Pincushion Hill Montessori School
Independence: The Foundation of Freedom
Alison Petersen • Feb 09, 2024

Montessori Supports Independence So Children Can Be Free

In order to be truly free, we need to be able to make our own choices, which means having the skills and abilities to then act upon our choices. Without independence, we can't truly be free.


As children's independence grow, so does their opportunity for freedom. They have more choices available and more to consider. The freedom children experience in our prepared learning environments is directly related to their independence. Over multiple years in their classrooms, children feel like masters of their environment and younger children look up to them as if they have superpowers.


In order for children to develop this freedom and independence, we make sure that the following opportunities are present in our classrooms:


To Choice Their Own Activity


Even at a young age, children have ideas of what they want and don't want to do. This independence will only increase when children have opportunities to make decisions. In Montessori classrooms, we provide opportunities to make choices, but it is not a free-for-all!


The classroom is set up with a variety of activities designed to meet developmental needs. Children are free to choose any material they have been shown or that they have the ability to do. Thus, children must have the skill before being able to choose.


To build this ability to make choice, we start by offering children choices about very simple things. When an activity has two parts, we might ask: "Would you like to carry the box or the tray?" Then we give another opportunity to make a choice: "Lovely! You may carry the try to the table you choose."


Over time children develop the ability to make increasingly more complex choices and they build the skills that allow them more options in their learning environment.


To Work Without Interruption


Once children choose an activity, they are free to do it for as long as they like without anyone else (adult or child) interfering with their work. In this way, we protect children's focus and concentration. As a bonus, because the materials are self-correcting, children don't need an adult for validation.


The adults in Montessori classrooms work to protect children who are actively engaged in purposeful activity from interruption (even if this a three-year-old washing a table and water is pouring off the table.) If children get interrupted a lot, their concentration becomes broken which can result in them not wanting to take risks or engage with challenging learning material.


The experience of being interrupted can happen a lot to children. They try to start doing something and someone comes along and stops them or finishes it for them. Yet children need to be able to deeply dive into activity in order to develop concentration and focus.


To Move Freely


Unlike in traditional environments where children move together along the same path (this half hour is story time, this is math time, etc), Montessori children have the freedom to work at their own pace. To facilitate this, our schedule is specially designed to offer large blocks of uninterrupted time so children have the freedom to spend the time they need on the activities they choose.


Working with learning materials is how children are developing themselves. They need time to reflect and integrate what they are learning. Therefore, children also need to be able to repeat an action as often and as long as they would like to do so. When children are new to Montessori classrooms, we sometimes need to let them know about the opportunity to work at their own pace and rhythm by reminding them, "You can do this for as long as you like!"


Limits


In order to support this foundation of freedom, Montessori classrooms have a few basic limits that support independence. In addition to ensuring that children aren't distracted or interrupted in their work, we help children learn that materials can only be taken off the shelf and must be returned to their proper place on the shelf. These basic rules are clear social signals to children as to when a material is available for use: when a material is on the shelf it is available, and when the material is not on the shelf, it is not available.


Development of Independence & Freedom


As children gain skills and abilities, their independence increases and so do their choices. Activities are available and ready for use so that children are not dependent upon anyone to get things for them. Children can choose where they do their work. The lessons we offer are designed to provide just enough information for children to continue the activity independently. We offer these liberties in harmony with children's skills, abilities, and level of independence so they can experience a variety of freedoms in their learning community.


Curious about how this all works? Schedule a tour to see how independence and freedom are interconnected!












