elementary curriculum

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Montessori Teachers Chatboard

elementary curriculum

by Sue

May 2, 2012

Hello! I just observed in a MOntessori Lower Elementary 1 today. I was totally prepared to love Montessori(I am considering teacher training)

I was not impressed. The students appeared to be quietly engaged in their work, but what I saw was students who were listless and bored, not actually doing much of anything. I spoke to a few students individually. One was copying a book about roots and stems (in his own words) He was extremely polite, knew exactly what the task was, explained copyright to me and said he needed to get going on the next step (research on one kind of root). But he was bored out of his mind and was certainly not engaged or enthusiastic about it. At one point an adult quietly suggested that he get to work or be given 5 minutes. She didn't even approach his table, just wrote his name on the board.

Another smaller boy was matching compound words. He asked for help, was told "in a minute" then the teacher went and helped someone else. He just sat and wa...See MoreHello! I just observed in a MOntessori Lower Elementary 1 today. I was totally prepared to love Montessori(I am considering teacher training)

I was not impressed. The students appeared to be quietly engaged in their work, but what I saw was students who were listless and bored, not actually doing much of anything. I spoke to a few students individually. One was copying a book about roots and stems (in his own words) He was extremely polite, knew exactly what the task was, explained copyright to me and said he needed to get going on the next step (research on one kind of root). But he was bored out of his mind and was certainly not engaged or enthusiastic about it. At one point an adult quietly suggested that he get to work or be given 5 minutes. She didn't even approach his table, just wrote his name on the board.

Another smaller boy was matching compound words. He asked for help, was told "in a minute" then the teacher went and helped someone else. He just sat and waited. I asked him to show me what he was doing. We worked through the matching cards. He had no idea what some of the compound words meant: Ear ache, toad stool and sea weed were stumpers for him. He then had to copy the words into his book. It seemed to me this lesson was out of order for him. He could sound out words, but wasn't engaged in the meaning. There were no pictures to apply, no sentences or other way to apply what he was learning. He was also bored and listless.

There were other similar individual activities going on. There was also a group doing a matching activity on the History of Writing. They were also...bored and listless and not at all engaged. Were they then going to have to copy this into a copy book?

I like the quiet environment and lack of pressure. The materials were lovely. There were TONS of books and students were using encyclopedias and dictionaries. There were lots of matching activities which IMHO do not seem to be 'higher order thinking'. There was also a LOT of copying, and in one case, the teacher had taken over and was copying into a child's book.

Is this typical of a Montessori classroom? These kids do have to take state testing, I would be very surprised if they were prepared based on our state's curriculum. I'm not challenging the montessori method, only wondering if it was appropriately applied.

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men I have never taught this age group but I have observed in a few Montessori elementary classrooms. From what you are describing sounds like a teacher lead environment rather then a authentic Montessori environment. For instance, I see no reason for a child to be copying something he has no interest in. The pre schoolers I have always had love to cop...See MoreI have never taught this age group but I have observed in a few Montessori elementary classrooms. From what you are describing sounds like a teacher lead environment rather then a authentic Montessori environment. For instance, I see no reason for a child to be copying something he has no interest in. The pre schoolers I have always had love to copy such things and they do it with great joy. What would that be necessary in an elementary classroom?

The fact that the student was "threatened" with that five minute warning and had his name on the board tells me that this classroom was not authentic in philosophy. That is a controlling technique on the part of the adult and i bristle at the thought that something like that is being used in any Montessori classroom. Was the teacher a traditional teacher before she got trained in Montessori?

Now as for the child who asked for help but waited. There could be a lot behind that story that you as an observer would not be aware of. For instance, he could be a very needy child who is gently being encouraged to become more independent. There are a lot of "behind the scenes" reasoning that you would not be privy to. It could have simply been a matter of the teacher just forgot in a busy day. However, since you said that about the "name on the blackboard" thing, I suspect it might be some reason that has nothing to do with Montessori.

Were there not any small groups or two children working together? I would think the younger boy working on compound words would ideally be paired with a child who had better mastery of the material.

I was also surprised that you were not given "observation guidelines" for sitting in on a Montessori classroom. It is always understood by other Montessori teachers and parents that as a visitor we are not to interact/talk with the children during their work period. for others visiting we always instructed the correct way to observe to not disturb or allow a child (there are always some who love the attention and will talk your head off) Their work period is to be respected just as an adult should not be interrupted at his work environment either.

