Are you following a Montessori curriculum 3-6, but are having some issues with your Montessori environment?
Is a particular Montessori work discouraging you from using it or setting it up in your Montessori environment?
In this episode, let’s talk about some of the limiting beliefs or discouraging thoughts that you might have that may be keeping you from moving forward in your Montessori journey.
If you are looking to building a centered, organized Montessori Guide in yourself, nurture happy, normalized children and want to create smooth, successful Montessori days, then you are in the right place!
Let me know in comments what you know about this topic, what you have applied, what you have tried that worked, what you have tried that didn’t work and if you have any questions as we get into this training.
As you watch or listen to this training, know that you will be able to get more information than what is included in this blog post.
I really want to encourage you to take the time to watch or listen and take notes.
This will be helpful to you now and in the future.
#1 Montessori materials are so beautiful; but can be very expensive.
Maybe your Montessori homeschool kindergarten is out of control or completely lacking important and essential materials because you can’t afford some of the works or you are lost in terms to knowing what to order.
Your homeschooling days or Montessori schools are “supposed” to be filled with wonderful Montessori activities, but you don’t know what to get.
Montessori and homeschooling curriculum is already pricey… imagine thinking about wasting money ordering something that the children aren’t ready for yet… sigh…
Your Montessori inspired environment should definitely have original Montessori Materials, such as the ones below (at the end of this post), but the price can definitely add up.
There are several ways to target this.
One of the ways is to follow the children you serve to determine their Sensitive Periods.
You can also use DIY (Do-It-Yourself) and printables to save time and money.
Just remember to be very strategic and intentional in what you are going to be getting.
“The child, making use of all that he finds around him, shapes himself for the future.” Maria Montessori
#2 Montessori materials are bulky, which means that they take up a lot of room
By this, I mean that they take up a lot of room in both the environment and in your storage area.
Maybe you have small spaces to set up Your Montessori environment and need to be smart about what you put out.
The rest goes into storage.
If you know how to organize Montessori materials and rotate them, you can come up with a great plan.
I have done this for many years and made it work.
The key is storing materials like your Practical Life supplies in your kitchen or other natural areas (like under the sink in the bathroom, etc) and leave room for the subject materials in storage containers or a closet.
As you follow the child’s interests by observing and determining their Sensitive Periods, you will know exactly what will work to set out on your shelves.
“The environment must be rich in motives which lend interest to activity and invite the child to conduct his own experiences.” Maria Montessori
#3 Some Montessori materials are breakable or come with many pieces
Some of the pieces can be quite tiny, so they run the risk of getting lost or making it into baby or toddler little hands and mouths.
Does it make you nervous that glass things will break?
Remember a couple of things: one is that we give children a lot less credit that they deserve and that practice is what will help children.
If a child never practices how to give extra care to breakable plates or cups, how will the child learn?
And if the item does accidentally break, it can also be a learning experience.
Grab a brush and dustpan and teach the child how to clean up the pieces by observing you.
Following their Sensitive Periods and learning style, you will determine what to set out in The Montessori environment.
If you have toddlers, you will know that you won’t include the smallest pieces of the Pink Tower in your Montessori homeschool daily schedule, for example.
At least not until you know that they won’t be mouthing those pieces as they can be choking hazards.
A day in the life of a toddler is full of adventures. If the toddler wants to explore the Pink Tower, they won’t be knowledgeable enough to need to apply the entire Pink Tower lesson, needing all 10 pieces.
Set out 3 or 5 at first, the largest ones, and show the toddler how to build the tower in the correct order.
Add cubes as the child masters each stage until they get to all 10 pieces. By that time, the toddler might not be a toddler anymore and not be interested in mouthing the small pieces.
“Watching a child makes it obvious that the development of his mind comes through his movements.” Maria Montessori
In Conclusion
There might be things that make you nervous or discourage you about The Montessori Method or the way to set up the Montessori environment that is safe and attractive.
You can do it all, with the right strategy and the right plan.
HERE ARE THE RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
Like I said at the beginning of the show, I have a FB group for all things Montessori that you are welcome to join.
It is called The Montessori Way Prep Room.
If you want to join a homeschool Facebook community, then join The Natural Homeschool Community!
If you are interested in helping children move from dependence to independence by becoming well-rounded individuals, then you will be interested in this free printable.
It is a list of 100 Montessori Practical Life works that you can easily set up to do at home or at your Montessori environment.
Get this Montessori Practical Life activities list by clicking the image below!
You May Also Benefit from these Important Montessori Topics:
Montessori lovers: Are you ready to make yourself a centered, organized Montessori Guide, nurture happy children and create smooth and successful days?
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