The Value of Real Montessori

Authentic Montessori nurtures the individual

For adults, the transition to Montessori teaching can be a difficult mental transition. Many parents beg us for lesson plans and schedules because they are trying to reconcile the Montessori Method with their understanding of conventional school. Public school education requires that teachers perform constant theatre, jumping around in front of bored children in an attempt to maintain their attention because the lessons are worthless. It is with horror that I watch classrooms online. No wonder children “hate” reading or math. I beg you not to try to replicate conventional teaching as you begin your Montessori voyage.

Our work is divided by subject matter. Begin at the first presentation in each subject area. Follow the page order strictly for Language, Sensorial, and Math. For Practical Life and Art, follow a logical order — for example, dry pouring before pouring water.

Once you present equipment, put it on the shelf where your child can use it as desired. If they are not interested in the lesson or the equipment, make a note to yourself in the album and try another piece of equipment that you think they will prefer. Never try to tempt a child into doing work that they do not like. During these early ages, children’s preferences are determined by their developmental needs. It is simple to understand their developmental needs and stages, just figure out what they enjoy doing. What captivates your child?

After you present a range of equipment, your child has a good collection of work. Remember to use real Practical Life at home: Cleaning, sweeping, food preparation, cooking, and such. These are the authentic Montessori Practical Life projects.

Even Montessori schools write and beg me for lesson plans and schedules. This is because they are not comfortable in their own Montessori expertise. I have refused tens of thousands of dollars to make these up. I know someone eventually sold them something, sadly.

This is why some Montessori schools are now FAILING. I have been encountered failing Montessori schools, even AMI-certified schools. When I review their teaching, I see that they have added schedules, lesson plans, and a host of “fake Montessori” equipment. The fake equipment includes most things labeled “Montessori” online. This material is something a manufacturer made to sell.

The Montessori material in our albums is the original, authentic material. When you look at our work, you probably wonder why there is so little equipment because you see much more equipment online. That is because the fake Montessori material has replicated online in a manner akin to a cockroach explosion in NYC. In defense of the factories making it, they are only putting “Montessori” as keywords in the search. I would, too, if I were a factory. Montessori sells well.

Every time a school adds a fake piece to the classroom, the children lose out on educational experience.

The thing about Montessori is that Dr. Montessori wrote everything down. A few of Montessori classics are free on Gutenberg as they are old enough to be in public domain.

I swear, if I see one more of those ridiculous wool ball exercises… Besides, who knows what dye the factory used on them. You can see the prices on Aliexpress, and the markups for “handmade” wool balls. There are NO wool balls in Montessori. No “silicon” (mixed with PVC and plastic).

Printed material should never be substituted for real equipment! If it is not in our albums, it is not authentic. Would you like a real iPad? Or a picture of one? I’m serious, the difference for your child is that big.

Handling real material builds their brains.

If you don’t have much Montessori equipment yet, use the Practical Life work and do all the Science work with things at home.

At one time, Montessori work with food and food preparation was looked down upon. Critics said it wasn’t “real science” and had “no value.”

Well, then Harvard University held their first Science & Food course! This was after decades of critics crying about Montessori and food work.

Harvard now has a whole set of food science work. It is an official degree. It is so popular that my professor friends at MIT trot on over to Harvard to audit the classes.

The work through age six focuses on hands-on and sensory experiences with food. Later, we will provide terms for the chemical reactions, but it will be easy for your children because they already know what something like a Maillard reaction is from experience and tasting.