Find out more about Montessori here: www.montessori-ami.org/ justatheory.com/2008/09/good-at-doing-things/ www.montessori.org/ www.montessori.edu/prod.html www.montessorisociety.org.uk/
You probably love Montessori because of the learning stuff, but I love it because it’s so fun. When I was little I moved around a lot, I went to some Montessori schools and some non Montessori schools. In Montessori schools, I learned better, memorized better, and had the most fun. It was typical for my friends and I to play game and do art and music that was heavily involved with math English and science. We used to play store, but we actually counted money and set accurate prices. We even baked in class. Once I moved to other types of schools, I started disliking certain classes. In Montessori I liked certain classes, but never disliked any
So, I went to a Montessori school for a while, and in my opinion it doesn't match well with ADHD or pupils with concentration issues. I was lost in my uninterrupted learning time and ended up doing very little. Once I entered a 'normal' structured school, I did much better, having a lot of outside structure was really beneficial. Just something to look out for. I think Montessori can sound beautiful in theory, especially to parents, but can come with its challenges for the child later on. Some children do better with set milestones and tasks.
Thank you for saying this! Montessori can be great for many children but for those of us with ADHD it can mean never really finish learning anything because nobody forced you to so you just keep starting and abandoning projects all of the time and feeling you are no getting anywhere which can cause depression
This is very true. I went to a Montessori school from age 3-16 and though I loved it, many of my fellow students couldn’t handle the freedom. My friends with ADHD would have been screwed if it was not for my school having less than 15 pupils per year group. That way they could get some additional structure from teachers on an individual basis.
Thank you for posting this! I am a big fan of Montessori (really benefitted from learning in the Montessori style) and am often quick to tout its benefits, but it's really good to be reminded that there is no one size fits all solution and that just because it worked for me doesn't mean it should or will work for everyone. I know I forget that sometimes and appreciate the reminder, especially right after hearing all about the situations in which it can work :) So thank you!
I went to a highschool that was a 4 hours a day "learn at your own pace" style school using workbooks that if you got all your credits done early, you could graduate early (though generally you needed to have at least SOMETHING done by a certain deadline), and while things I was interested in, like physics and accounting, I could finish an entire years work in just a few months, other subjects like english or math, I was technically held back for, because I wasn't interested in them thus I didn't work on them. I was in 11th grade for like a 1.25 years because I just couldn't make myself write one essay. I think maybe a hybrid style might work with us with ADHD? Like encouraging what we show a tendency for, while also making sure we keep up with and have a schedule for things we need to know/do, but don't have that drive for.
It definitely depends on the child. For some, it works great. For others, it doesn't work so well. But regardless, I think that the basic philosophy of respect for the child is something that all parents(and adults who work with kids) should adopt.
Unfortunately, here in the U.S. it's mostly only for rich people. Ironic as Montessori started her teaching in what would be "the projects", the poorest children.
It’s the philosophy of ECE’s (early childhood educators) and daycares pretty much everywhere, but ECE’s are treated like babysitters while our education system collapses and fails its teachers and students!!! Many teachers try to teach this way, but they just aren’t supported by the education system and the government!!
@@ClaireCaoimheRaeMoonshadow montessori schools are expensive, but you can do Montessori at home, as Jessica does. If you're interested in learning more about it, I highly recommend the youtuber Hapa Family, who has a "Montessori at Home" series
@@ClaireCaoimheRaeMoonshadow Sadly true. My sister-in-law raises her children through the same method and the toys and equipment are ridiculously expensive. To answer OP, it is absolutely a great child rearing method, but it also has its own drawbacks. Montessori doesn't teach much about being team members and doesn't prepare children for the traditional world of work. That's not to say it's bad, but be aware there if there was ever a perfect way to raise children, we'd all be following the same philosophy.
The way you describe talking to Rupert as you dress him, pick him up, etc reminds me of when I was a CNA. We’re trained to treat patients the same way. The golden rule is “never assume they can’t hear or understand you.”
yeah, once my dad called my brother useless because he thought he couldn't understand yet (my dad's not rude- just a very jokey person) when he was a baby, and he started crying
Talking to your baby in a slightly exaggerated tone and pitch is called parentese and it's highly beneficial to language development. Research has shown babies pay attention to it more. If you find you naturally do this with babies it's totally fine and encouraged!
