Sometimes You Just Have to Polish the Duck...
- pinegadmin
- 5 minutes ago
- 2 min read
"But what do the children do all morning?" is a common question adults have when first learning about Montessori education and the classroom environment. Hearing that the children are allowed an uninterrupted 3 hour work period each morning leads some to think that it is a "free for all" and that the students are allowed to do whatever they please. This, however, is quite far from the truth! In Montessori education, children are allowed "freedom within limits" and the teachers act as guides, connecting the children to appropriate materials within the environment. If a child is engaged appropriately with a material, showing respect and care for the work, then a teacher will allow that child to work for as long as they need without interruption. This helps to build a child's focus and concentration, as well as respecting the child's intrinsic motivation. But what if a child has trouble connecting to the classroom environment? Some children need more time to settle in and feel comfortable making work choices independently and the Montessori approach is to respectfully allow a child the time and space to acclimate to being in school. This might mean a child is observing more than they are choosing work materials and that is okay! Young children learn so much by simply observing those around them and in time they will begin to feel empowered to make choices for themselves. When a child is showing signs of reluctance to make work choices, a teacher may also politely invite the child to lessons or allow them to observe another child receiving a lesson. A confident Montessori teacher knows that patience is key with a reluctant child and will take the time to observe them in order to determine the best way to help support their transition to the classroom environment. It is always a special moment when a reluctant child makes that first work choice independently or asks for a lesson from their teacher for the first time. And it reminds the adults that to rush a child through such a delicate process does them a great disservice.
Maria Montessori in the 1946 London Lectures stated, "This child who stands before us with his marvelous hidden energies must lead our efforts. When we say that the child is our teacher, we mean that we must take his revelations as our guide. Our starting point must be the revelation of the characteristics of the human individual."
Are you wondering where the duck polishing comes in? The title of this blog comes from an article published in Montessori Life in 2014 and is a perennial favorite of many Montessori educators. It offers a great reminder that all children are deserving of the gift of time, to develop at their own pace, and to be respected throughout the process. Please click on the link below to access the article:
