Hands On Learning is a Hallmark of Montessori Methodology The focus on specific hands on elements in learning environments scaffolds the learning to be acquired. Hands on materials allow for lessons to build upon one another and extend a student’s abilities in a stepped fashion that proceeds from concrete to abstract. Through her observations…
The science behind memory is far more complex than most Montessori training programs can deliver; however, as a Montessori guide, you already employee the essential technique of memory generation! How do Three-part Cards Generate Memories? Have you ever wondered why three-part cards work? One reason is because like flash cards, the cards work…
Feedback is about more than self-correcting materials Receiving feedback about one’s work is important for knowing what still needs to be learned and how to improve. Montessori pedagogy is an exception rather than the norm in education in part because it incorporates self-assessment into the methodology. From the beautifully and precisely designed materials…
The theory of elaboration in learning resonates with Montessori educators with its multiple components of order, sequence, and scaffolding. For students, elaboration is as simple as expanding on what they already know. Current research identifies elaboration as being an essential component of an optimal learning environment. Montessori Environments are Built upon the…
Practicing skills and concepts is an important part of the learning process; however, just repeating a skill does not lead to improvement. Deliberate practice is the idea that the work being done is challenging enough to stretch the student, but not so challenging as to be frustrating. Deliberate Practice Improves Skills without Dread …
Have you ever noticed that when you’re quizzed by someone, formally or even within a conversation, that when you’re asked to recall something specific, it’s far easier if you’re prompted with options to choose from? It may be easier because of the phenomenon of contrasting cases. “Contrasting cases” is a term that defines…
Rock your New Year Resolutions to improve your Montessori practice by going back to the ABCs! The ABCs of Learning, that is! The newest evidence regarding research based learning strategies demonstrate what many in the Montessori community already know: the Montessori Method is a highly effective way to teach children. What is overwhelming,…
Aha! Now this makes sense! Research into the use of analogy, metaphor, and allegorical stories and their effect on the brain reveal the same agency at work during learning: when learners activate their prior knowledge through the mechanism of analogies, they extract knowledge like a past experience, enabling them to solve current or…
New evidence indicates a sense of belonging is an essential part of optimal learning environments. Children need to feel that they are part of their classroom and the school community. If they are distracted by feelings of inadequacy or alienation, it interferes with their learning. Quoting the authors of the book The ABCs of…
The Dual Nature of Screens There is a lot of concern in our culture over the quantity and quality of screen time, and its effects on children of all ages. Headlines regularly recount a litany of issues for children that result from the use of devices including depression, shortened attention spans, cyberbullying, obesity, addiction,…