Adding to this - the way that parents talk to their babies varies significantly between cultures, and ultimately, as long as your baby is exposed to language, they will learn it! So parentese - or child-directed speech, because parents aren’t the only ones who use it - is totally fine! It’s also fine to not use child-directed speech at all. This also goes for signed languages. I’m a children’s librarian with a linguistics degree and I see parents worry a lot about their child’s language acquisition, so I just wanted to pop in and reassure anyone that however they speak to their child is fine, their child will acquire language, and there’s no secret method they’re missing that would make their child a genius. As long as your baby hears and/or sees language, they will acquire it just fine :)
I wanted to comment this as well as someone who majored in speech pathology. A lot of parents get really panicked that "baby talk" is going to harm their child and it absolutely isn't. So if you choose to use parentese, it is perfectly fine and doesn't harm their mental or speech development!
Maybe I misunderstood Jessica but I don't think she said anything against parentese but using different words instead of the regular ones. You can use your regular grammar and words while also speaking in a higher pitch and more exaggurated. I mean maybe I'm the exception but my dad hates baby talk because he thinks it made it harder on his management of dyslexia later. So he only talks in normal ways (so no moomoo for cow etc.) with children and of course also me back then.
Well I mean I don’t disagree but it only is beneficial because everyone around baby talks with them this way so they adjust. I was actually spoken to like a normal person and rarely had parentese talks and I was talking fluently before a year old. :) Everyone around me as of then was speaking to me like normal so I picked up on normal language really early on that’s why. I’m not special for this and most babies can do this if talked to like I was! :D
Hello, I have been teaching the Montessori method for 23 years and am certified to teach primary level(3-6 yrs). Although, Montessori might not be for everyone, it does work for many children with a wide variety of learning styles. I love that Montessori focuses on the whole child and their needs. There are many, many misconceptions about this teaching philosophy so I wanted to take a moment to thank you for taking the time to speak about it. On a side note, you have a lovely family! My wife and I have been together for 30 years this coming January.
Amazing. I'm wondering if there are any Schools in the UK that use this teaching method? My Son is 4 and on the Spectrum. I'm considering home schooling due to him struggling in his mainstream school. Homeschooling may be on the cards if not.xx
I would love ideas on how to implement the philosophy with teens/young adults. We have two teen girls who came to us from foster care and I think this philosophy could help them feel more confident and independent.
@@resplendentclarity2188 I don't know but I'm autistic myself and would have loved this method of school/home stuff. I believe it meets needs I've heard many others in the autistic community express, as well, so it sounds like you're looking in a very good direction to support your child:)
Also, (in the US at least, I know Jessica is in the UK) regular Kindergarten just isn't well suited to Kindergartners. Simply doing something different, even if that different philosophy isn't perfect, will get you better outcomes. That's why it's so important for people to explore different philosophies, to come up with multiple options that aren't so highly focused on standardized testing. I realize by high school, it might be impossible to get away from that obsession with testing. But, elementary schoolers shouldn't have to deal with instructors forced to worry about their students scores.
@@resplendentclarity2188 likely to be private, I was in a private Montessori nursery as a kid. Look for charter schools or check out Boy In A Band's video about alternative schooling
I used the Montessori style with my kiddo pretty much from Day 1, and even though they go to a public school, I still encourage them at home with the same method. They love to find new things to tell and show me. We've had a few bumps in the road with public school teachers. My kiddo loves dinosaurs and in third grade, the teacher assigned them a Mammoth for a dinosaur project. They promptly and correctly told the teacher that a Mammoth wasn't a dinosaur. The teacher still made them do the presentation. My kid then did the entire presentation in front of the class on how a Mammoth wasn't a dino. I love the confidence that Montessori has given them and how they discover the world around them through research AND observation.