Montessori classrooms are as varied in how the philosophy is implemented as there are number of classrooms. It all comes down to how the teacher internalizes the philosphy. Some are naturally better at it and some never really "get it" and fall back on ways that definitely do not follow the philosphy.

I would never decide what is "good Montessori" from just one classroom. I have literally observed in over a hundred different classrooms and the only ones that really are "alike" are the ones where the teacher has internalized the philosophy. After one has observed such a classroom, one knows what is authentic Montessori.

So, don't judge from one classroom or even one school. Observe at as many as you can before making your final decision. Maureen

May 2, 2012

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Sue Thank you for the feedback. There was definitely more going on here than I have shared. I'm glad the copying of the work isn't necessarily a montessori thing.

I'm sure that in elementary montessori when kids must take state assessments, there is a struggle to cover that content and stay true to Montessori methods. I believe it can be done ...See More

May 2, 2012

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max I think you are very perceptive.

Obtain the Montessori training, official credentials and then get your own class. Put into place what you have been trained to do and what you know is necessary. Carry it out to the best of your ability and make it as true "Montessori" as you can.

IMO, you will find road-blocks and find it is not ...See MoreI think you are very perceptive.

Obtain the Montessori training, official credentials and then get your own class. Put into place what you have been trained to do and what you know is necessary. Carry it out to the best of your ability and make it as true "Montessori" as you can.

IMO, you will find road-blocks and find it is not as easy as it should be to follow true Montessori principal...but do the best you can!!!

I trained very hard for over two years and became AMS certified only to find a schoolschool system that did not support me. It was extremely discouraging; but I did the best I could do.

MONTESSORI ROCKS!!!!

On 5/02/12, Sue wrote: > Hello! > I just observed in a MOntessori Lower Elementary 1 today. I > was totally prepared to love Montessori(I am considering > teacher training) > > I was not impressed. The students appeared to be quietly > engaged in their work, but what I saw was students who were > listless and bored, not actually doing much of anything. I > spoke to a few students individually. One was copying a > book about roots and stems (in his own words) He was > extremely polite, knew exactly what the task was, explained > copyright to me and said he needed to get going on the next > step (research on one kind of root). But he was bored out > of his mind and was certainly not engaged or enthusiastic > about it. At one point an adult quietly suggested that he > get to work or be given 5 minutes. She didn't even approach > his table, just wrote his name on the board. > > Another smaller boy was matching compound words. He asked > for help, was told "in a minute" then the teacher went and > helped someone else. He just sat and waited. I asked him > to show me what he was doing. We worked through the > matching cards. He had no idea what some of the compound > words meant: Ear ache, toad stool and sea weed were stumpers > for him. He then had to copy the words into his book. It > seemed to me this lesson was out of order for him. He could > sound out words, but wasn't engaged in the meaning. There > were no pictures to apply, no sentences or other way to > apply what he was learning. He was also bored and listless. > > There were other similar individual activities going on. > There was also a group doing a matching activity on the > History of Writing. They were also...bored and listless and > not at all engaged. Were they then going to have to copy > this into a copy book? > > I like the quiet environment and lack of pressure. The > materials were lovely. There were TONS of books and students > were using encyclopedias and dictionaries. There were lots > of matching activities which IMHO do not seem to be 'higher > order thinking'. There was also a LOT of copying, and in > one case, the teacher had taken over and was copying into a > child's book. > > Is this typical of a Montessori classroom? These kids do > have to take state testing, I would be very surprised if > they were prepared based on our state's curriculum. I'm not > challenging the montessori method, only wondering if it was > appropriately applied. > >

May 6, 2012

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Sue Thanks for the feedback...just wanted to make sure I'm not crazy! Regardless of the cause for the weird dynamic in the room (it has been confirmed that those teachers don't get along) I would be Interning under someone who only just finished her training...I need to be with someone experienced.

I'm going to observe at a small private scho...See More

May 7, 2012

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Jess On 5/07/12, Sue wrote: > Thanks for the feedback...just wanted to make sure I'm not crazy! > Regardless of the cause for the weird dynamic in the room (it has > been confirmed that those teachers don't get along) I would be > Interning under someone who only just finished her training...I > need to be with someone experienced. > ...See More

Jun 18, 2012

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