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Montessori Teachers Chatboard

Montessori & themes? (HELP)

by CS

Mar 5, 2013

Do any of you teachers have themes in your Montessori classrooms? In the school I work at, they have monthly themes (some are relevant to the month, others are not).

For e.g. Sept theme is Human Body, 5 senses, Nutrition & Nov theme is US/Native Americans. While I like to do Social Studies activities based on interesting activities each month, I don't particularly see the relevance to working on a theme (for e.g. "Dinosaurs") if it has nothing to do with a month. We have a Dinosaur & Texas theme for March.

Thanks!

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maureen On 3/05/13, CS wrote: > Do any of you teachers have themes in your Montessori > classrooms? In the school I work at, they have monthly > themes (some are relevant to the month, others are not). > > For e.g. Sept theme is Human Body, 5 senses, Nutrition & > Nov theme is US/Native Americans. While I like to do Social > Studie...See MoreOn 3/05/13, CS wrote: > Do any of you teachers have themes in your Montessori > classrooms? In the school I work at, they have monthly > themes (some are relevant to the month, others are not). > > For e.g. Sept theme is Human Body, 5 senses, Nutrition & > Nov theme is US/Native Americans. While I like to do Social > Studies activities based on interesting activities each > month, I don't particularly see the relevance to working on > a theme (for e.g. "Dinosaurs") if it has nothing to do with > a month. We have a Dinosaur & Texas theme for March. > > Thanks!

CS: I wasn't into themes that weren't related to the month or holiday either. I never did dinosaurs in the classroom either. Most preschoolers knew a whole lot more then I did on that subject anyway. lol Actually, other then using "seasonal" colors throughout the room like in PL, art, maybe cultural, I didn't really have a theme. Each year was different when it came to which countries or continents we might focus on through out the year. Often I would choose a culture that I had parents representing so I could tap into that resource. Even when I worked in a large school, I didn't follow the rest of the classrooms. For instance, I absolutely refused to have a costume party with a parade where the parents distributed candy for Halloween. I closed my doors and simply had our own thing going on.

I would focus on our state when someone pulled out the state map with all the counties as a puzzle work. I grew up in our state so I knew a lot of interesting tidbits about various places around the state and could "humanize it". However, we never had a state theme for the entire classroom.

I was always given the freedom to follow my own ideas in my classroom so I was fortunate in that manner. I saved my "battles" for the really big things and I worked years to wear them down indirectly. Sometimes I could do it. Sometimes they were too resistant. Yet, I felt strongly enough about themes in a Montessori classroom that I asked for that autonomy. I didn't want to come across as a rebel, yet I wanted to stay true to my beliefs. Following themes dictated by the school is not my idea of following the child. Don't you think so too?

Mar 5, 2013

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CS Completely agree. But then again, I teach lower & upper elementary so the themes are listed as a school wide thing which I am expected to follow. But dinosaurs in March? I just can't see the relevance & it's very much bothering me. But I am somewhat fortunate enough to independently manage my classroom (for most part).

But I will d...See MoreCompletely agree. But then again, I teach lower & upper elementary so the themes are listed as a school wide thing which I am expected to follow. But dinosaurs in March? I just can't see the relevance & it's very much bothering me. But I am somewhat fortunate enough to independently manage my classroom (for most part).

But I will do what I know to be right by Maria Montessori. Thanks so much Maureen. I've missed your advice!

On 3/05/13, maureen wrote: > On 3/05/13, CS wrote: >> Do any of you teachers have themes in your Montessori >> classrooms? In the school I work at, they have monthly >> themes (some are relevant to the month, others are not). >> >> For e.g. Sept theme is Human Body, 5 senses, Nutrition & >> Nov theme is US/Native Americans. While I like to do Social >> Studies activities based on interesting activities each >> month, I don't particularly see the relevance to working on >> a theme (for e.g. "Dinosaurs") if it has nothing to do with >> a month. We have a Dinosaur & Texas theme for March. >> >> Thanks! > > > CS: I wasn't into themes that weren't related to the month or > holiday either. I never did dinosaurs in the classroom either. > Most preschoolers knew a whole lot more then I did on that > subject anyway. lol Actually, other then using "seasonal" > colors throughout the room like in PL, art, maybe cultural, I > didn't really have a theme. Each year was different when it > came to which countries or continents we might focus on > through out the year. Often I would choose a culture that I > had parents representing so I could tap into that resource. > Even when I worked in a large school, I didn't follow the rest > of the classrooms. For instance, I absolutely refused to have > a costume party with a parade where the parents distributed > candy for Halloween. I closed my doors and simply had our own > thing going on. > > I would focus on our state when someone pulled out the state > map with all the counties as a puzzle work. I grew up in our > state so I knew a lot of interesting tidbits about various > places around the state and could "humanize it". However, we > never had a state theme for the entire classroom. > > I was always given the freedom to follow my own ideas in my > classroom so I was fortunate in that manner. I saved > my "battles" for the really big things and I worked years to > wear them down indirectly. Sometimes I could do it. Sometimes > they were too resistant. Yet, I felt strongly enough about > themes in a Montessori classroom that I asked for that > autonomy. I didn't want to come across as a rebel, yet I > wanted to stay true to my beliefs. Following themes dictated > by the school is not my idea of following the child. Don't you > think so too?

Mar 5, 2013

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