That is really cool. I feel I struggle with being able to speak up to others, especially those who are in higher authority positions than I am. I am 19 and I am just learning how to deal with that kind of thing. And though it isn't much progress since I started, I feel I have grown a lot in how I deal with confrontation. So big props to that kid for standing up for himself and the mamanth! I think if I had been raised in a similar fashion it might change my confidence levels and how I deal with confrontation
I guess "extinct animals" would have been a more accurate name for that project. The teacher went with dinos for clarity. Tbh it's just annoying when people correct you on things like these. Like those people who feel the need to inform you that tomatoes aren't vegetables. Yeah I know Becky but did you understand what I meant? Yes? Then we're good
@@idek7438 Except, I have a big 'thing' about giving children incorrect information, and even more so in an educational setting (former teacher) - child is correct, a mammoth isn't a dinosaur, and if the teacher meant 'extinct animals' they should have said that. It also would have opened a discussion on the meaning of the word 'extinct' - there was no clarity to be had by using 'dinosaurs' as a short cut, it just comes across as a lack of knowledge.
@@kimtomlinson2963 dinosaur is, actually as much as I am kind of cringing at the teacher not correcting themselves or clarifying, is a term a lot of people use as synonymous with old or extinct or vintage themed.
I worked as a Montessori teacher. Our Principal kicked out all disabled kids stating they they take up too much time. That is how I started being an in home special ed Montessori teacher. I was sickened to the soul she had that opinion. What better way to learn than Montessori no matter what your abilities are it is perfect.
This video makes me want to cry so much of my mental illnesses would have been easier to deal with if I had been shown even a fraction as much respect as a child as this method describes. Now instead I need my therapist to teach me how to “parent myself” this way as an adult lol.
I feel you and I’m so sorry. Mental illness can be devastating. I’m both mentally and physically ill, my physical illness is similar to Jessica, I use a wheelchiar too. I’m so sorry about you having to learn to parent yourself. I feel for you because it’s what I have to do too. Not only I wasn’t taught anything but I was also abused physically frim the beginning of my childhood to my teenage years. Now I’m 28 and I started to realize from an early age that this is because my parents were raised in an orphanage and its not their fault but still im a traumatized and severe mentally ill adult bc of it and its not my fault either
I went to a Montessori school up until 2nd grade. It was a unique experience. I almost failed at math once I started going to regular school because they didn't teach numbers, they taught concepts. So basically they where teaching us what fractions where, but never showed us numbers. So we had these like bowling pin type objects made of wood, and we learned that if you put 2 half ones together it's a whole one, and if you put 4 of the quarter cut ones together it was a whole one, and 2 quarters make a half etc. All these wonderful concepts, but when presented with a problem like 1 1/2 + 1/4 = , or 1.5 + .25= I had no clue how to work with the actual numbers. Bottom line, it's great for younger kids.
I was also a Montessori kid, and I'm fascinated that your teachers didn't include numbers! I very distinctly remember the concepts going hand in hand with the practical (numbers) aspects, especially as we got older. Other people also talk about their Montessori experience that their work was never checked, so they just never did a subject for a year etc, and all I can think is they just had bad Montessori teachers! 😂
I had Montessori style “station” settings in kindergarten with a guiding teacher verses any lectures. In general I think it is a thousand times better. Before puberty begins, have you ever noticed that kids only have an attention span from 5 - 15 minutes? Even if one is not dyslexic (which I am as well). The idea of sitting and listening to a lecture for kids like adults in college? Of course it does not work well. One can take a test but forget all the material 24 hours later. Where as structured play and interaction with objects lasts a lifetime. A teacher has to be a kind and empathetic yet structured presence for it to work. But it can work.
Montessori toddler guide here! One of the many things I love about the Montessori method is how concentration is valued and protected. In my toddler classroom, we give our children purposeful practical life work that will really engage their concentration for long periods of time (preparing their own snack, scrubbing a table, filling a bird feeder, etc.) The concentration that is developed in our toddler environment helps prepare them for concentration on challenging academic work later in childhood. It’s not uncommon to see a Montessori child able to focus on something for long periods of time! It’s practiced and developed from the start. My toddlers (18 months- 3 years) will sometimes choose a work and work with it for 20-30 minutes!!
