In my previous post I mentioned our house guest from France, Sandrine Mallet. Read on for a glimpse into Sandrine’s activities at Austin Montessori School! Read more »
The Blog
It was great seeing so many dear friends in Houston at the Refresher Course. Many of you asked me what I had been up to lately and I couldn’t think of a thing. We had just flown in from Mexico and I guess my mind was blank. So here’s to catching you up!
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During these years I am taking great pleasure in giving presentations at parent gatherings for Austin Montessori School. On February 19th I presented to a group of Children’s House parents of on one of my favorite
topics, “Full Participation in Family Life.” Afterward I offered a variety of related handouts and enjoyed taking questions. Great fun! Read more »
Bully/victim syndrome prevention–just as we’ve been practicing at Austin Montessori School and presenting in workshops around the world! Such an unnecessary relationship, one we create in our children and they then perpetuate as adults in the world.
Following a convivial hour of wine and a variety of cheeses and hummuses, Don and I enjoyed a fine meal in the lovely collegiality of Montessorians. I enjoyed speaking to an enthusiastic gathering in the rotunda.
My response to the very controversial article linked to below:
http://mariamontessori.com/mm/?p=2452
It’s complicated. It depends entirely on the source within the adult for the limits and boundaries in the guidance of the child. Is the adult’s guidance coming from a wellspring of knowledge, love and joy or one of harsh authoritarian control?
What Wendy proposes would be carried out in a kind and firm, loving and clear, consistent and pleasant manner! And it would all add up to provide the child a secure life filled with meaning and a sense of purpose as well as a confidence in self and trust in others. The child would be experienced and feel capable. The child would know joy.
To elevate the role of perseverance, nonviolence, reconciliation, quiet dignity and HUMILITY in struggles for social and economic justice and also in the success and the winning.
Welcome to the new website! Thanks to Kris Holt for her design and color expertise and to Bryan Eagle of EaglePixel for developing and hosting my site. A very special thanks to Robbie Burnett, for setting up and organizing our wonderful content!
The Prepared Elementary Environment for Self-Management and Real Work
A. Philosophy of the Physical Environment
Why and how to prepare the environment to empower the children’s independence through its care and engage maximum effort in their chosen work
B. Philosophy of the Temporal Environment
Why and how to arrange the flow of time to support the children in choosing purposeful work and meaningful activity in keeping with Montessori’s spontaneous activity in education
C. Philosophy of the Dynamic Environment
Why and how to plan the detailed procedures with sequences of steps that support the children to fully engage and persevere in their chosen work
D. Philosophy of the Social Environment
Why and how to establish a detailed social environment of Elementary Level Civility that helps the children relate to one another in a gracious manner, manage their relationships, and free their energy for real work
E. Philosophy of the Emotional Environment
Why and how to prepare details for helping the children understand their own emotions and those of their community members, learn a process for resolving conflicts when they arise, and prevent them from interfering with the atmosphere of work