Montessori Monday: Q &A

I would like to answer a few questions some of you have asked about the Montessori method.

Disclaimer: I am not a trained Montessori teacher. It is quite possible that I am misrepresenting the Montessori method. The following is just my humble opinion.

Q: Why do you like the Montessori method?

A: When I was a teacher, I worked with several students who had learning disabilities and became frustrated because it was very difficult to help them learn. My close friend at that time shared how her own frustrations with the limitations of traditional schooling paved the way for her to become a Montessori directress and my curiosity became piqued. I tried some Montessori grammar lessons in my classroom and was impressed with the results and at the same time, fascinated that her sixth grade students had a greater grasp of the underlying grammatical structures than I did!

Now as a mother, I am attracted to Montessori for many reasons. It provides a systematic way of learning that goes beyond rote memory but at the same time provides an environment where the child can choose the activity and concentrate as long as he/she wants to. In short, it is the marriage between autonomy and structure. I like how it involves all the senses, including the visual and the tactile and that it encourages concentration. My children are very high energy, but I like that it has a calming effect and that learning is seamless.

I must admit that it can be difficult for a parent to model first, rather than control. It took me a while to get into the right groove and every time I became pushy, I had to take a step back for days even weeks until I was relaxed and patient. Really, just having the equipment is not enough. There's a lot to know about proper presentation and modeling. Not to mention, an enormous amount of patience necessary to simply present the material and then just observe, rather than to correct, and if necessary, to present the material again.

Q: In your blog, I notice that you have all these blocks of different colors and sizes. What makes Montessori sensorial material like the pink tower and the brown stair different from standard toy blocks?

A: I think blocks, be it Montessori or standard toy blocks, are great learning tools to have in the house. Both teach size differentiation and vocabulary like big-bigger-biggest. The difference in Montessori sensorial material is that every block is solid wood and thus, weighted differently. The largest block in the pink tower or brown stair is very heavy and it it becomes lighter incrementally whereas nesting blocks and toy blocks are generally weighted the same. This helps the child not only see the difference between individual blocks but promotes kinesthetic memory because he/she will "feel" the difference.

The brown stairs and pink tower are complimentary so you can do many extensions with them. Here are some simple ones and then more advanced ones. In addition, Montessori equipment have a specific protocol on how they are to be maneuvered. They are not meant to be handled roughly or knocked down while toy blocks do not have any stipulations on them. But, as parents you have to be creative and realistic. Shannon successfully uses nesting boxes as an affordable option to the expensive pink tower. It's really your call. There are mothers who make Montessori equipment, too! Check out my sidebar link to Homemade Montessori Tutorials.

Q: A related question: Is Montessori equipment expensive?

A: It can be. But I think if you are planning to home school, you need to decide what equipment you really want to use versus buying everything. I am personally stronger in the language arts, but very weak in math and spatial differentiation so I chose to buy sensorial and math equipment for my girls. Everything else you can supplement easily, but I have to say, Montessori sensorial and math material is ingenious.

I purchased my material from different companies at different times. Actually, I often asked my friends to purchase Montessori equipment for my children's birthday presents. My latest big purchase was from the company IFIT. If you spend $500, you get free shipping. But be forewarned: the painted material chips very easily. I think I am going to order from Adena next.

If you compare how much money a Montessori pre-school is and have more than one child, the initial investment might be worth it.

Q: What Montessori books and resources do you recommend?

A: Truthfully, I borrowed many Montessori books when I was pregnant with my second child, but have not glanced at many as of late and I can hardly remember anything I read. I don't think I loved any of them enough to make a purchase, but I did think it was worth checking them out from the library. Steph from Montessori Free Fall has some book recommendations as well as helpful information on how to get started with the Montessori method. I didn't have the chance to read The Amazing Child but everyone seems to think it's great.

Kim from Starry Sky Ranch also recommended this youtube video series.

Q: Is the Montessori method for everyone?

Not necessarily. My best recommendation would be to go visit a Montessori classroom. The word Montessori is not patented so any school can use it without being Montessori, but still, it helps to see everything up close. Check it out to see if if aligns with your parental philosophy. Browse Montessori blogs and see if it's really for you. I love the Montessori method, but it might not be for everyone. Some kids are more free-spirited and might be more attracted to other schools of thought such as Waldorf. Also, for children who start Montessori at an older age, it might be hard to adjust to a multi-age classroom as well as the equipment especially if the child is more of an auditory learner and not into manipulatives. Besides, every Montessori classroom has a different vibe that might not match with yours or your child's. As time passes, and if I decide to continue to home school, I am planning to incorporate elements of the Charlotte Mason method as well.

I know that many parents want their kids to have a running start in life, but in my opinion, more important than buying expensive equipment is being an active presence in your children's lives by paying attention to them, reading a lot to them, being relaxed and allowing them to have an unhurried and peaceful childhood attuned with nature and a lot of open-ended play. Children in Finland don't even attend school or have any formal education until they are seven, but education-wise, they are outperforming everyone.