@@laurenwilliams4830 That is impressive. At age 5 I had issues adjusting to the station work style. But it was because I did not go to a Montessori Day Care. So I was like huh? They don’t make me focus 🧘♀️ at home lol. That is impressive. My 7 year old niece struggled past 7 - 14 minutes at the beginning of homeschool grade 1. (2020 Covid) But it did get extended as her teacher found what helped for her. It can be a really good thing with the right guidance. I agree.
I was the oposite as a kid - I once spent ten hours straight painting paper plates when I was under the age of 6, and this was not at all an anomaly (autistic/adhd). I hated regular school and would have loved montessori for the opposite reason - the unnatural and abrupt transitions from one subject to the next really felt distressing, draining, and too sudden. I did go to a montessory-like school when I was around 5 and it's the only educational institution that didn't traumatize me in some way, and where I felt consistently safe, supported, and respected
My parents didn't raise me according to a specific method nor did i go to a certain method school but I always naturally focussed for hours on things I was obsessed with. I could play hours with one balloon as a baby or spend hours reading books and watching documentaries as a seven year old. I hated constant changing of topics. In my experience people who have bad focus as a kid all got better with age but are still worse at focussing than people who already have lengthy focus spans as a kid. Neither is worse. They can produce things in 30min and at the 30min mark i am still easing into a topic. But then studying was easier for me. But i do agree that for lifelong practical skills regular practice is better than cramming a lot of info in one sitting.
Interesting. My mother's educational philosophy can be summed up by her two favourite quotes: “Education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel." ― Socrates “Do not train a child to learn by force or harshness; but direct them to it by what amuses their minds, so that you may be better able to discover with accuracy the peculiar bent of the genius of each.” ― Plato I think she would have been a fan of Montessori.
@@comprends2138 Well, I had a good search and you might be right. "Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire", was definitely written by Plutarch. I don't think it sounds as good as the paraphrased quote attributed to Socrates, but thanks. Good to know.
While I have no interest in children, I find it very interesting and somewhat funny that I am basically doing a lot of those things while teaching my dog. He's a rescue with some unknown trauma and since he was already 9 when I adopted him, I had a fully developped personality to get to know, and very strict boundaries to be aware of for the sake of my fingers' integrity. We've been having a great time experimenting with new toys, tricks and intelligence-activities such as taking food from unknown materials and surfaces etc. I remain very aware of the fact that every dog would be different and need different things while I am working with him to best find out what works for him. And yes, I am telling him what I am doing while I for example harness him. It increases the safety of my hands, once again, as when scared, restricted or surprised, he may snap.
I agree but I think that's good that we give such respect to dogs and cats and other pets people may own because those they differ from humans in intelligence they are still smart and still have the right to be respected.
I train humans to train their dogs, and my quickest and most engaged students (the humans) are all teachers of human children. This is not a coincidence. Mammals pretty much all learn the same way. My teachers mostly just need to learn how to read the little subtle stuff from their dog and a little tightening up on timing and reward placement, but the foundations of reward and communication are already there, and they understand the importance of managing the environment.
I went to a Montessori school in Sweden when I was a kid and it was the best school experience I've ever had. Other than their teaching techniques, I loved how they grouped everyone between the age of 6 and 8 and 9 to 11 together to learn. We weren't in different grades basically, only in these two grade groups. By doing that we got comfortable with kids younger and older than ourselves, understanding better how no-one is automatically ''smarter'' for being older and vice versa. Almost no hierarchy or bullying can pass through that. You two are doing such a lovely job for your child and I love these videos!
I love how you shared actual, practical tips and things you have done so far with Rupert that align with Montessori philosophy. And you share it in a very accessible way for adults. A lot of the resources I've found online that try to explain Montessori just skirt around the issue/philosophy and don't explain it in a concise and accessible manner that you can actually apply immediately. Closer to when we actually will have kids I'll grab the books but in terms of online reading it hasn't been made clear/accessible, at least not to me/in a way I can understand it, but your videos do just that. Thank you Jessica!
