Pincushion Hill Montessori School
Art for Self-Expression
Alison Petersen • Feb 28, 2024

Art Is A Vital Form of Self-Expression

Numerous theories and lots of research expound upon the importance of artistic expression. For young children and adolescents, art is an especially crucial form of personal expression. As such, children need to experience their own process rather than to produce a piece that someone else wants. In Montessori, we also have sensitivity to different expressive needs throughout different stages of development.


Process vs. Product


For young children, the process of making art is much more important than the product. When infants and toddlers are engaged in art activities, they are expressing feelings that they may not yet have words to express. Thus, during these early years, we focus on offering young children a variety of different artistic mediums.


When children are using different materials, we first provide opportunities to work with larger spaces than later move into the smaller more refined possibilities. For example, we start with painting at the easel, then as children develop more coordinated hand movements, we offer small paper or objects to pain.


Use of Tools


In addition to introducing different kinds of materials, we also show young children how to use different tools. We show how to use just a little water and the tip of the brush with watercolor paints. We explore different techniques with crayons. We introduce various tools-like knitting needles, crochet hooks, or looms-for fiber arts. Whatever the form of art, we offer the tools required for successful expression through that form.


We also open up a range of possibilities for children to explore. For example, in introducing clay, we show how to carefully get out the clay, how to use different techniques such as forming coils and slabs, how to cut, carve, or roll the clay, and how to store it when finished. We may also show examples of clay sculptures, whether in books or museums. With all of this information, children have a range of inspiration when they decide to work with clay.


Adult Response


To support young children's artistic expression, we offer objective comments: "Oh how interesting..the lines go up and down," or "I can see you used a lot of red and blue paint today." We want to be careful with what we say so we don't give any indication of judgement, either good or bad. Young children do not ye have the language to explain the art. Therefore, we want to make sure our comments don't inadvertently create expectations for children.


In Montessori, adults don't insist that children express themselves artistically, or tell children what to express. When children choose some form of artistic expression, adults allow them the freedom to be with themselves while in the process of creating art. With this in mind, children's artwork is individual, creative, non-competitive, and often connected to other subjects. We don't expect children to learn to imitate adult creations or turn out products that look alike.




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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