My first year in a Montessori environment was as an assistant to a seasoned, and I believe, enlightened 3-6 Montessori guide and mentor. I say “enlightened”, because Sue embodied that “lovingkindness” that Dr. Montessori promoted in her writings and is attained through inner spiritual transformation. Sue’s every interaction with the children was imbued with this…
I’ll never forget the wonder I experienced during my 3-6 training when learning about Montessori education as a means of creating world peace. The idea that our youngest children have the potential to transform humanity when we nurture their spirit and expose them to tools for gaining inner peace and the guidance to resolve conflicts…
George Bernard Shaw couldn’t have been further from the truth when he wrote, “ “He who can, does. He who cannot, teaches.” In fact, teaching assists you in acquiring “chains of connected ideas” that deepen your understanding of the material at hand! Teaching is a Set of Conditions When asked why I shifted…
You might have heard that really smart people talk to themselves. Wonder why? It might be because they use a neuro strategy of self-explanation that serves their learning and improves comprehension! Self-Explanation is Self-Instruction Self-explanation is simply a method of self-instruction of talking through a procedure or making connections of what is…
Listening is a Key Practice in Collaborative Learning Environments When students use the learning strategies of listening and sharing with others, their collaboration leads to problem solving and completed tasks. Better yet, effective collaborative learning environments can alleviate a student’s frustration and “allow group learning to surpass what would be possible by a single…
This week’s installment of The ABCs of Learning: Montessori Edition varies from the rest of my articles on learning strategies, as knowledge is more of an outcome than a neurostrategy. I’m including it in this series as I believe that when educators deepen their understanding of educational outcomes it can lead them to more mindful…
Every aspect of your school is running smoothly and you have all the resources you need for staff development . . . said no school leader ever. Finding the time and resources to train school staff is an arduous and sometimes thankless job, yet one that I find intriguing. Staff members are schools…
Part of being a Montessori guide is a commitment to reflecting and adapting our practices to best serve our students. In today’s parlance this could be considered a “hack”. As my students these days are adult learners, I tend to focus my reflections on how to better help them transfer Montessori pedagogy into their spirit…
Dear Miss Tammy (for that is the name that generations of your students will remember you by), I know you’re on fire with the fresh burning flame of Montessori that has opened your eyes to a whole new way of seeing your life, and I want to congratulate you on following your instincts and…