I love the way this video went through the information. I had never hear of Montessori before and honestly I feel I have a good understanding now after watching this video. I also liked seeing or having her explain examples of how it is implemented into their family since I think it will help others
Montessori is a brilliant lifestyle. First encountered when I was 8 and we adopted a baby brother. Used many of the good common sense style ideas myself. That brother is now 55. 🥰
I love the idea of montessori but honestly it all goes out of the window a bit when you have to get ready for nursery in a rush. I do try to include letting my daughter choose and participate as much as I can but when they're a little older I strongly believe you need to set some boundaries and follow rules too. Respect always goes both ways.
I used to work at a Montessori school and worked with older toddlers. I wanted to bring up how beauty is a huge part of it. This means children deserve beautiful things. We had a lot of parents who created wonderful toys and material - beaded, knitted and wooden. As Jessica mentioned, Montessori is not for every child but you can totally incorporate any of the six principles and work with your child. It's all about works for you and your child(ren).
Hi, I'm autisct and this seems the perfect way to interact with autistic childrens. I wish I can go back in time and be in such a marvelous environment. I really enjoyed learning about materials, colors and shapes. I'm almost crying watching your video. I'm glad you both are doing a wonderful job as a parents. Edit: my firsts years or life I hated people because no one asked my permission to touch me or take the spoon out of my hand and feed me. I would have been happier if they had asked my permission and talked to me like an adult. (I have memories of me being angry before reaching 1 year old, so please talk to babies) Thank you.
I got really mad while they fed me too haha. I hated how they cleaned my face with the spoon when it fell out of my mouth because it was too much, ugh.
First - I absolutely love the philosophy of autonomy that seems so central to Montessori. We tend to treat kids in ways that strips them of autonomy, and I highly encourage folks to look up John Bell’s paper on adultism. I do want to mention, though, that the way that parents talk to their babies varies significantly between cultures, and ultimately, as long as your baby is exposed to language, they will learn it! So parentese - or child-directed speech, because parents aren’t the only ones who use it - is totally fine! It’s also fine to not use child-directed speech at all. This also goes for signed languages. I’m a children’s librarian with a linguistics degree and I see parents worry a lot about their child’s language acquisition, so I just wanted to pop in and reassure anyone that however they speak to their child is fine, their child will acquire language, and there’s no secret method they’re missing that would make their child a genius. As long as your baby hears and/or sees language, they will acquire it just fine :) (I know I left this comment in a couple of different places, but I really feel for parents who worry about talking to their child correctly and want to reassure anyone down here in the comments.)
I went to a Montessori primary school, ages 3-11, and it definitely helped me. We had small classes of 8-15, and we were really encouraged to do our own reseaech and be independent. We had montessori lessons where we could teach ourselves anything we were interested in, from maps to volcanoes to word forms to colours. We also learnt practical skills like tying knots and once we turned 8, we would do our own research projects so that we all learnt how to research topics, create aesthetically pleasing poster boards, and how to do public speaking. It was great, and the Montessori route is defintely a great start to life.
I had the exact same experience ! our school also focused a lot on leadership and teamwork, which has served me so well in secondary school. I had the confidence and responsability to start and run an lgbt+ club, which is still going strong! and I'm not scared of public speaking or suggesting ideas in class, which is entirely down to the amazing teacher I had for my last 3 years of primary (when I was 10 to 12)
As a trainee teacher, I see the positives in this method and how it can be infused in the classroom. But I also know the difficulties teachers face - headteachers, governers, Ofsted etc. are focused on results and curriculum. Unfortunately, it's not always the teacher at fault if a child can't thrive in their classroom. What I do know is teachers want their children to succeed and will try to accomodate them as best they can within the constraints of their school (eg. use of concrete resources, cross curricular teaching, outdoor and student led learning).
This sounds fascinating...and also reaffirms that I'm definitely not cut out to be a parent. The sheer amount of patience required is already epic, if on top of that you have to spend a lot of time waiting for your baby to be ready for whatever comes next...yeah, glad some people can do it, but don't think I could!
