Change is good

Transition, adaptation, flexibility--all are words I can now say out loud quite comfortably. Along with this year of change I have been afforded a gift of time--for observing, reflecting, exploring. While taking a break from daily classroom work I have been able to walk further down some paths that I had meant to traverse long ago.
One of those paths is researching and writing about Montessori student outcomes. While I still have this time off from teaching I hope to complete our own MCH alumni survey and send it off to the AMS research committee. I will post it here, as well, and share what I'm sure will be interesting and positive findings on the lives of our former students.
Of course, any research like this about Montessori students will be quite different from test based data, etc. It is always a pleasure to talk with former students and families about their time in a Montessori classroom and what they feel the benefits have been. The following post from Montessori Answers is one I have shared often and recommend to parents when they ask about "life after Montessori".
Stay flexible in 2015--change is definitely good!

After Montessori

I often receive questions similar to the one below: 
  • "I want my daughter to have a good education so that she will be able to support her self and never have to relie on anyone for anything.   Will she get a good enough education with Montessori system that a college or University will notice this some say that children who are schooled the montessori way don't make it big.   My daughter says she wants to be a doctor this may never happen but if it does I am I placing her the right direction."
The first thing I do is to have the asker read the article:
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What Are The Real Benefits of Sending a Child to Montessori?" by Tim Seldin.

After that, I then have them read my response to a similar question:
How do most children adjust to a traditional school after being in a Montessori School?


Additionally, I point them to all the scientifically based research on Montessori Education showing that children in Montessori schools, (both public and private), do better on standardized tests. (Not that I believe that a high standardized test score is the "be all and end all", but many people sadly do, and so it is a relief for them to know this information.)

Then I point them the the myriad of articles, such as the ones below, from everything from the BBC to Fox News, that state that children educated with the Montessori Method do better both in school and in their future endeavors:
 But people still want "proof".  Are there any famous people who went to Montessori Schools? Has the Montessori Method produced any Graduates of Distinction ?" people keep on asking. The answer is an overwhelming, "YES", and yet I was resistant to posting a list of graduates on my web page. I felt as if this was implying that if you put your child in a Montessori school, that they would automatically end up as one of the people on the list. I really had a problem with that implication. Let's face it, all forms of education have their graduates of distinction. More so, we have all heard of a person who seemingly without any outside intervention or unique learning environment, achieved something extraordinary.

But the letters kept coming asking for a list of famous Montessori graduates . I eventually decided to give people what they were looking for and started to compile a list. Even I was impressed.

  • The youngest Noble Peace Prize nominee is a Montessori graduate
  • The youngest Rhodes Scholar is a Montessori graduate
  • The youngest artist to exhibit at the United Nations is a Montessori graduate.

It was while researching the information for this page that I noticed something.  Most forms of education have produced famous graduates, but most of these graduates are in a certain field. Waldorf graduates are predominately in the arts, East Coast prep school graduates go mainly into business, law and politics.  Montessori graduates, on the other hand, are across the board; computer engineering, literature, art, medicine, politics, acting, ... As I reflected upon this, I realized that this, more than the "scientifically based research" and the "education articles", the list of our famous graduates proves that Montessori Education does exactly what it sets out to do, it doesn't force children into a mold, it doesn't work just for one type of child, instead, when done correctly, Montessori Education helps each child reach their full potential, whether that potential is in art, science, literature, computers, music, performance, ...
I am no longer hesitant to give you this  to give you this list:

Computers


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Larry Page and Sergey Brinfounders of the  Internet search engine Google.com, have stated many times that their years as Montessori students were a major factor behind their success.  They say that going to a Montessori school taught them to be self directed self starters that could think for themselves.  They also state that a Montessori education gave them the freedom to pursue their own interests allowing them to "think outside the box".


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William Wright - an American computer game designer who's greatest success to date is as the original designer for The Sims games series; the best-selling PC game in history.

Wright
states that he enjoyed Montessori's emphasis on creativity, problem solving, and self-motivation. ."Montessori taught me the joy of discovery...It showed you can become interested in pretty complex theories, like Pythagorean theory, say, by playing with blocks. It’s all about learning on your terms, rather than a teacher explaining stuff to you. SimCity comes right out of Montessori—if you give people this model for building cities, they will abstract from it principles of urban design."  Read more about Will Wright and Montessori in:
Maria Montessori: The 138-Year-Old Inspiration Behind Spore



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 Jeffrey P. Bezos - founder of Amazon.com Inc., the most dominant retailer on the Internet, attended a Montessori School. By his mother's account, the young Jeffrey got so engrossed in the details of activities at his Montessori school that teachers had to pick him up in his chair to move him to new tasks.


