I have only known about Montessori for about 10 months. I can't believe it has only been that long.
After picking up the book by Meg McElwee, Sew Liberated, at the library I started following her blog (on the back cover) by the same name sew liberated (although I have not started sewing more, sadly). This woman introduced me to a teaching philosophy that I had never heard of (big surprise, I am no education guru) but sounded wonderful. An idea that using beautiful tools to learn in seamless, real way, making connections between hands and brain, understanding from the big picture, a strong base to build knowledge on. This I thought, as I began to read more about Maria Montessori and her research with young children, is the way God made us to learn! I was stoked, and the more I read the more I liked about the composure, discipline and self-sufficiency of learning the students acquired with this wonderful approach.
So today I started 'first grade' with my almost 6 year old using primarily Montessori tools and ideals. But far as I can find, I am doing a lot different. Being a Christian and believing in a 7 day creation of the universe and everything in it, I can't use the Key Lessons that Montessori has formed most of the curriculum around. They are based on the theory of evolution which I am not going to base all of history on, given the freedom I have in homeschooling my children. {Montessori does have bible story lessons but they are not the focus on the curriculum} So here I am, 'newly' homeschooling my child and writing the lessons in a Montessori style (big picture history-based) but through the bible's lens. We are also doing something else different, since I don't know how long we will be using this method ( I also like Classical and Charlotte Mason) we will be learning a general overview of all of history. Hopefully since Jer is 'ahead' we will have this year to experiment with a great way to learn and have a strong base of history to continue building knowledge.
I appreciate the many other bloggers out there who I have gleaned tons of great help from and I am directed to share this journey with anyone who wants to join. Questions, comments and fellow encouragement are very welcome!
P.S. I do not claim to be a writer. Please forgive my grammar and clarity.
After picking up the book by Meg McElwee, Sew Liberated, at the library I started following her blog (on the back cover) by the same name sew liberated (although I have not started sewing more, sadly). This woman introduced me to a teaching philosophy that I had never heard of (big surprise, I am no education guru) but sounded wonderful. An idea that using beautiful tools to learn in seamless, real way, making connections between hands and brain, understanding from the big picture, a strong base to build knowledge on. This I thought, as I began to read more about Maria Montessori and her research with young children, is the way God made us to learn! I was stoked, and the more I read the more I liked about the composure, discipline and self-sufficiency of learning the students acquired with this wonderful approach.
So today I started 'first grade' with my almost 6 year old using primarily Montessori tools and ideals. But far as I can find, I am doing a lot different. Being a Christian and believing in a 7 day creation of the universe and everything in it, I can't use the Key Lessons that Montessori has formed most of the curriculum around. They are based on the theory of evolution which I am not going to base all of history on, given the freedom I have in homeschooling my children. {Montessori does have bible story lessons but they are not the focus on the curriculum} So here I am, 'newly' homeschooling my child and writing the lessons in a Montessori style (big picture history-based) but through the bible's lens. We are also doing something else different, since I don't know how long we will be using this method ( I also like Classical and Charlotte Mason) we will be learning a general overview of all of history. Hopefully since Jer is 'ahead' we will have this year to experiment with a great way to learn and have a strong base of history to continue building knowledge.
I appreciate the many other bloggers out there who I have gleaned tons of great help from and I am directed to share this journey with anyone who wants to join. Questions, comments and fellow encouragement are very welcome!
P.S. I do not claim to be a writer. Please forgive my grammar and clarity.
