Montessori Teachers Chatboard

Join Teachers.Net

Chatboards

Recent Groups

Montessori

MEMBERS

5 Members

+ Join Group

Pinned Posts

ALLAll Teachers

Teachers.Net LIVE CHAT Support group - Tues eve!

Featured Jobs

Full-timeMontessori Teacher

Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada

TemporaryTeachers, rural schools

Peace River North School District

Full-timeHead Teacher: 2nd/3rd Grades – Mills College Children’s School

Mills College

Teaching Jobs on Teachers.Net

Featured Job special only $39!

https://teachers.net/jobs

Become a Teachers.Net sponsor!

Montessori Teachers Chatboard

Student self evaluations

by Laurel

Oct 16, 2011

I am wanting to revise my student evaluation forms which they complete before parent conferences. Any suggestions/ideas for depth and breadth? These are Montessori, upper elementary students.

Comment

report post

Planning their day in Lower elementary classroom

by CM

Oct 17, 2011

What tools you use for the students to plan their work for the day. I am new to lower elementary classroom. The ex teacher had some worksheets with Math, Language, Culture etc. and when I look at some old ones, looks like not many children filled it up. Any suggestions!!! Do you do it on daily basis or weekly basis.

Comment

(2)

report post

Cat Each student in our lower elementary classroom has a "work chart." Each one is customized for the student, but has the same basic format: five columns, and four to nine rows. Each column is labeled with the date. The rows are labeled "large math," "small math," "language," etc, corresponding with the shelving units in our classroom. Students write ...See More

Oct 25, 2011

report post

CS I had a similar concept but mine was a weekly record sheet of paper with 5 columns (M to F) & rows.

At the beginning of the year, the kids wrote in the works they were to do. But they HAD to at choose from each of the areas (Journaling, Lang, Math, Culture, Reading, etc). We used to have a 3 hr work cycle in the morning & almost an...See MoreI had a similar concept but mine was a weekly record sheet of paper with 5 columns (M to F) & rows.

At the beginning of the year, the kids wrote in the works they were to do. But they HAD to at choose from each of the areas (Journaling, Lang, Math, Culture, Reading, etc). We used to have a 3 hr work cycle in the morning & almost an hour & half in the afternoon so they had plenty of time. If they were left with *free* time, they could read, choose more work, educational group activities or I would offer suggestions.

Due to the nature of the students I had, I had to lay down the expectations that each day's work was to be completed that day (unless it was a large detailed work that could be saved) otherwise it would carry over to the next day. Rarely did they have a problem with this.

After Christmas, I amped up the weekly record sheet. I put in some specifics wrt shelf work. Each student had it individualized but throughout the week it would contain specifics like "Math facts", "Spelling review", "Sight words", "Reading groups", etc. The sight words as well as the spelling test (on Friday) was something they could give each other. They loved it!

Whatever you choose, GL & take into account the dynamics of the students in your class. Never hurts to start off slow & then crank it up later! :)

On 10/25/11, Cat wrote: > Each student in our lower elementary classroom has a "work > chart." Each one is customized for the student, but has the > same basic format: five columns, and four to nine rows. Each > column is labeled with the date. The rows are labeled "large > math," "small math," "language," etc, corresponding with the > shelving units in our classroom. Students write in each work > that they do. Most students have two to four works that are > assigned daily. They may choose when to do these works, and > there is no penalty for choosing not to do the work, so I > guess it's more of a "suggestion" than an assignment like > you'd have in a non-Montessori classroom. > > Most of the students fill out their work chart before > beginning work, deciding which works they plan to do and in > what order. I go to each of our younger/less mature/less > normalized students individually, if they've not settled onto > a work right away, and I help them to plan out two or three > works. > > Another nice thing about this method is that the work charts > go home to parents at the end of the week, so that parents > know what their child has been working on. > > On 10/17/11, CM wrote: >> What tools you use for the students to plan their work for >> the day. I am new to lower elementary classroom. The ex >> teacher had some worksheets with Math, Language, Culture >> etc. and when I look at some old ones, looks like not many >> children filled it up. Any suggestions!!! Do you do it on >> daily basis or weekly basis.

Oct 26, 2011

report post

Advice for Sensitive Issue

by MLC

Oct 19, 2011

I have a student in my class who has always been a bit difficult. He spends way too much time at home watching violent tv shows and video games. I've met with mom and dad on several occasions to limit exposure, with minimal results. I received two phone calls today from other parents saying their children are beside themselves b/c of something this...See More

Comment

(6)

report post

view previous comments

MLC Thanks for your insights, Maureen. This boy tranferred from a different state, but I can see your point with local transfers.

I have also had a few wonderful older students who have enriched the classroom with their new and different way of looking at the materials. However, caution must be exercised when accepting them (so I've recently f...See MoreThanks for your insights, Maureen. This boy tranferred from a different state, but I can see your point with local transfers.