Montessori Myths Explained

By Alison Petersen • 03 May, 2024
MYTH: Montessori Schools are all pretty standard Actually, since the Montessori name is not trademarked, there can be a wide variety of approaches within schools that call themselves Montessori. It is important to look for a school’s level of accreditation. The two primary accrediting bodies in the U.S. are Association Montessori Internationale (AMI), and American Montessori Society (AMS). Accrediting bodies offer varying levels of recognition in their membership for schools based on their adherence to Montessori principles. There are more important differences even between AMI and AMS oriented schools, so we highly recommend touring various Montessori schools to see the differences for yourself and find your own Montessori style. MYTH: Montessori students do whatever they please This myth derives from a misunderstanding of the term child-centered learning . It is true that Primary students enjoy freedom in what pieces of work they choose. This enables the child to choose the challenges about which they are most excited by, and to take advantage of “sensitive periods” in their learning, wherein they are driven to master a certain skill by repeating it again and again. The teachers are well trained, though, to spot the differences between a child mastering a skill through repetition and a child that wants to repeat tasks out of boredom or for lack of knowing what to do next. Students do not have the freedom to, say, eat snack all day or do nothing but talk to friends for two hours. Montessori teachers are called “guides” for a reason – they allow students the freedom of choosing their direction while ensuring they still reach the final destination. MYTH: Montessori students have to be quiet all the time We have heard other people repeat this myth, but since we’ve never seen an all-quiet Montessori classroom, we’re not sure where this myth comes from! While we do help children understand appropriate volume levels for different conversations and different environments as part of our grace and courtesy lessons, our classrooms are always buzzing with activity and conversation. MYTH: Montessori is all work and no play In her years working with children, Maria Montessori noticed that children developed a sense of peace and happiness when they were engaged in purposeful work. Of course, children do enjoy laughing, running, playing, and making friends. Luckily, we arrange our days to allow for all of those activities in addition to work time. The true test is to ask a Montessori child how they feel about school. Our students love to come to school and get to work. MYTH: Montessori is a style that is only useful for preschool aged children Our Primary graduates who move to first grade often find that they are well ahead of peers from traditional environments, in academics and maturity. However, Montessori benefits don’t stop at age 6. Our Elementary program fosters academic prowess, love of learning, responsibility, independence, and leadership. Elementary graduates excel at self-management, creative problem solving, critical thinking, and interpersonal communication skills.  MYTH: Montessori kids struggle to adapt to the structure of traditional schools Entering a traditional schooling environment where students sit still at desks and work on one subject at a time, as a full class, requires a brief transition period for Montessori children. Our alumni families report, however, that the transition is typically brief and is managed with great composure by our students. They have learned self-management skills and personal responsibility, so they are able to adapt well to new circumstances and different learning environments.
Montessori preschool classroom

Montessori vs. Daycare: What Is The Difference?

By Alison Petersen • 26 Apr, 2024
Many families rely on childcare while their children are young. Figuring out the best place to drop your little one off every day is a big decision. Parents want to ensure their child spends their days safe, comfortable, and happy, and under the watchful eye of well-trained and competent adults. Daycare is the obvious choice for many folks…that is, until they become aware of other options. If you’re reading this article, it’s likely you are one of those parents who is trying to figure out the best possible placement for your child. Allow us to highlight five key differences between a typical daycare center and a Montessori school. An Emphasis on Education Montessori goes beyond the reaches of a typical daycare facility. While daycares focus on watching and caring for children, Montessori schools do this and more by creating an environment focused on children’s learning. We believe education starts at birth. Children’s days should be filled with play, as that is how they learn, but we create space for them to play in ways that enrich their development. We don’t fill our classroom with whatever toys look fun; we carefully prepare an environment with materials that have been developed after careful scientific observation and used for over 100 successful years. These materials are still games and toys from the perspective of the child, but they tend to have much different effects on them from a learning perspective. A Natural Environment Most daycare environments are filled with bright colors, plastic toys, and maybe even a cartoon character or two. Montessori environments eschew any type of commercialism or characters. They utilize natural materials like wood, plant fibers, and even glass. Natural tones are favored over bright and loud colors, and soft and natural lighting is evident. Montessori classrooms intentionally bring the natural world inside, with plants, found objects, and pets. Children are directly involved with the care of living things in the classroom. Montessori Trained Educators The training of a Montessori educator goes far beyond the training of a typical daycare worker. To care for young children, both must meet certain requirements such as first aid training, passing a background check, and some knowledge of working with children. Montessori educators, however, continue far beyond the basics. Most have college degrees, with many obtaining advanced degrees. They have completed rigorous Montessori credential training, which includes comprehensive instruction on child development, intensive lessons to help them present Montessori materials correctly, work in Montessori philosophy, and so much more. We encourage you to ask your local daycare facility about their teacher training requirements and compare them to Montessori requirements while you explore your options. A Sense of Community When your child is enrolled at a Montessori school, it’s so much more than a place to drop them off each morning. The whole family is welcomed as a part of the school community, and special events and traditions work to solidify this sense of community. Montessori parents are often eager to connect with one another; we all seem to have a sense that a strong community contributes greatly to the wellbeing of our children. It’s helpful to have other parents to ask questions, hear about experiences, and even socialize with. Montessori schools are also unique in that we welcome parents into the classroom. In fact, we encourage regular observation. The children are used to adults sitting quietly in a corner of the room, so the practice is unobtrusive, and really gives adults a clear picture of the type of work we do. Many parents walk away from observations in awe of the engagement of the children and the depth of the work/play they show. Interested in seeing a Montessori classroom in action? Call us to set up an appointment today. We welcome you to observe the uniqueness of Montessori.
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