Montessori Sensorial learning

I've previously posted about various aspects of Montessori, but this youtube video really explains how children are learning in an environment where there's no start and end time to a lesson. Instead, children are introduced to a lesson, and then have the open work time to do that activity to its completion, then, put it away and select a new work.

Many of these activities can be introduced at home as well and give additional ideas on how to have an open learning environment that captures all the senses and engages independent learners. While an AMI school will use products that are known to meet specific standards for quality and consistency, places likes Montessori Outlet will give you a start to a great home environment and Amazon has a small selection of Montessori Supplies

Forcing "please" and other niceties and attachment parenting

At first I was against such things as forced apologies and such "niceties" but then I realized how I feel when someone says something that could "use" a "please" and realized something isn't forced if it is natural. We can teach our children to have manners without it being forced. First by modeling that behavior, being around others who feel the same and also through real life experience. Grace and such are important tenets of a Montessori education and I'm very happy to hear our daughter singing her manners song... 

Now for it to translate to something that's easily done :)

Here are the words to the song our daughter has picked up from school.

Montessori Songs - Teaching manners

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As previously mentioned, my 4 year old is attending Montessori full time as part of the "three year" 3-6 year old program. Next year our plan is to have our now 2 year old attend as well. It will be interesting to see how they are when they're both learning at the same place. Though, of course, they'll learn on their own pace.

One song that my daughter has been singing lately is a song about manners:

Please and thank you, please and thank you 

sound so nice, sound so nice

Manners are important, manners are important 

Be polite. Be polite. 

What a nice reminder!


Related Posts:
What happens at a Montessori School
Changing from AMS to AMI montessori

A padded room too much for your elementary school student?

Within a two miles of my house we have a three or four public elementary schools. Since we plan to do the traditional "three year kindergarten" Montessori for our children, we still have to determine the "next step" as to what schooling means for our children.

We are hesitant to use the local public schools because it is known that Arizona lacks, overall, in educational goals and attainment.  Graduation rates are low, rankings are low (this link says AZ is 50th), which is why many choose charter, home, or private schools.

The nearest school is considered to be highly ranked in AZ, and a few others nearby are also considered decent. Decent as in "ok" - definitely not a bad school, but not highly performing. GreatShools.net ranks it a "7" which is pretty good for AZ actually.

But, what part of "ok" is a padded room for 5 year olds? Check out this article on "padded" seclusion rooms for kids to calm down? Even if my kid doesn't "need" this... what does it say about what the school thinks of my kid's classmates? Apparently the school district and the state of AZ allows both seclusion and restraints within the public schools. Desert Sage Elementary school has, hidden within their walls, a padded room, just for their students who happen to need some time to calm down.

The local television station broke a story regarding the padded "time out" room for elementary schools.

http://www.azfamily.com/news/Elementary-school-faces-lawsuit-over-padded-seclusion-room-170441246.html

I have to feel for the family in the above story. Their child has FOOD allergies which affect behavior. Unfortunately many people do not realize how food does affect our bodies... Now to the extent that a padded room is needed?

Even with the procedures mentioned in that video, are we still doing service to our kids? I mean, we know food affects behavior and we generally do not have the best of food in cafeterias. Then, for kids with food allergies, there are even more potential issues.

Aside of the food issues, is it okay to have a padded seclusion room for elementary kids? I mean, a prisoner would be placed in one of these, or someone going for a psych evaluation, but I'm sure they have a much more stringent policies going on in those situations...

Does your nearby schools have something similar? What would you do if your kiddo was placed in one and you were notified at the end of the day about it? And, would the parents even know what this seclusion was?

When you enroll your student in a school, WHY do you need to ask what types of "time outs" or "restraints" are used if your child needs to "cool down?"

Things that make you go hmmm....

Montessori and I know it

Not the best parody but practical... and my daughter loved pointing out what things she has at her school :)

Do you have a favorite parody video?

What happens in a Montessori school?

Our daughter started a new preschool today - we continue with Montessori but changed schools so we could forego a long drive for an AMS and made the transition to an AMI school.

A parent meeting was held Monday night that my husband attended (room for only one parent at the meeting) and he indicated many of the parents there had no clue what Montessori was. So the 1 hour meeting on policies (such as no flashy shoes, no characters on shirts, bring extra clothes in a gallon bag with their name on it (I forgot, we didn't have any plastic gallon bags, so I did go today... just a bit behind on that!!) turned into almost two hours because apparently the questions on what curriculum and at what time X would be taught just kept coming (according to my husband). To be honest, half the kids in my daughter's new class are from India where "montessori" is flung around for so many playgroups/preschools and "sounds good" but the parents really (apparently) do not know what Montessori is, but the school is close and they hear good things. Since any one can use the word Montessori, it is important to know if the school is AMI or AMS recognized and what is happening in the classroom!


