPE7iUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aULPQL7PQLanchO7DiUr).

"The Global Achievement Gap"

2010-04-10T09:34:00.000-07:00

I've been reading Tony Wagner's book The Global Achievement Gap and see a strong correlation between the skills he is advocating and Montessori education. He posits that the skills schools now teach are hopelessly outdated in light of our global economy, and that our traditional schools do not produce the skills needed for success in college, work, and life in general. He has developed "seven survival skills" necessary for success in the "new world of work," which he developed through interviews with corporate and educational leaders. He also convincingly presents evidence of how our test-based educational system fails to produce these skills, and his evidence is obtained through real, hands-on research. While Montessori education is also over 100 years old (as is our traditional method in the U.S.), it works to produce the skills Wagner advocates. These skills are obtained by Montessori students mainly because of the global view Montessori possessed, and the scientific rigor she brought to the observation that she used to mold her approach. Her goal was to help the individual become the best whole person he or she could be: mind, body and spirit, not the best at short-term memorization. Even though the video is close to 30 minutes, the first five minutes or so state the case.

Old and Young

2010-04-09T05:21:00.000-07:00

Here we are at Auburn Manor again, the assisted-living facility we visit. We told a story that required the children and elders to do actions, and then drew a picture that related to the story. It was one of our more successful visits, because those that wanted to participate could, and those that simply watched had a good time watching and listening to the story. Also, the children have grown more comfortable with the elders. One woman started braiding a child's hair and the elders insisted on singing "Happy Birthday" to our twins with a birthday. The children elicit such good responses from the elderly, perhaps because of their frankness, and total acceptance of physical and mental issues. They don't seem to mind being asked the same question multiple times, and enjoy helping with scissors, crayons and the like. One girl said to me, "Remember when I used to be scared?" in a tone of disbelief that she would ever have felt that way. I wonder what it would be like if they resided more permanently together, such as a school within the facility.

Technology for Teaching

2010-03-27T11:13:00.000-07:00

I'm intrigued by the article, " 'A' Is For App" in the magazine Fast Company (www.fastcompany.com/magazine/144). It is about a teaching tool called "TeacherMate" where, with guidelines set by a teacher, children can choose games to play that further their academic skills. Teachers are seeing huge jumps in progress, plus there are terrific implications for children without access to schools. I know there are a lot of apps out there that help childen write letters, learn phonetic words for reading and so on. I'm wondering what your experience is? What do you think of this kind of technology being used in schools? I know that when I brought my net book into the environment for record-keeping and notes, it was a big experiment. Primary guides just don't do that! However, the children never really noticed it, possibly because computers are such a part of our society. The net book has allowed me to keep fabulous, up-to-date records on Excel, and the records can be sorted instantly into presented, not presented, working, or mastered. I also keep notes and materials that I am planning to present in the cells, with a file tab for each child. I have everything right there, with no transferring of information to yet another paper format. I'm still using my hands. I think Maria Montessori would like my record keeping.

A Marley Moment (no, not the rabbit)

2010-03-25T17:02:00.000-07:00

This child has been working nonstop in Geography, moving from puzzle maps to flags. This morning, he decided to do the parts of the fish. Now, he is a quiet child but he has become so much more assured in this, his second year. He came and stood by my chair in his subdued way and said with a sweet, little smile, "Look at my fish." It took me a few seconds--how about you? Yes, he incorporated the flag of Jamaica in the body of his fish. I knew our materials were cross-disciplinary, but this was a bit unexpected! Very apropos also, because I started teaching the children "Three Little Birds" today.

Comprehensive With A Capital "C!"

