Despite the chaos with our upcoming relocation, I still have to fulfill the awesome responsibility of being a mother and that often includes being a teacher as well.
While Nate and Juliana attend preschool several mornings a week, Pete and I still feel it to be a great responsibility of parenthood to implement daily learning at home as well. With that in mind, and my background working with Montessori, (I worked as an assistant teacher at a Montessori preschool during college) I couldn't think of a better method to apply to our children's daily lives.
What is Montessori?
"The Montessori Philosophy is a way of observing a child, each child individually, to discover his or her unique personality, needs, tendencies and talents; it is respect for each child's choices and interests and ways of processing information and learning; it is a profound respect for and protection of the crucial periods of concentration and contemplation that guide the child and reveal the peaceful, happy human -- kind, generous, focused, hard working, healthy and creative.
The Montessori prepared environment supports free movement in a beautiful and inspiring place. In it the world is introduced with joy, beauty and precise work with the hands and the mind; it is an environment where learning and work are seen as the means to happiness, self construction and a deep love for others and the world.
The high academic achievement that usually accompanies Montessori education is merely a by-product of learning with joy." (Quote from founders of the
Garden City Montessori).
While researching Montessori over the last few months, I compiled a list of methods to begin implementing within our parenting of Nate and Juliana.
-Better organization of the home and daily life (routine/structure)
-Continual touching of things is a sign of curiosity and should be encouraged. They need to be taught about things that should not be touched, and should be taught normal discipline and learn self control.
-They learn most from imitating adults and other children.
-Children learn or fail to learn respect for things from our attitude for them.
-Embrace their desire to be independent and to want to do things for themselves.-Cardinal Rule: Never do for a child what he/she is capable of doing for himself/herself.
-Teach them to learn and think for themselves, rather than their depending on us to do it for them.
-Cardinal Rule: A place for everything, everything in its place.
-Let them make mistakes and try again without your interrupting to show them how.
-During the “learning” period of the day, the only visible activities should be the one(s) your child is working with. And then remove that activity when the child is done working with it.
-Each task must be completed before it is returned to its place. This teaches perseverance and self discipline.
-Only use the learning/school activities during the “school/learning” period of the day so that they are respected as learning tools/activities and not toys.
-Chores/household assignments should be done because they are the child’s responsibility and contribution to the family’s daily living, not because a reward is expected upon completion.
I believe it is my job while they are at home with me, to make sure that their learning these vital skills are done in an enjoyable, loving, honest, creative and successful way.
-Embrace their desire to be independent and to want to do things for themselves.
One last, positive note- We finally got our blueberries! For some reason, our bushes decided that they wanted to hold off a few weeks longer than all of the other blueberry bushes in the world... But they are here now, and I have been treating myself to peach sorbet with blueberries every few nights over the last two weeks...now that is some great self pity food!
Nate and Jules loaded up on hot dogs and brownies, made new friends, ran like wild, played like the day had just begun and later, slept soundly all night...it was great.
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