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Work or Play? A Peek Inside the Montessori Classroom

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You know Montessori classrooms are different than most.  You’ve heard the rumors: children run around doing whatever they please.  It’s all play and no work.  Or perhaps you’ve heard the opposite: our structures are so rigid we stifle creativity and natural childhood behavior.

What’s it really like?

We can practically guarantee that once you step inside a classroom for yourself, sit quietly in a corner, and observe the children and adults at work, your impressions will be transformed.  We encourage parents to do so whenever possible; the children are used to visitors and we have tips on how your presence can be unobtrusive to them but informative for you.  We hope you’ll schedule a visit soon if you’ve never been, or even if it’s just been a while.

In the meantime, this post will give you some idea of what you might see in a typical, high fidelity Montessori classroom.

Arrival

From the moment they step in the door, expectations are different for Montessori children, even as young as our toddlers.  Children are responsible for hanging their own bags and coats on hooks.  They learn to change their own shoes, with most classrooms requiring that children wear either slippers or a special pair of shoes designated for indoor school use only.  This is done in part to keep our classrooms clean, but also to give children a sense that their classroom feels more comfortable and home-like.

Guides greet students upon their arrival.  They often make a point of shaking a child’s hand, looking them in the eye, and saying their name along with a friendly hello.  By doing this, we are intentionally modeling polite human interactions.  Before long, the children learn how to greet us back, and they are even able to apply this skill outside of school.

The Work Period

Also called the morning work cycle, this period of time is a hallmark of the Montessori approach.  We believe that children need a longer stretch of time to involve themselves deeply in independent work, so we honor this need by providing an uninterrupted block of time each morning.

How much time?  That depends on the age of the child.  Typically, for children ages 3 and up, the work period is three hours long.  It’s not quite so long for younger children, and older children may have a second work period in the afternoon.  

During this time children work independently while guides give small group or independent lessons.  Sometimes it may appear that a child is playing, and while that is true, certain types of play are critical to learning.  It is also important to note that Dr. Montessori developed her educational materials to appeal to children, so what may look like a simple puzzle could actually be a manipulative biology diagram.  What looks like pretty colored beads are, in fact, tools for exploring complex mathematical concepts.

Montessori children are able to make a lot of choices during this time.  We allow freedom of movement: that is, they may sit where they like, stand and walk around the room if their bodies require a break, and use the restroom safely without needing an adult’s permission.  We provide a range of seating options as well.  Some children prefer to work alone or with others, some like to sit at a table or on the floor.  Adults appreciate having choices while they work, and we believe children should be afforded the same respect.

What types of work might you see?  You may be surprised to see even very young children working on the following subjects:

  • Math

  • Language

  • Biology

  • Geography

  • Practical life skills

  • Sensory refinement (up to age 6)

  • Geometry

Socializing

Montessori education takes the perspective that we must nurture the whole child.  This is a popular concept with parents and teachers across a wide variety of settings, but Montessori schools have structures built into their programs that allow for deeper exploration and support of the social self.

The aspects of choice are one way we support children’s social development.  Rather than assigning seats or requiring children to work alone or in pairings that are predetermined by adults, we generally let children choose if they would rather work independently or cooperatively, and with whom they would like to work.  That being said, in any group of people, some personalities work well together, while others do not; we help guide children to differentiate between what makes a positive complementary work partner for them, and what constitutes a fun (and perhaps silly) friendship that can be developed outside the work period.

As children grow older, they begin to place a stronger emphasis on friendships.  The process of figuring out what healthy friendships should look and feel like is a major work of children in the elementary years.  Attachments form, and children come to rely on the company of one another.  Of course, another reality of these years is that all children will face social conflict at some point or another.  

One benefit of a Montessori environment is that the guides are able to set aside time and space to help children navigate conflict.  We teach mediation strategies, inclusivity, and conflict resolution.  We are able to assist children both proactively and reactively.  We often use stories to teach children important lessons about social skills.  Role play is another tool used in classrooms when negative patterns begin to form; when children are able to have fun and remove themselves personally from an experience, they can learn positive approaches to resolving common dilemmas. 

The Guide’s Role

Another often surprising element of the Montessori classroom is the role our guides take.  To begin with, they are typically referred to as guides, rather than teachers, as we believe the name is a far better descriptor of the task.  Instead of feeding children a stream of information we expect them to internalize, we lay a path before them, open the door, and give them the tools to explore and learn.

In the primary years (ages 3-6), lessons are usually given individually.  This allows the guide to give their full attention to the child before them, and to honor their individual needs.  In the elementary years, lessons are typically given to small groups of children, honoring their developmental desire to work alongside their peers.

Another delicate task of the Montessori guide is to know when to step in and assist a child, and when to stand back and allow them to find a solution themselves.  Generally speaking, we tend to take the latter approach.  We believe that children are capable of much more than we often give them credit for, and given the opportunity, they will rise to the occasion.  This approach helps build resilience and confidence.