It's a bit harsh to admit but patience is a skill developed when there is the incentive to do it. I don't have the patience to deal with pther children but I learned it for my own because I am invested in their development. 🤷♀️😅
I think this world shows that everyone can be a parent, just not necessarily a good one. Glad you recognize that you may not have that patience. For me, I don’t want to. Why volunteer to do that? I don’t have to have kids.
Couldn't agree more. I'm pretty set on never becoming a parent to a human, and this is one of the main reasons I know I can't do it. The amount of patience needed is not something I'm interested in.
I remember back as a tween when we started to get textbook math problems I started having trouble with math cause I grew up in France but french wasn't my first language so I sometimes didn't understand the words in the problems. Which made me have the wrong results since I didn't do the right thing. The teacher just said, "Oh don't worry it's just because you are a girl you are just genetically bad at math." But by the end of that particular lecture, I would finally have understood the vocabulary and be able to do the thing right but by that time the test would be done and we had moved on to the next lecture and it would start all over again. Maybe if I had been at a school with a Montessori like system I wouldn't have gotten so terribly behind... or maybe if I hadn't just gotten such a terribly sexist teacher and instead gotten one that made me feel confident enough that I was allowed to ask questions without getting ridiculed... 😅
What a horrible thing to say to a child! :-(((( it angers me to think of how many teachers bring those biases into the classroom‚ where they can do immeasurable harm…
In a lot of areas of the UK there is a lot of classism associated with motessori. Because the nurserys/schools etc that say they follow it are all private schools. The parents influence and money means these schools become too results focused to truly follow the model. Also sadly in public schools the teacher to pupil ratios make this learning model impossible.
This is the comment I was looking for! I kind of feel like this entire video is a big look down on people who won't be able to educate their children in this way for this exact reason. It's basically impossible in the UK unless you are from a privileged background
Did you know that almost all early years education is private? But there is funding available for most 2 and 3 year olds that can be used at most settings (including montessori)? I agree there is a huge intersection between privilege and access to education but there doesn't need to be. The philosophy itself is accessible. I've applied it to settings with severely limited resources! I've also worked with children from a range of class/socio-economic background using the Montessori approach. It's important to acknowledge the accessibility but I also don't want people to be put off from exploring different approaches!
I went to a montessori school form ages 4-10, but at the time just assumed the way my school was set up was the norm. As I got older it was always weird to me to learn how different my early education was in some ways from my friends! I still don't understand how some schools expect 6 yr olds to sit in desks all day!!
I have been to three different public schools in North America and I feel like if I didn't have to sit in a desk all day when I was younger, I would have been able to learn most easier.
I love the theory of this method and hope to incorporate some ideas into raising my future children, but I also want to acknowledge that this method isn't for everyone, as not every parent has the financial or time resources to keep their care at home or home school their child 24/7. I like that in this video, she highlights that it's not perfect for everyone and even if you are trying Montessori, you don't have to be perfect while doing it.
I love learning...always have. But school was a whole other issue. When I was in 4th grade I was put into a 4th/5th/6th combination class. My teacher believed that children should learn at their own pace and I loved it and did so well. The next school year, a different teacher who did 'everyone does the same thing at the same time' teaching. It was such a letdown from the year before. I'm 53 and I still remember going from loving school to just enduring it.
i think it's important to think of how you would have wanted to be taught as a child and aply that to your own children (and of course listen to them and their needs) :) so this was interesting
Will Rupert be learning the language Claudia's family speaks? I'm blanking on what it is right now but the way you're teaching him language already sets him up to learn other languages really easily and maintain them through media as he gets older!
I super support the teaching kids many language in their early ages. As someone from a inherently bilingual country, (my country also has many dialects, but I grew up only adjacent to some so I didn't learn any), I find it easier to correlate and latch on to many point of reference when it comes to learning other language system like Korean or Russian. Also, code-switching is interestingly fun and makes you more cognizant of people. I believe Jessica and Claudia already incorporate a bit of sign language when around Rupert.
Work generally takes me longer to finish due to a learning disability, however, this was only worsened by people insisting i took a break every 15-30mins, which works for most people. However, i work best in 1 or 2 long chunks per day, allowing me time to understand the task and organise thoughts before work begins. Interruptions or breaks tend to make me forget my train of thought and often leave me unable to find that concentration again.
