I know it seems early to talk about the end of the school year, but for me, this is the beginning of the end. I've done final evaluations for all of my kindergarten students, and am in the process of parent conferences. Since my students begin with me at age three, and stay with me for three (sometimes four) years, it is a very sad yet exciting time. I've had the chance to really look at how far these children have come. I remember speaking with some parents last year who were worried that their child didn't know their sounds or numbers, and now their child is reading, writing, adding, subtracting....The growth in children this age is so amazing. It is very rewarding for me to reflect on what they've done, and what I've done to help them on their journey. Kind of hard to express in words...but just what's been on my mind lately.

Frustration!
So rather than comment on a Maria Montessori quote this week, I thought I'd vent. I am so tired of listening to people who have "new and improved" ideas on education....only to find that they are the same ideas Maria Montessori had one hundred years ago. I recently attended a webinar on 21st Century Learning. The focus of the webinar was this "new" theory that students should experience more via cross curriculum projects, to learn the practical applications of what they are actually learning. Focus should be placed more on curriculum that is relevant, and pressing students into a higher level of thinking is key. Well....that's what a Montessori classroom does beginning at age three!!! Yet no one ever goes back to the old educators to give them credit. These "new" methods are presented as some enlightening idea that has just been discovered. I'm not saying that every classroom should be a Montessori classroom - even I have issues with the model at the elementary level- but no one acknowledges that Maria Montessori recognized years ago that this is the type of learning that should be happening in all of our classrooms. Cross curriculum projects are the norm in a Montessori classroom. Practical application is always considered. Every day, I think about what I want my kids to learn from certain activities, and if I can't find any worthy skill or lesson from a certain activity - I won't present it to the kids. Many times the children will make discoveries, and take the work to a new level of learning. All of the work designed for Montessori classrooms begin with very concrete ideas, and move to the abstract. I could go on all night about this, and I fear I am rambling, but it is just frustrating to me that educators never recognize Montessori - many regard Montessori schools as "cult" schools, or schools where kids can do whatever they want. NOT SO!!!! Come visit my class any time, and you'll see 21st Century Learning happening today!

If you want a glimpse of some awesome Montessori materials check this video out. Click on the Trinomial Cube demonstration http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2VHQAy1oAo (1:38 into the video.) Remember having to proof this equation in math? If someone had showed me this material then, I would have understood it completely! Of course, when showing this material to a preschool child, we would never introduct the equation - manipulating the material simply helps to set a foundation for the future. But can you imagine a group of high school freshmen, and what they could do with this????

"Establishing lasting peace is the work of education; all politics can do is keep us out of war." - Maria Montessori
Peace education, although not a subject matter or requirement of most school districts, is the responsibility of every educator. We must establish peaceful classrooms, encourage diversity, and practice respect for all. Bullying has become a major issue in our society, and there has been so much debate revolving around what to do when bullying occurs. How about talking about how to prevent bullying, and teaching respect? Bullying will happen, but a person who has been taught to respect others from the beginning of their life is less likely to become a bully, and more likely to become a person of peace. How about turning the debate around?

"We must help the child to liberate himself from his defects without making him feel his weaknesses" - Maria Montessori

Competition and peer pressure are two factors that accentuate student's weaknesses. I have tried, this year in particularly, to accentuate every students abilities, and encourage all students to focus on abilities rather than weaknesses. I have seen students completely give up when they see their peers do something that they just can't do yet. It is important to step in and refocus the child on what they can do. It is amazing to see that when given time, children have a natural instinct to practice and improve on the skills that they internally know they are not good at. Their weaknesses don't need to be constantly pointed out to them..

The Perfect Classroom

"The environment itself will teach the child, if every error he makes is manifest to him, without the intervention of a parent or teacher, who should remain a quiet observer of all that happens." - Maria Montessori

Every month when I create new works for the children I try to remind myself that it truly is the environment that will teach him. I must be thoughtful to be sure that each work is complete and self correcting so that I do not have to step in to correct a child's error. It is often difficult to find or make works that are self correcting, but this quote reminds me of the importance of that component of the work.

Where's the Teacher?

"What is the greatest sign of success for a teacher transformed? It is to be able to say, "The children are now working as if I did not exist."" - Maria Montessori

It is truly amazing when you walk into a Montessori classroom filled with 3-6 year old children and you can't find the teacher. There isn't chaos, screaming, crying or yelling as you might imagine. The children are working independently and making unbelievable discoveries. If my children don't need me during the class, I have done a fine job of preparing the environment for them. It is nice to be needed, but as a Montessorian, I must desert that need for the good of the children's development. This week, I will focus of every detail of my classroom before class and prepare it to meet all of the children's needs. I will try to "disappear" into the woodwork and simply observe the children at work, using the observations, and making any necessary adjustments to the environment. My goal is for the children to work independently, for self satisfaction, and grow as thinkers and learners.

Lifelong Learning

"We must be taught and we must be willing to accept guidance if we wish to become effective teachers." - Maria Montessori

We as teachers promote life long learning, but are we willing to live what we promote? I am currently taking graduate classes, and am finding that just participating in classes is enhancing my classroom. I am thinking more, I am assessing more, I am simply more aware. I find that as a teacher, I have to constantly take inventory of where I've been and where I need to go, and make adjustments to best fit my students. Stimulating my own mind in thought provoking courses helps me to be more creative and inventive in my classroom. Although my course work will soon be done, I must make a commitment to always find a way to challenge my mind, to keep me fresh, alert and current.