Lastly, the guide’s job is to observe.  We watch the children in our care to learn which skills they have mastered, which they are progressing in, and which they may require additional support with.  Though we may not always intervene, we notice what they are doing, both academically and socially.  We take copious notes to inform our practice, record their progress, and to share our findings with parents.

Montessori guides don’t consider themselves the center of the classroom.  We are merely there to support the learning of the children.

Still curious?  Good!  Call us today to schedule a time to observe.  See a Montessori classroom in action for yourself.  We know it will be an amazing experience.  

Montessori Basics: What is the Montessori work period?

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You may already know a bit about the Montessori work period, also known as the work cycle.  What exactly is it, and why is it so important?

A Montessori work cycle is an uninterrupted block of time.  During this time children are able to explore the prepared environment and engage with materials of their own choosing.  The time is meant to give them opportunities to enjoy the work they love, while also cultivating basic life skills.

How long?

The length of a work cycle varies depending upon the age group and the school.  Most classes typically have a three hour morning work period most mornings.  Some other general guidelines to keep in mind for different age levels:

Toddler classrooms: 1-2 hours each day

Primary/early childhood classrooms: 2-3 hours most mornings, additional time in the afternoon for 4 and 5 year olds.

Elementary: 2-3 hours most mornings and another 2-3 hours most afternoons

What are the goals?

When we give children this time, we do so in an effort to assist their development.  The work cycle helps children:

  • Become more independent
  • Strengthen their ability to focus
  • Find joy with the materials
  • Feel deep satisfaction with their work

What exactly do children do during this time?

While it looks slightly different at different levels, there is always some combination of most students working independently while teachers give individual or small group lessons.  Great care is taken to not interrupt children while they are working, showing them the respect that this time and their exploration deserves.

In primary/early childhood classrooms, lessons are given mostly to individuals.  Children move around the classroom selecting work of their choosing.  They may work on a table or the floor, with a special rug laid out beneath them.  After selecting a work from the shelves, they bring it carefully to the workspace of their choosing, and use the material as they have previously been taught.  Children know they are responsible for putting the materials back neatly and selecting their next work independently.  At this age, children are typically focused on their own work and may engage in what is called ‘parallel play’.  This can be seen as defined working and playing beside one another while focused on their own individual work.

At the elementary level the basic structure is the same, but teachers honor the developmental need for more socialization in children of this age.  Lessons are more often given in small groups, and children prefer to work with one another.  While there is a great emphasis on choice and self-directed learning, children in elementary classrooms are expected to meet certain academic guidelines.  For example, a teacher may require that throughout the course of the day or week, a child must do work in all academic areas.  Teachers check in with students to make sure they are meeting these goals, and gently guide them with strategies to do so.

Regardless of the level, the work cycle gives children a chance to develop autonomy, make choices, and find genuine joy in their work.  Teachers hold this time as sacred, and it allows children to dive deeply into learning.

Check out this cool time lapse video that shows a four year old’s three hour work cycle in four minutes:

Montessori Happy Moments

As a Montessori educator for over 25 years, I have had countless happy moments with children. I have delighted in their play, joy and work. But the moments that have brought me the greatest pleasure are those that I have not been a participant in but an observer.

What do all these observable moments have in common? The inner knowing of the child to find himself in his own accomplishments. I have seen it in on the faces of 14 year olds, exhausted and hungry from hiking the highest mountain in Maine and THEN a 3 mile hike to camp. I have seen it on a 4 year-old's face as he asks for his fifteenth word to write with his movable alphabet. It is subtle yet powerful.

The key is to wait for it. The child’s timing is not our own. Anyone who has had to wait for their 3 year old to put on a sock or exit a car independently knows that! We adults are constantly chattering and moving and doing for our children. Stopping ourselves, slowing it down, taking the opportunity to observe and really notice is required for this experience. Try it. Sit on your hands or bite your tongue if needed. When we take that step away from the constant comments and running commentary we tend towards with our children, they will unfold before our eyes. And it’s beautiful. 

If we can accomplish this, amazing things begin to happen. Our children take on and enjoy responsibility for themselves and their part in the world no matter what their age.

By accomplishing a task with out the cheerleading and praise of the adult, the child experiences an inner knowing and understanding of what they are really capable of. This joy is evidenced, if you wait for it, in a look, a smile, a subtle gesture, a sigh of satisfaction, excited chatter to you or another. Their experience takes on a whole different meaning when it has come from within the child and not from us. 

Synonyms of happiness include pleasure, joy, exhilaration, bliss, contentedness, delight, enjoyment, satisfaction. I have seen all these on the faces of children reveling in their own accomplishments. It never fails to be one of my happiest moments.

Kari

Want to know more about letting go and letting your child? Check out Vicki Hoefle’s fantastic book Duck Tape Parenting http://vickihoefle.com/duct-tape-parenting-book/