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Jimmy Wales co-founder of Wikipedia As a child, Wales was a avid  reader with an acute intellectual curiosity. This he credits to the influence of the Montessori Method on the school's philosophy of education. According to him he "spent lots of hours pouring over the Britannicas and World Book Encyclopedias"

Literature


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Gabriel Garcia Marquez -  Nobel Prize winner for Literature attended Montessori de Aracataca for 5 years and credited his time there with making him fall in love with language.He said that Montessori Education gave him the desire him to "kiss literature" and: "the taste instilled to him to go to the school, not only see literature but to write it.".


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Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis - editor for Doubleday, former first lady attended a Montessori school where she was initially described as a "headstrong child". Through her time there, she learned to focus her behavior and academic pursuits.


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Katherine Graham - owner/editor of the Washington Post attended a Montessori pre-school where the newspaper owner first learned to read and write, instilling a love of the written word that would stay with her her whole life. "The Montessori Method- learning by doing-once again became my stock in trade..." from Personal History by Katharine Graham.


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T. Berry Brazelton - noted pediatrician and author Major hospitals throughout the world use the Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (NBAS). Many parents know him as the host of a cable television program What Every Baby Knows, and as author of a syndicated newspaper column. Dr. Brazelton has written more than two hundred scholarly papers and twenty four books. 


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Anne Frank - renowned World War II diarist.  According to her friend Hanneli Goslar, Anne showed aptitude for reading and writing at an early age., a talent that was nurtured in her Montessori school. She frequently wrote at school, and was outspoken, energetic, and extroverted, telling all, from a young age, that one day she wanted to be a published author.

Music


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Beyonce Knowles - An American Pop/R&B singer, songwriter, actress and fashion designer. Born and raised in Houston, Texas, she  attended  St. Mary of the Purification Montessori School  for her elementary years. She rose to fame in the late 1990s as the lead singer of the R&B girl group Destiny's Child, one of the world's best-selling girl groups of all time.


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Joshua Bell - American violinist and the owner of Stradivarius violin began taking violin lessons at the age of four after his mother discovered her son had taken rubber bands from around the house and stretched them across the handles of his dresser drawer to pluck out music he had heard her play on the piano.


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Lea Salonga - multi-awarded singer and Broadway actress best known for her role as Miss Saigon.  She is recognized for having won the Olivier, Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics, and Theatre World Awards,as well as being the first  Asian to play Eponine in the musical Les Miserables on Broadway. Ms Salonga was first exposed to acting while attending a Montessori school in , Metro Manila.


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Sean "P. Diddy” Combs - rapper and CEO of Bad Boy Records says he felt fortunate to attend Mount Vernon Montessori School during his childhood, "I feel like I was nurtured into wanting to be somebody special," he recalls.

Art


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Friedensreich Hundertwasser - Austrian painter and architect attended a Montessori school in Vienna, which influenced both his affinity for vibrant colors and respect of nature. He collected pebbles and pressed flowers as a child, demonstrating an interest in items that are precious and small at an early age, which later manifested itself in his collections of Venetian glass and Japanese fabrics.

Business


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Peter Drucker - Management Guru is known as the father of modern management. A prolific writer, business consultant and lecturer, he introduced many management concepts that have been embraced by corporations around the world. 

Performance Art



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David Blaine - magician, endurance artist and advocate of "street magic"


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Mathew Bronsil - Puppeteer and Comedian was "Montessori" from the day he was conceived being the child of two Montessori teachers. Matt now, not only does stand-up improvisational comedy, but is a Montessori pre-school teacher.

Acting


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Dakota Fanning - actor - attended a Montessori school in Georgia before she moved to CA to become an actor.“I learned to read at two. I was in a Montessori school and they teach you to read really, really young.”