The good things are there, but if you're looking for an A+ or 12 hours of homework each weekend, it ain't happening at a Montessori school! Of course no environment is best for EVERY kid, but for us it seems to be working well and our daughter is making gains and is happy with her work.

On meet the teacher day, she worked
with a screwdriver and  put together
 a flashlight to make it work, batteries and all!

First, Montessori is an investment - it really needs 2, or preferably 3 years. Since they use a lot of scaffolding and mixed age groups, it allows kids to grow into it - I like to think of it as 3 years of kindergarten, which is our plan as is. Yes, most who graduate from two or three years there come out writing in paragraphs (in an AMI school, in cursive), knowing their continents and many countries, knowing more about the environment than most adults remember probably too!

But really it is about children CHOOSING their work. So to the parent who apparently asked "what will you do if my child is behind" .... your child will not be behind in what they choose to emphasize, but really... three years of the same thing won't likely be happening, so invest the time (and often money) and your child will likely be ahead of the game.

Not only do the children choose their work, they do it from a PREPARED environment. They have standard materials that is works well to use many senses at once.  EXTENSIONS are used at school to keep a child learning in the new work as well.

My worry about sending my children from Montessori to public school, potentially may be an issue... I want my kids to learn on their pace. If they're behind, they catch up because they can focus their work and not have to move on. If they're ahead of the game, they're not WAITING for other kids to "get it" and in the mean-time sit and find ways to get attention or get in trouble.

I'm not an expert in Montessori but it is our choice for education for our children.

For a better explanation this youtube video is a great explanation of why some parents choose Montessori.

Changing from AMS to AMI Montessori change

Montessori is a term that is not trade marked so any one can school or day care can say "Montessori" but Montessori certified or member schools in most parts of the world fall under an umbrella such as AMI or AMS.

A true Montessori school, in my view, includes the basic open environment for mixed-age groups, follows the scaffolding approach (as well as watch/learn/do/teach) as well as the physical materials (by a manufacturer who understands the materials and importance). However, some people are more "pro AMI" and others "pro AMS" than I am. But one would say you can't be open to other philosophies and be a true proponent of AMI.


Just having an open environment without a TV on does not make a home daycare a "montessori" environment, even though it is legal (as Montessori is not copyright/trademarked), a family has to know what options they have and what a Montessori school is.


AMI is the original standard for Montessori, and different countries have affiliated associations. For example, in India, schools often advertise as Montessori but aren't listed on any certification nor do they advertise their Montessori styles. Indian Montessori Foundation takes a census of schools to help weed through the many listed schools, but, their website discloses that listing doesn't endorse or recommend... Which means what to a family?

What is AMI?

Association Montessori Internationale was found in 1929 by Dr. Maria Montessori, for whom "Montessori" is named. Montessori is a prepared environment where by the schools affiliated with AMI follow through and have the same materials (by set manufacturers), same in-person trainings, and are audited and certified. The teachers are certified as well as the administrators to ensure there is thorough understanding of Montessori.

What is AMS?

American Montessori Society was found in 1960 by individuals who wished to revive Montessori education in the United States. Many of the general philosophies remain same or similar (enough) to the outsider that we may not see a difference. AMS, however, does not require their schools to be certified, but instead schools can self police and  be member schools. An accredited school would have many similarities to an AMI school in their required philosophies, 50% certified Montessori member teacher (but training for AMI and AMS differs) as well as the head of the school being a member. Each head teacher in a full member accredited school would be Montessori trained (from AMI, or other even). AMS have various memberships and a school has three years to become a full member school.

Schools that are full members of AMS or accredited by AMS require the lead teacher in every classroom to hold Montessori credentials from an accredited Montessori teacher education program. Associate AMS-member schools also provide credentialed teachers, although not necessarily in every classroom.

One benefit to many families, especially when there may only be one income is that AMS does not require a 5 day school week of children starting at age 2.5-3. While a child going 2 days a week will not get "as much" out of 5 days a week, for some families private preschool is just not within the budget. Some is better than none, right?

What does a change mean? 

Not all schools accept Montessori transfer between accreditation/styles. In the interviewing we did, most were open to our daughter's transfer - indicating that at age 4, she could still get 2-3 years in primary and engage either way.


I like that an AMI school has training on Montessori for families, so that they can support the same ideals at home. A big change for us will be letter recognition. Since our daughter is changing from an AMS school, we need to go from Print recognition to Cursive.