Blogs relating to Behavior-Specific
John Lennon was belting it out on my Sirius radio this morning: “All we are saying….is Give Peace a Chance.” (Enjoy a moment of humming that tune!) It felt synchronous because I was returning to a school that spoke commitment to peace and unity at every turn. Community Montessori School in Jackson, Tennessee is a …
‘You are a new (hu)man that must adapt to this new world. Go on triumphantly. I am here to help you.’ ” Maria Montessori – The 1946 London Lectures This quote, a new one to me, landed so perfectly as a reflection of recent work I’m doing with a specialized Montessori program whose staff faces …
There’s a lot of frustration in the Montessori community. By this time of year, experienced guides expect their classrooms to be buzzing with focused excitement. Typically, you’d find even the youngest students choosing work and finding interest in the prepared activities on the shelves. But this year is different. And Montessori teachers around the globe …
Maria Montessori called it deviant behavior…deviant from the normal, focused, concentrated attention to activity that she realized could be achieved by all children given a stimulating environment, freedom within limits set by a code of respect, gentle guidance and time to explore. The last few weeks, ever since the first four to six weeks of …
The problem we face are students whose behavior is not settling in to what we Montessori guides call normalized. It’s eight weeks into school and these children are still unfocused, talkative, and disengaged with the learning opportunities you’ve presented. In part 1 of this I suggested that I’d focus on building relationship with those students…any …
Behavior Challenges that Surface in the Fall, Part 2 Read More »
Concerns about behavior challenges often seem to arise at this time of year…after the honeymoon period of getting back to school. Especially this fall, when many students are returning to the classroom after more than a year of remote learning, the newness of being back with friends and enjoying the social aspects may have added …
Behavior Challenges that Surface in the Fall, Part 1 Read More »
“If a child carries out the will of a teacher because he is afraid or because his affection is exploited, he has no will, and obedience that is secured by suppression of the will is truly oppression. Such is often the obedience obtained in schools, but the finesse of discipline is to obtain obedience from …
