What's the story, Montessori?

it is a sisyphean metaphor

A quick Google throws up this post which sums up my issue with the Montessori approach -- their idea of fun is using green rice!

What, no! It makes perfect sense!! I just watched my nephew pour water from one cup into another, then back, then to the other one, then back again -- spilling most of it in the process, and frequently pouring into a cup that was ALREADY overflowing. I don't know why exactly, but for some reason it was fascinating to him and completely self-directed. That is a busy brain, altho the exact preoccupation does elude me as an adult.

it's true that I had a capacity for focus as a child that completely eludes me as an adult

X-post: but Laurel, presumably he was doing that by his own volition, and not because his nursery teacher told him he had to sit down and do it for twenty minutes?

I guess what I'm saying is that Howie can learn the same thing by me plonking him in the bath with a couple of jugs, without paying £13.50 per session for the privilege...

Montessori-educated kids are supposed to be better at focusing/sitting still etc, it's true. I don't want to seem like I have a total downer on it. Just that this particular nursery's interpretation of it didn't suit my kid.

X-post to Archel: Steiner school, eh? Did they mention a lot about the gnomes?

What, no! It makes perfect sense!! I just watched my nephew pour water from one cup into another, then back, then to the other one, then back again -- spilling most of it in the process, and frequently pouring into a cup that was ALREADY overflowing. I don't know why exactly, but for some reason it was fascinating to him and completely self-directed. That is a busy brain, altho the exact preoccupation does elude me as an adult.

― Like most people my age, I am 33 (Laurel), Wednesday, 15 July 2009 16:09 (13 minutes ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

I have watched many small children doing these kind of activities. It does seem to be a natural behaviour that helps develop concentration and co-ordination, which I presume is why the Montessori types like it.

X-post: but Laurel, presumably he was doing that by his own volition, and not because his nursery teacher told him he had to sit down and do it for twenty minutes?

in my experience, the teacher doesn't tell you to do it, you choose to do that activity from a wide variety of available activities.

i went to montessori from k-3rd grade, and when i transferred into public school, i was way ahead of the other kids, but not in a jerky, self righteous kind of way. i think my experience was great and made me really self-sufficient, but i've seen another montessori school (a public montessori in buffalo) that makes me wonder if they're even on the same philosophy.

Yeah, the whole "choosing to do it" bit is pretty crucial to Montessori philosophy.

also, all the kids that went to montessori with me ended up being some of the highest achievers in middle and high school.

but yeah i am a stan for montessori so

my girlfriend went to montessori school till 4th or 5th grade and is smart as fuck, and credits her montessori school education for giving her critical thinking abilities and a love for learning, which were valuable qualities to have in catholic school where she went for the rest of her education