I have also had a few wonderful older students who have enriched the classroom with their new and different way of looking at the materials. However, caution must be exercised when accepting them (so I've recently found out) and maybe several interviews should be conducted with these families.

I'll stay positive and try to find the peacefulness that is in there somewhere!!!

On 10/23/11, maureen wrote: > MLC - thanks for giving more info. You are in a difficult place now > after you know where the father stands. You do bring up a good point > though that warrants some discussion. It is in regards to your policy > to accept new four and five year olds only if they come > from "reputable" Montessori schools and are transferring. > > You said that he transferred "mid semester" last year. Did they move > there from somewhere else, or did they just decide to transfer mid year > (without the move) RED FLAG if that is the case. I have learned from > experience that I need to consider such things before accepting. I have > gotten enough students transferring from another local school over the > years, that I have found that just because the other school > is "reputable" there is almost always a good reason why the parents > want the transfer. Some parents are honest and most worked out many > parents in this situation sensed that Montessori philosophy was not > what they expected at the other school and were able to make their case > plausible. Sometimes though there are "little?" things that are > deliberately hidden from the new school. > > Did you request the boy's records from his previous school before > accepting? I have also learned to trust my gut instincts. We had four > very difficult cases that I would never wish for anyone with "transfer" > students. In three of those cases, the parents were negative about > their remarks about the previous school experience. Guess what they did > when they left us? Same thing. > > Previous to these quite intense situations, I had always been so > trusting and willing to take any child, no matter age, challenges > anything, only to find in those particular cases that my trusting > nature and belief that Montessori is for every child was challenged. I > have had several special needs children with some very challenging > behaviors in my classrooms but that was never a problem. I think that > might have been the case because the parents were 100% behind me and > the school. > > However, when the "social" problems were introduced by those four > children, and all related to home structure or lack of it and these > were older children, it WAS a problem. I began to wish I had some > social work background and a good technique and confidence to be able > to work with parents in these very unique and difficult situations to > guide them to family counselling or whatever it was that was needed. I > worked in the same school with a Montessori teacher years ago, who had > that background and I always marvelled at her ability to work through > those situations with parents who were not "on board". She has been an > extremely successful school director for many years now at a very large > school. > > In my case, my idealism was challenged and I had to really look within > myself in order to find ways to work out the problems. I finally came > to the conclusion that sometimes I was not able to work my magic and > other professionals were needed. I have never turned down an > enrollment, but in those four cases, I should have. I am not talking > hindsight, but the red flags were there, yet I chose to believe that I > could handle it. Before, I always could. Each case was very different > from the other, but all were very serious. > > I think I might have gone off on a tangent. I just wanted to go over > some thoughts I have had about transfers and maybe someone will learn > from my experience. I have had so many wonderful "new" four and five > year olds who have not even had Montessori experience enter my > classrooms over the years. I remember each one and treasure the year or > years I had with them and their families. However, when I think of > those four students and the negative impact it had on a small school, I > have to think that I got in over my head those times. I had chosen to > ignore the red flags and I got what happened. > > I do hope that you can work out your situation with your little man. It > isn't going to be easy, but it's always possible. Thanks for sharing > your situation and give us all points to consider. > > > > > > > > > > > > > >

Oct 23, 2011

report post

retired Montessori teacher.... In addition, this child most likely has significant issues; special needs. You may be the "one" that needs to get some of the services he needs set into motion...not an easy task...especially in a small school. Children's behaviors are purpose driven (behaviors do not occur in a vaccum...there is a reason)...sometimes children just need more help t...See More

Nov 2, 2011

report post

What should I do? :(

by Brenna

Nov 4, 2011

This is my 8th year teaching & I just started teaching a 3 & 4 year old classroom 2 months ago.

This school is new (a year old) & the management is ridiculous, the parents are quite nonresponsive & have no clue about Montessori or their child's skills/needs yet they want their child reading & writing like 1st graders. <...See More

Comment

(4)

report post

view previous comments

Tell them NOW that you won't be back after winter break They should have no problem at all replacing you, and sticking around until then will give them plenty of time to do it.

Just leave this job off your resume so that when you're interviewing, you don't have to explain why you quit midyear.

On 11/04/11, Brenna wrote: > This is my 8th year teaching & I just started teaching a ...See More

Nov 5, 2011

report post

Lamplighters Are you looking for work? Immediate opening at my school... Located in Brooklyn NY

On 11/04/11, Brenna wrote: > This is my 8th year teaching & I just started teaching a 3 > & 4 year old classroom 2 months ago. > > This school is new (a year old) & the management is > ridiculous, the parents are quite nonresponsi...See More

Jan 22, 2012

report post

Festival of lights

by CM

Nov 13, 2011

Hi Everyone,

Need you recommendation on songs for the festival of lights celebration for lower elementary children. Look forward to some suggestions! Thanks,

Comment

report post