2010-03-21T16:33:00.000-07:00

We had a good time at our last book club. Our next, and last meeting of the year will be a party of sorts, off site. We discussed this time Chapter 10, "Personality: How Yours Affects Theirs," and Chapter 11, "Putting It All Together." Dr. Nelsen says we all have a "lifestyle priority" and there are four types: comfort, control, pleasing, and superiority. We had a little bit of difficulty identifying ourselves, but talked about how our personalities affect our children, and how we can turn our liabilities into strengths on our relationships. Chapter 11 was comprehensive with a capital C! It was a recap of the entire book! I'll try to be succinct with the overview: use "positive time out" for both ourselves and our children; decide what you will do, not what you will make your children do; quality sharing; getting children involved in solutions; staying out of children's fights; non-verbal signals; and choices. I'm sure I've missed something, however, what strikes us the most is the respect this method uses to help our children grow toward responsible and productive adulthood. We have realized we need to compromise at times in order to honor our child's personality and ideas. As in Montessori, we use freedom within limits. We involve the child in the brainstorming of solutions to issues, thereby the child is invested in the outcome. We parent, (and teach) with love. It really is not a bad technique for adults in the business world. I'm looking forward to the next chapter, "Love and Joy in Homes and Classrooms." Thanks for staying with us on this journey!

Cabin Fever Creativity

2010-03-20T16:23:00.000-07:00

I had completely forgotten about this photo until today. It has been a long week--great work, interesting questions but that funky period that hits us Northerners at the end of winter right before Spring. A little cabin fever, I think. Anyway, someone came up with this entirely new take on the pink tower and the brown stair. It was the first time in nine years I've seen this architectural oddity. Maybe cabin fever furthers creativity. It has to be good for something!

Helicopters and Fish

2010-03-15T22:44:00.000-07:00

I have the most prolific group of writers this year. Today there was research on seeds from trees that we found on a walk--you know, the fun helicopter seeds from maples. Then there was the girl who spelled, "I do not like freetos [sic]" with the large moveable alphabet last week. She copied it down on paper as a special note for dad. The idea of real research papers is still new to most, but the children do like to find out information and write it down, well, copy it down. When you're still struggling to make a "g," the concept of "in your own words" can be daunting.

I Like You Just The Way You Are

2010-03-10T17:31:00.000-08:00

You may be wondering what a photo of my Grandma and me, the children walking on the line and two of the children baking have in common. It's a bit convoluted, but stay with me. When my 96 year old Grandmother and I were together over the holidays, she was asking me what sets Montessori education apart. I was telling her about the independent choice, the individualized pace of learning, the social respect, and so on. She suddenly had tears in her eyes and I asked her what was wrong. She said, "I wish when I was growing up I would have had the opportunity to go to that kind of school. I felt like I was never good enough--that the things I was good at didn't matter in school." That my Grandma, an extremely accomplished and intelligent woman, had such bad memories of elementary school that they could still bring tears to her eyes, floored me. Then I thought of all the joy in my day, and in the days of the children. They bake, walk on the line, do multiplication, read, sing, and live, all with joy in their hearts. I am reminded of the very special gift Montessori education gives children--the opportunity to succeed as themselves.

Chinese New Year

2010-03-03T16:55:00.000-08:00

We had a great event at our school in honor of the Chinese New Year. It included a silent auction, Chinese dinner, face painting, balloon art, crafts, dancing, a Lion Dance, games, and more. We had a dedicated core of volunteers, both parents and staff that made this event happen. As the children and families entered, the child received a bag with a snack and a passport. They needed to visit twelve activities represented by the Chinese Zodiac (craft and game activities) to get their passport stamped. The activities included: Tiger Bowling (2010 is the Year of the Tiger), Red Envelope making, Lantern making, Tiger Bean Bag toss, Plum Blossom making, Mask making, Photo Booth, Pin the Tiger on China, Chopstick Challenge, Koi Pond (typically Japanese, but originated in China), Firecracker Ring Toss, and one more I can't remember! Our night ended with the Parade of Lanterns, led by a child who was determined to make it happen!

Getting It Done

2010-02-23T14:56:00.000-08:00

On Parent's Night, one of the children decided he wanted to show his parents how to make corn bread. Unfortunately, we had run out of cornmeal that day. Not letting this stop him, the child went into the baking center and pulled out the Betty Crocker Children's Cookbook, a cookbook that is a replica of recipes and cookbooks from the fifties. I was otherwise occupied but happened to notice him cooking and wondered what he was making. Later his Mom showed me the recipe: get a can of juice, put it in a pitcher, add water and stir. I had to laugh! He had gone into the freezer, got a can of apple juice and made a pitcher of juice. We actually don't drink juice in our Casa any longer, so it must have been from the previous year. This child, who was introverted, quiet, and had trouble asking for presentations last year, is now going ahead, figuring out what he wants to do, and finding a way to do it. Another story of Montessori initiative. As my friend Dr. Steve Hughes says, "Montessori kids are simply good at doing things!" Definitely what the world needs today.

