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learning

Mar 27, 2019 09:57pm
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By Pilar Bewley
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Under 6 - 12, Cosmic Education, Theory and Practice, accountability, child development, children, education, elementary education, executive functions, learning, montessori, montessori approach, montessori blogs, montessori education & organization
3 min read

The Un-Checklist

If you're a teacher or homeschooling parent who uses checklists to encourage a child's organization and accountability, then you already know just how quickly checklists can turn into a battle of wills between adult and child.  You also probably sense that checklists hinder freedom of choice.  And you've surely noticed that checklists shift the focus of the child's work away from self-development and flow, and towards task completion and industrial efficiency.

While checklists can work beautifull…

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Mar 27, 2019 09:57pm
·
By Pilar Bewley
·
Under 6 - 12, Cosmic Education, Theory and Practice, accountability, child development, children, education, elementary education, executive functions, learning, montessori, montessori approach, montessori blogs, montessori education & organization
3 min read
Apr 28, 2013 02:02pm
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By Pilar Bewley
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Under Uncategorized, children, education, ego, elementary education, learning, maria montessori, montessori, montessori approach, montessori method, school, students, teachers & teaching
1 min read

Not Knowing

Feeling stressed out about answering your children's questions?  My newest post on MariaMontessori.com might be the answer you're looking for!

 

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Apr 28, 2013 02:02pm
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By Pilar Bewley
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Under Uncategorized, children, education, ego, elementary education, learning, maria montessori, montessori, montessori approach, montessori method, school, students, teachers & teaching
1 min read
Jan 4, 2013 02:59pm
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By Pilar Bewley
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Under Uncategorized, babies, children, early childhood education, education, learning, montessori, motherhood, parenting, parents, play & toddlers
3 min read

Learning

So often we focus our parenting energies on "teaching moments": spouting nouns ad nauseum, choosing the perfect picture book, or refereeing toddler interactions on the playground. We fail to notice, however, that babies and toddlers really learn the most when they are given the time, space, and framework to explore, experiment, and reach their own conclusions.

Zach is transitioning from babyhood to toddlerhood, a process that's as enthralling as it is exhausting. Meals are messy food-flinging f…

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Jan 4, 2013 02:59pm
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By Pilar Bewley
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Under Uncategorized, babies, children, early childhood education, education, learning, montessori, motherhood, parenting, parents, play & toddlers
3 min read
Oct 5, 2012 08:25pm
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By Pilar Bewley
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Under Uncategorized, alfie kohn, children, education, learning, maria montessori, mistakes, montessori, montessori method, schools, self-esteem, teachers & teaching
1 min read

On Making Mistakes...

We've all heard that we should allow children to make mistakes, let them learn from their errors, etc. etc.  However, I recently came across an interesting article by Alfie Kohn.  He argues that letting children make mistakes without providing a supportive environment is not only not helpful, but can actually be detrimental.  Here are a few highlights:
Maybe the problem is that the educational environment [in traditional schools] emphasizes how well students are doing rather than what they're do…

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Oct 5, 2012 08:25pm
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By Pilar Bewley
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Under Uncategorized, alfie kohn, children, education, learning, maria montessori, mistakes, montessori, montessori method, schools, self-esteem, teachers & teaching
1 min read
Jul 5, 2012 03:13pm
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By Pilar Bewley
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Under Uncategorized, education, elementary education, grades, learning, montessori, parenting, parents, public education, teachers, teaching, testing & traditional education
1 min read

How School Should Be

I must admit I have mixed feelings about Trevor Eissler's newest video.  I find the first half   a little harsh and melodramatic (and hey, I'm clearly not a fan of traditional education).  Some public and private schools are making an effort to think outside the box and buck the testing trend, and they're having some success.

I also don't understand the title of the video. Seems a bit over-the-top, as if saying that Montessori children are somehow "better" than children educated by other method. …

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Jul 5, 2012 03:13pm
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By Pilar Bewley
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Under Uncategorized, education, elementary education, grades, learning, montessori, parenting, parents, public education, teachers, teaching, testing & traditional education
1 min read

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