The Montessori Classroom
One of my first Montessori moments
I walked into my new classroom after accepting a Montessori upper elementary teaching position. I was immediately mesmerized and overwhelmed by the vast array of materials- especially when I reached the math shelves! However through extensive training and practice, I have fallen in love with these materials and adore the confidence and understanding they promote in learners.
The Montessori classroom is composed of many elements. There are many factors which include concrete materials, collaboration, life long values, peer coaches, and independent discovery. When these elements become a natural process, students can freely discover and experience their education.
Encouraging independent discovery
When students are given opportunities to explore, develop theories, and prove themselves right or wrong meaningful learning experiences are created. My goal as a teacher is to provide my students with rich learning opportunities to explore the world around us.
The student to the left was given verbal and modeled instructions, as well as an instructional packet. He explored radish seeds and various planting conditions and their outcomes. Each step of the way he documented his process, observations, hypotheses, and reflections.
The student to the left was given verbal and modeled instructions, as well as an instructional packet. He explored radish seeds and various planting conditions and their outcomes. Each step of the way he documented his process, observations, hypotheses, and reflections.
Peer teaching
Fluid lesson groups and differentiated instruction are a wonderful way to allow all students to remain at an appropriate level, one that comfortably challenges them to continue striving to achieve more. In a multiple grade classroom this is essential. I try incredibly hard to structure my classroom with compatible mentors and mentees of different grade levels to help the younger student always have a friend to go when questions arise.
I encourage students to ask at least 3 friends before asking me a question because I want to promote problem solving and collaboration rather than waiting for someone or something. At the beginning of the year, I teach practice scenarios and role playing about coaching a friend instead of giving him or her the answer. As a class, we create respectful ways to offer support. In the picture to the right, the coach is sitting back and respectfully watching as her friend solves the test tube division problem. She knows to offer help if her friend becomes stuck or makes an error. She also knows that a coach very rarely touches the materials when another student is working.
When students are teaching each other, I am thrilled to over hear, " Awesome, it looks like you got it but if you have any questions, please feel free to ask me or Miss Sarah." At the end of nearly all of my lessons, I conclude with saying something along the lines of, "Awesome, it looks like you got it but if you have any questions please feel free to ask me, a friends, or someone in this lessons. Thank you for joining me."
I encourage students to ask at least 3 friends before asking me a question because I want to promote problem solving and collaboration rather than waiting for someone or something. At the beginning of the year, I teach practice scenarios and role playing about coaching a friend instead of giving him or her the answer. As a class, we create respectful ways to offer support. In the picture to the right, the coach is sitting back and respectfully watching as her friend solves the test tube division problem. She knows to offer help if her friend becomes stuck or makes an error. She also knows that a coach very rarely touches the materials when another student is working.
When students are teaching each other, I am thrilled to over hear, " Awesome, it looks like you got it but if you have any questions, please feel free to ask me or Miss Sarah." At the end of nearly all of my lessons, I conclude with saying something along the lines of, "Awesome, it looks like you got it but if you have any questions please feel free to ask me, a friends, or someone in this lessons. Thank you for joining me."
Encouraging collaboration
Collaboration is a key component to learning and life. In the pre-adolescent years, many students are intrinsically drawn to the desire to be social and interacting in the classroom. My goal is to embrace their motivation by providing opportunities for them to explore, create, and learn with a variety of peers within the classroom environment. I try to provide collaboration opportunities within all subject areas while including small individual components. This helps to building organization and accountable which are both essential to future success both in and out of the classroom.
Concrete to abstraction
As I quickly noticed the Montessori classroom is filled with manipulatives and resources. Students need to be able to grasp concepts visually in order to understand the process. Once the process is understood, learners can begin to solve problems and concepts abstractly.
In the picture on the left, students are creating triangles to help them visualize the concrete object and it's dimensions. From there, students can check their work of area and perimeter to see if the answer they found was logical.
The concrete to abstract philosophy can be applied to all subject areas. Another example of a concrete material that I appreciated is the Plate Tectonics board and manipulatives. This work allows students to recreate the progression of our world from Pangea, to present, and concludes with a prediction of the future. The concept of plate tectonics is very abstract and can be difficult to understand but through the process of moving continents, students are able to see how the shifting occurs. Plate tectonics is key when students begin to explore land forms and natural disasters.
In the picture on the left, students are creating triangles to help them visualize the concrete object and it's dimensions. From there, students can check their work of area and perimeter to see if the answer they found was logical.
The concrete to abstract philosophy can be applied to all subject areas. Another example of a concrete material that I appreciated is the Plate Tectonics board and manipulatives. This work allows students to recreate the progression of our world from Pangea, to present, and concludes with a prediction of the future. The concept of plate tectonics is very abstract and can be difficult to understand but through the process of moving continents, students are able to see how the shifting occurs. Plate tectonics is key when students begin to explore land forms and natural disasters.
Life long values
As a teacher, I want to provide my students with an enriched learning experience that spreads outside of our immediate classroom. I want to teach how to be compassionate, respectful, trustworthy, and truthful. Unfortunately, these cannot be taught in one day. I try to instill these values into our everyday routine.
Last year during project term, I taught a tie-dye class. We made beautiful tie dyed masterpieces. Each student created 10 different bandannas. We decided to host a bandanna sale during lunch and donated all of the money raised to Helen DeVos Children's Hospital.
This year, my class voted to replace our classroom book exchange with a penny drive for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. The students, on the left, planned and created a donation box to help advertise our efforts. The students were very passionate about this event because many of them have a friend who battled Leukemia.
Last year during project term, I taught a tie-dye class. We made beautiful tie dyed masterpieces. Each student created 10 different bandannas. We decided to host a bandanna sale during lunch and donated all of the money raised to Helen DeVos Children's Hospital.
This year, my class voted to replace our classroom book exchange with a penny drive for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. The students, on the left, planned and created a donation box to help advertise our efforts. The students were very passionate about this event because many of them have a friend who battled Leukemia.