Standardized Stagnation

2010-02-18T18:17:00.000-08:00

One aspect of the Montessori approach I love is that it is not standardized. All children are treated as individuals, with education meaning something different for each child. Certainly, there are basics we all need but our path to achieving that knowledge may be very different from another person's path. Alfie Kohn has written quite a bit about standardized testing and what being educated can mean. Consider this:

"Are our schools in trouble because they have lowered their standards and strayed too far from the basics? Just the opposite: if American students are getting less than they deserve, it's due to simplistic demands to "raise the bar" and an aggressive nostalgia for traditional teaching.

Alfie Kohn, the author of critically acclaimed works on such subjects as competition and rewards, now turns the conventional wisdom about education on its head. In this landmark book, he shows how the "back-to-basics" philosophy of teaching treats children as passive receptacles into which forgettable facts are poured. Likewise, shrill calls for Tougher Standards are responsible for squeezing the intellectual life out of classrooms. Such political slogans reflect a lack of understanding about how and why kids learn, and they force teachers to spend time preparing students for standardized tests instead of helping them to become critical, creative thinkers" (from the flap of The Schools Our Children Deserve: Moving Beyond Traditional Classrooms and "Tougher Standards"). Alfie Kohn's website is www.alfiekohn.org.

Encouraging Words

2010-02-14T14:53:00.000-08:00

At our book club we discussed chapters 7, 8 and 9, which covered using encouragement, and class and family meetings. We found that when children most need encouragement , we tend to punish or "discipline" instead of motivating the child to do better through our words and actions. It is difficult to be encouraging to a misbehaving child but it is exactly what he needs. Negative punishment encourages rebellion while adults who use encouragement, mutual respect, problem solving and focusing on solutions help children feel a sense of belonging, and invite the development of responsible behavior. We spent quite a bit of time discussing encouragement versus praise. While encouragement invites self-confidence in children, praise invites dependency on others. One example is, "Anne is such a good girl," versus, "Anne, thank you for helping." The first invites dependency for more praise, in other words, the child does not feel good about herself unless others approve. The second develops self-confidence and self-reliance, leading to feeling worthwhile without the approval of others. This all hearkens back to the idea that we can't give someone self-esteem, it must be developed through "the sense of capability and the self-confidence gained from dealing with disappointments, solving problems, and having lots of opportunities to to learn from mistakes" (page 157). We touched on the importance of family meetings to discuss just about everything, from vacations to weekly menus. It is easy to forget to respect the opinions of our children when making decisions. If we want to ensure that everyone participates in a plan, all must have a voice.

We Are The World

2010-02-13T11:32:00.000-08:00

We are creating a quilt in our Casa using applique. The quilt is for an upcoming silent auction at our school. The center consists of the continents in our Montessori puzzle map colors and the border is green with animals of the world. We ironed the continent fabric and animal fabric onto paper with a fusible bond and then cut out the objects and ironed them onto the water fabric and forest fabric. We now are in the process of applique, which is taking a long time! The children are doing a great job though, and we will be sad to part with our winter project.

Family Night

2010-02-03T14:28:00.000-08:00

Every year we have a Family Night where the children get to show their environment to their family. It is always a special night, one that confirms the children actually have absorbed their presentations as they tell their family members to, "take one at a time," or "this is how you carry the globe" and so on. My favorite is, "This is glass. It is breakable so you must carry it carefully, with two hands." They are so proud of their competence. The photos above show a lovely moment of discovery.