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Alan Ricmanis a renowned English stage actor and theater director known for  both his modern and classical productions. He is a former member of the Royal Shakespeare Company, and is known best for his film performances as Hans Gruber in Die Hard, Severus Snape in the Harry Potter film series, Eamon de Valera in Michael Collins, and Metatron in Dogma. As a child Rickman attended Derwentwater Primary School, in Acton, a school that followed the Montessori method of education.

Anne Hathaway


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One of People magazine's breakthrough stars of 2001, Anne Hathaway became a children's role model with the making of films such as The Princess Diaries and Ella Enchanted. She transitioned into more mature dramatic roles after The Princess Diaries 2, being nominated for both an Academy Award and a Golden Globe in 2010 for her role in Rachael Getting Married.  Later that year she hosted the  Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Oslo, Norway, and in 2011 co-hosted the 83 Academy Awards.


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 Elizabeth Berridge - award-winning theatre actor best known for her tour-de-force in Milos Forman's Amadeus or her comedic turns on The John Larroquette Show and Grounded For Life.


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George Clooney - Academy Award-wining actor


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Julia Child - first world-famous television chef who clearly enjoyed her work. She exuded a sense of fun, and inspired others to try new things. she also credited her Montessori experience with her love of working with her hand, finding fun in her work, and her joy of working with others. 


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Melissa Gilbert - actor/director- most famous for portraying author Laura Ingalls on Little House on the Prairie1974 - 1983


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Sara Gilbert  - an American actress best known for her role as Darlene Conner-Healy from 1988–1997 in the U.S. sitcom Roseanne.


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Helen Hunt - Academy Award-winning actress


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Kami Cotler - actress (youngest child on long-running series The Waltons)

Children of Famous Politicians


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Prince William and Prince Harry - sons of Prince Charles and Princess Dianna of Wales


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Chelsea Clinton - Daughter of President  Bill and Hillary Clinton


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Princess Eugenie of York  - the younger daughter of  Prince Andrew, Duke of York and Sarah, Duchess of York.

Montessori in China

Whew! I'm back from a rather quick trip to the other side of the world and amazed in many ways. My happiest amazement came at the proliferation of Montessori schools in Asia since my time there. It has been sixteen years since I boxed up and shuttered Montessori Children's House of Sai Kung outside of Hong Kong. It was one of a handful of schools in the region and now the Montessori community there has just hosted their first professional conference. What's even more amazing is the growth of Montessori (even elementary) on the mainland. Hooray! It looks like a wave of the future on the Chinese education scene. This, of course, means big things for the world. Maria would be proud.

My trainer at NYU, Marlene Barron, has done a lot of work to introduce authentic teacher training in China. She is featured in these two videos.

 

 
Shanghai, where I visited last week, has so many Montessori schools it was hard to choose which ones to visit. According to this video, Shanghai is leading a new "revolution" in learning in China.

Real language experiences

As I head out of the country I feel compelled to post yet another reflection on the danger of losing an important component in human development--language. The losing of it is occurring in the cyber filled nature of children's language "interaction". This occurs in the form of e-readers, iPad games, and the like. Much has been written lately about thus subject and I am happy to read about the research being done on the possible effects on children's development. Much like the nature deficit defined by Richard Louv in recent years, there appears to loom a language deficit. There is no understating the negative effects caused by a lessened experience in language (not to mention movement) in the young child. The early language and literacy deficit is revealed in the varied research done on the achievement gap plaguing our nation's schools, but is not limited to the conventionally cited groups in this discussion. What of the car seat bound suburbanite child restricted to interacting with the leap pad? Or the youngster pushed on the swing while a cell phone conversation takes the place of appropriate language interaction? A pervasive language neglect may prove to dumb down all children to the point of some serious struggles with surrounding reading. Reading is being able to understand written language. Written language is based entirely on the spoken word. When I say reading begins at birth, I mean that as we hear our first word, we begin the road to reading. 
As I board a plane to the other side of the globe I plan to ready myself to observe the language interactions from the perspective afforded to a language outsider. I hope to find that universal human element alive and active. The electronic devices I feel are robbing our young children of successful language experiences are manufactured in the continent I'm traveling to, let's see if their influence is similarly influential on the degradation of language development there.

