Montessori at Home, All Ages
During Covid, along with all of the negative experiences, in many instances families spent more time together and parents learned a lot more about education, and their children.
Homeschooling
Gabor Mate, who is the author of many books, including Hold on to Your Kids: Why Parents Need to Matter More than Peers, agrees with those in the Montessori world, that the most important education occurs during the first three years of life, and the rest is remedial! Finding a way to keep family and community close, especially in the first three years, is one of the purposes of the book Montessori for Family and Community. For more information on ideas to explore CLICK: MFC Book
If you find yourselves in a position, having the time and interest, to explore Montessori ideas even more at home, you might enjoy the book Montessori Homeschooling which documents our family’s exploring Montessori ideas to homeschool from 1st grade years through high school. It was the homeschooler’s choice at the end of each year for the following, and we kept a record of each year—learning as we continued this unique path. Below are some screenshots of book pages, examples from what would have been his third grade years.
Record keeping and time management
The development of independence in the areas is considered of great importance in the Montessori 6-12 class and beyond. Rather than being directed by an adult and taught in groups, students learn to plan and complete their own independently chosen research and work. They experiment with different ways to schedule work, and in reach goals, learning from watching their colleagues, and helping and teaching each other. In my 6-12 classes I observed many creative ways students experimented in managing independently and sharpening these skills. In this method, each student learns to understand himself and his needs ever more deeply in the process. Record keeping and time management skills are more important than specific academic outcomes in preparing for life. As Dr. Montessori said:
The child who has never learned to act alone, to direct his own actions, to govern his own will, grows into an adult who is easily led and must always lean upon others.
Nature
The study of plants and animals depends on where the family live, and in careful observation of the interests of the child. Learning about nature, and the link between humans and the planet, is a vital part of a Montessori education at all ages.
Required work, such as language and math
Even in these required academic areas it is more important to offer work in a variety of ways and then observe to find what speaks to the child. No information is retained for long if it is not of interest to a person. We all have experienced memorizing for the test and forgetting most of the information. But work that is chosen by the student, and explored in his unique way, and often then taught to a peer, will be retained.
How our own homeschooling experience turned out?
This homeschooler, our son, is an adult similar in many ways to other adults who have had the benefit or authentic Montessori education. On scholarship, he graduated from Brown University in three years; traveled the world (including a 3-hour non-political, education and environment focused, talk by Fidel Castro in Havana; attending a session of parliament in South Africa and Nelson Mandela’s cell on Robben Island; handing out pens to children in a fevala in Brasil; and visiting Mother Teresa’s orphanage in Chennai, India (his email home about this last experience is shared on page 54 of the book Montessori and Mindfulness) ; volunteering for an environmental NGO in India; put himself through law school by working summers for a law firm; and now heads their own law firm, Bay Area Bicycle Law, along with his wife. Their volunteer work (always a result of a Montessori education) is pro bono law work, rescuing abandoned dogs and cats, and stopping in to visit and play with animals at the local animal shelter. They balance life with work, friends, nature, dance, music, and taking care of their parents (including Jim and me :-). It is clear that they typically value doing, learning, and helping more than having.
Here is a link to more information about Montessori Homeschooling,
CLICK: MH book
Blessings,
Susan
Home page, CLICK: Susan
To see other books in this series, CLICK: Books