Stamp Out Stasis in Education

2010-01-30T09:16:00.000-08:00

Public Elementary Classroom

   Montessori Environment

We are hearing a lot about educational reform lately and we in Montessori education need to lend our voice. I am always surprised that a nation of entrepreneurs and risk-takers has led education to such a state of conformity. We have brain-research that supports very different methodology and pedagogy than is  used in most public schools, yet we keep trying to breath new life into an outdated system. We have had the same basic educational structure in the United States for the past one hundred or so years, yet the approach has changed very little. I realize I am preaching to the choir, however, pass along the information Dr. Steven Hughes has to share. He will be speaking at our school on March 4, and I believe he will have a book out soon. His website, goodatdoingthings.com, provides information on his brain-based, common sense approach to education. When we ask educators what they think is important to impart to children, and then key in on what they actually spend their time on, the disparity is amazing. We need to be like Montessori and rid ourselves of preconceived ideas and simply observe, ask questions, and be led to the answers by the unadorned truth. Dr. Hughes material is an excellent starting point. I've included one of his presentations. The video is simply the Power Point slides with his voiceover, which obviously does not have the same impact as Dr. Hughes in person, but it gives you a chance to hear the talk.


"Good at Doing Things" from Steve Hughes on Vimeo.

Dr. Steven Hughes
goodatdoingthings.com

Funny Bunny

2010-01-28T14:43:00.000-08:00

Well, I caved in to the pressure. The children wanted a new pet so badly after Robby (old as the hills guinea pig--see earlier entries) died prior to Thanksgiving. I wasn't quite ready, especially for another guinea pig. My children wanted the dog named Chip that had visited the room a few times (see earlier posts) but a school dog didn't seem a particularly good idea (that comment is my dry humor at work). So, I started investigating rabbits. There are several societies dedicated exclusively to the "house bunny" and I was able to find loads of information. My family and I started by touring the local Humane Societies and "test driving" the bunnies. After several weeks, we found Marley. He is a Mini-Rex and all of 3 pounds, although the vet says he is overweight (evidently, carrots are like bunny candy--who knew)? Marley is litter-box trained and loves to hop around our room. He hates tile, so we have a natural invisible fence in the environment. He loves to be pet, and goes into a submissive petting position when he is lonely. He nibbled at my assistant, so he may need to be neutered, although he is three and a half. I think he wanted to make her clothing his bed. Other than that, he is the best bunny and soft as down. There is a lot of bunny love going around Casa II!

Respect for Self

2010-01-22T15:38:00.000-08:00

We started a dressing table activity this year. Each child's bag has his or her name on a label inside and includes items like brushes, combs, toothpaste, toothbrush, hair accessories and so on. The bags are in a basket on the bottom shelf of our scavenged table, along with a stool my Grandma gave to me, and a mirror from Target. We also keep a small spray bottle of water on the table. The children love to take care of their "crazy hat hair" in the morning, and brush their teeth after lunch. They also love to brush one another's hair, as the photo above shows. My fabulous assistant made all the dressing bags from leftover quilting scraps (note to all guides--hire someone who sews). I expected this activity to be a mess when we first started but the children take extreme care with their items. As Montessori noted when she started the Casa dei Bambini, the children wanted to take care of themselves, but needed to be shown how to in a respectful manner. I'm glad I overcame my initial hesitation. As they usually do, the children exceeded my expectations.

Beware of Logical Consequences

2010-01-16T11:31:00.000-08:00

We had a great book club last Thursday. We were fairly low-key, but even low-key is pretty good for January! We discussed Chapters Five and Six, "Beware of Logical Consequences" and "Focusing on Solutions." I think we've gotten so caught up in "what is the logical consequence" for this situation that we often punish under the auspice of a consequence. Punishment works for awhile, but doesn't help children in the long run. It doesn't make them want to do better next time but only increases feelings of rebellion or worthlessness. Punishment also robs the child of the chance to grow in problem-solving skills, and robs us of the chance to strengthen our relationship with our children. Natural consequences are great, as long as we keep our comments to ourselves. In other words, when the glass of milk is too close to the edge of the table after we've told the child many times to move it to the center and it spills, we don't need to add, "See, I told you it would spill if you didn't move it." What we need to focus on now is the solution: "What do we do when we spill?" Exploring solutions means asking a lot of questions. "What were you trying to accomplish," and "what ideas do you have for a solution?" are good questions to ask when there is misbehavior, after an appropriate cooling-off period. The idea is for discipline to create the opportunity for growth in problem-solving, a chance to develop respect for all, and a way to foster feelings of capability. The goal is to end power struggles and focus on solutions that are empowering for all involved.