The Art of Creating the Perfect Arrival



As a young parent I remember watching in awe as more seasoned friends effortlessly dropped off their children for preschool. Little did I know that many preparations had been done “behind the scenes” to make the event seem so effortless. Through much experience I now know that a child’s successful arrival for school rates right up there with “you get what you plan for.”  And it is definitely worth doing well because the child’s arrival defines the child’s day.  Here are the ingredients for a successful arrival:

The night before:

  • provide a nutritious evening meal free of harmful additives (videos, television, cell phones, computers …) accompanied by interested and interesting family members
  • arrange the selection of next day’s clothing for easy access
  • gather and place all necessary items the child will need for school in one prepared place that is used consistently (tote bag, lunch box, jacket, any notes or correspondence, a book to read while waiting in arrival line …)
  • provide a soothing, unhurried bedtime preparation (bath, story-time, lights out …)
  • ensure ample, undisturbed sleep for child and self

The next day:


  • arise early enough to greet your child with genuine warmth
  • assist only as needed as child dresses for school (no switching outfits, stick to the plan!)
  • provide ample time for routine chores (making bed, grooming, assembling lunch …)
  • provide a nutritious breakfast free of harmful additives (video, television, cell phone, computers, newspapers, magazines …) yet injected with authentic camaraderie (no eating in the car en route)
  • provide ample time for your child to collect items from the pre-arranged storage space, all assembled neatly in appropriate containers (totes, lunchboxes …)
  • provide ample time for child to put on outer wraps, outdoor shoes, and assist only as needed – the key is AMPLE TIME
  • have a signal for load up time that is consistent and stick to it (“Wagons ho!” “Get ‘em up! Move ‘em out!”)  Be sure your child knows that he is expected to be ready.  Most schools will accept children in pajamas!
  • have everyone assemble at a pre-designated place, make a quick survey to note that all is in readiness, lock up and load up
  • A VERY IMPORTANT STEP: provide plenty of travel time for unhurried, unharrassed, safe travel
  • arrive on time!  You are not only getting to school on time, you are building awareness in your child of responsibility, reliability and respect for her school community and its expectations.  You are also providing the tone for the child’s entire school day.
  • pull into the appropriate line of cars, settle back, and wait patiently.  Perhaps read quietly from the book you so wisely planned for the night before, or have quiet conversation about what you see about you.
  • keep your child seated and belted in until assisted to leave the car
  • say your brief goodbye to your child before the assistant opens the car door. Make it upbeat and cheerful – and very brief.  Prolonged goodbyes and hand- holding serve to increase the child’s anxiety about separating from you.  A brief, uplifting goodbye says, “I have every confidence in you and your school.  You will have a fine day!”  Children are amazingly intuitive about our true feelings.
  • recognize that, if you have done all of the afore-mentioned items, the remainder of arrival is the work of the assistant, the teacher and the child
  • allow the assistant to accept your child, to include assisting her from her seat as necessary
  • as soon as the assistant and child are safely clear of the car, drive away with complete confidence that you have worked hard to create an arrival that will start your child’s day off beautifully
  • repeat daily because, as everyone knows (parent as well as educator), repetition breeds perfection

 

Technology and other summer musings

Ah, summer, with its gift of time to reflect and renew for most educators. Here is a bit of reflection for all on technology use for the young child.
Steven Hughes interview (see min 29-35)
During the school year I don't always have the time to study this topic as I should, but I do feel very strongly about it. For a touchstone on technology usage I often seek out advice from guru David Walsh. Here's his take on things.
The Trouble With Paying Attention podcast

Richard Louv at the Top Coast Forum

After a successful and happy summer session in June it was so inspiring to listen to this broadcast on MPR. We at MCH have long been followers of Louv's wisdom. In fact, his book "Last Child in the Woods" was a guiding influence in our development eight years ago. Our school grounds and natural playground are an endless source of joy and well-being to all of us at Montessori Children's House--young and old. May it ever be so.
Here is the MPR audio cast from the Top Coast Forum at the University of Minnesota on May 31, 2014.







International Mud Day!

Get Ready for Mud Day 2014!

International Mud Day 2014 is right around the corner! Join us all over the world in a day of splashing, rolling, squishing, sliding, making mud pies, and more!  Now’s the time to spread the word about how you will celebrate.  Tell us in our WoFoNet Mud Day Conversation and share your ideas on our Mud Day Facebook Page.

The Nature Action Collaborative for Children offers a number of resources for planning your Mud Day, including photos of previous Mud Days, articles, books about mud, and Mud Day logos (like the one you see here) to use in your newsletters or websites.
 

 

 

The Joy of Summer

How glorious it is to be in our outdoor classroom finally!
The summer program has burst into full bloom with so many friends coming each day to enjoy the lovely environment outside at MCH. We couldn't ask for a better place to spend time with each other and revel in all the fun of a summer day.





Montessori Education Week

From our friends at FOR SMALL HANDS

"And so we discovered that education is not something which the teacher does, but that it is a natural process which develops spontaneously in the human being."
—Maria Montessori
Montessori Education Week: February 23 to March 1, 2014
This time of year, we Montessorians celebrate the history and success of the Montessori method, and recognize the contributions of Dr. Montessori herself. Children are introduced to Maria Montessori, the real person who created the classroom materials children use every day. Schools often find ways to promote further understanding of Montessori education in their larger communities. There are so many delightful ways for schools, teachers, families, and training centers to celebrate this week!

"Education should no longer be mostly imparting of knowledge, but must take a new path, seeking the release of human potentialities."
—Maria Montessori


What can one person do?
What if there were one simple, personal way to incorporate this week into your life and work? A way to improve your time with children and deepen your understanding of the Montessori method... A little something to do in a thoroughly Montessori way...

Here it is: Sit still. Yes, that impossible task. Sit and be quiet. Sit and observe.

Sit and notice all the things your child or children are doing. Children do come with instruction manuals—all you have to do is sit patiently, watch, and listen. They will tell you everything if you are quiet enough to hear it. You'll see their perspective on things, the way they physically interact with their environment and the things in it, their preferences for work, and their curiosities.

This is how Montessorians "follow the child" and, frankly, we can't help but marvel at each child and the infinite potential right in front of our eyes.

Sit and observe your children at play. Sit and wonder as you notice what activities they choose when they are alone and what things they prefer to do with others. How they speak to different friends. How they integrate themselves into a group, how they hang back sometimes. Sitting back and observing is integral to understanding who our children are. Isn't that the ultimate gift for them and us?

Sit and observe areas in your home or classroom. How are they functioning? Are the children successful in these areas or do cabinets, shelves, or drawers, need simplifying or a little reorganizing? Can you provide something for the children in the environment so that, next time, they can follow their urges and complete their responsibilities by themselves?

"Education demands, then, only this: the utilization of the inner powers of the child for his own instruction... There is a part of a child's soul that has always been unknown but which must be known...since it means the bringing forth of an indispensable element for the moral progress of mankind."
—Maria Montessori


Observation illuminates the path ahead.
Observing is the ultimate education on what matters most...the children themselves. It gives us the understanding we need to proceed in serving the child on his or her own unique path. Whether you are a teacher or a parent, observing can foster more positive relationships, allow for independence and growth in your child, and ensure greater satisfaction and fulfillment for you.

As teachers, this is our most important work and sometimes the hardest to squeeze in, as we attempt to ensure that each child is getting the lessons needed at the right time and take care of all else that needs to be done for the classroom itself. Yet, we find a way.

As parents, observing can be tough. We aren't always objective. It can be hard to hang back, and it can be the last thing on our minds as we are busy multi-tasking and managing a busy family life. Yet, observing is truly the most illuminating gift—the gift of understanding our children.

—Kelly Griffith Mannion, M. Ed. Kelly's credentials include a Montessori Primary and a Lower Elementary Credential, as well as a Master's of Education in Early Childhood, Montessori Education. Kelly has worn many Montessori hats, acting at various times as a teacher, administrator, teacher trainer, and board member. Her current passion is the creation of a public Montessori Elementary Charter School in Petaluma, CA.

Lunar New Year of the Horse

We always feel so connected to the larger world when we celebrate Chinese New Year at MCH. It has become such an anticipated tradition for us and a bit of a rite of passage for the oldest students who lead the parade. At this year's celebration we welcomed back our teacher, Shana, who just returned from a trip AROUND THE WORLD. She shared about her travels and brought a coin for each child from one of the eight stops on her journey, giving them yet one more way to feel connected to places far a way from our little Minnesota town.
Happy Year of the Horse!

Polar Express

Wow!
Returning to Northfield and school in this weather is rough. We will be safe and wise in our winter environment and keep the doors to MCH closed on Monday 1/6 and Tuesday 1/7. Everyone stay warm!