I'm the same way. When I was being homeschooled, I'd arrive at the university my parents worked at with a topic in mind to research, and I'd typically spend all morning researching it - or things I stumbled across tangentially while researching it. I'd take a break for lunch, infodump to my parents about what I'd learned, and go right back to my research for the afternoon. Much more suitable for me than a day full of classes on many different subjects.
@@ettinakitten5047 In college i had to go onto campus to catch up with work sometimes. I would arrive 8.30am work straight through until lunch, have a 10 min break to eat and then go right back to work. Sometimes i managed to finish whole assignments in a day because i was in such a good flow. I miss those days of concentration.
I absolutely love Montessori and did it myself till 5th grade. I have to disagree with the ban on baby talk however as more recent research has shown it's evolved as a way to teach and encourage children to learn speak by practicing mouth movements they're physically capable of making. The recommendation now is to babble in a conversational rhythm, and as they develop switch to words but keep that baby talkieness in making sure to phase it out slowly with intermittent use of the adult word. Also, per my experience, the worst thing about it for me was when I aged out in 5th grade and got thrown into a public school setting I was completely unprepared for. I wound up repeating a grade and then barely graduated high school and was unable to make it work in 3 different degree programs at different schools. There were, of course, other factors in that but I think it's important. Especially since with covid I saw my kid go from kindergarten, which was more like Montessori, to homeschool for a year where she had lots of one on one attention, to a traditional classroom. She's usually only crying once a day now but at the start it was all day long and she couldn't get any learning done. She's actually asked to speak with the PTA and the school board to make more interactive learning opportunities available in the classrooms and we're going to the next meetings to do so. She's going to speak from her perspective and then I'll bring in the research to back her up. Because let's be honest, schools were designed to produce factory workers doing repetitive and often mindless tasks and today's jobs look nothing like that and often require a person to have not just the ability to continue lifelong learning but a drive to do so. And I'm done with having research backed methods of education only available to those who can afford it. I highly suggest if you have a baby you want taught properly, or a society that thrives in every way instead of one of needless suffering and inequality you get involved in public education near you now. As one of my favorite sayings goes "I don't fund education so my kids learn, I fund it because I don't want to live in a society of idiots."
True, you don't see many sixteen year olds speaking in baby talk. It's age appropriate and child will clearly let you know what stage they are at. Lots of kids go back to baby talk around the age of six and I've seen many parents pulling their hair out over it (myself included at the time) but I realise now it was a stage she needed to go through, process and move on from.
After intently watching his mobile for months, one of my sons finally reached up, grabbed his mobile, and tore it apart. He had been thinking of grabbing it the whole time. He turned out ok though. He now rips apart computer code and rewrites it. His brother played peek-a-boo with his. What's my point? Some people, like my son's, are computer geeks, and have always loved gadgets. They adored those things that spin when you push a button. I neither encouraged or discouraged it. I let them find their own path. And that's Marie's message.
I was a Montessori kid, taught both at home and in a school and I loved it! I found it fun as a child and it definitely helped when I went to more traditional schools cause I was seen as a very disciplined and independent child. It’s such an interesting learning/teaching style and I definitely want to use it when I have children of my own :)
I really wish I had done this with my child. They’re 14 now. This year, their first year of high school, they’re finally doing a lot better and developing self-confidence, but I’ve had to fight her school for seven years to get them to provide her with the tools she needs to pass and grasp concepts such as higher math. Her anxiety has been so bad we’ve been looking into a service dog. I think the Montessori method would probably have helped her a lot.
The very idea you wanted to use a method to help raise Rupert, is in itself , very responsible !! You two bring a lot of knowledge, smarts and experience with what works. I'm a senior, but will def find it interesting, and knowing ya'll , probably humorous ! My sister & her hubby used a child rearing class and my goodness it worked. Paying attention to your child's growth is such a key to how well they do being human. Rupert is one lucky boy !!
Montessori is great. I discovered it some ten years ago and promptly wrote a thesis about it in relation to hearing impaired kids when I was working on getting my academic degree. I think the fact that there is a prepared, structured environment and lots of tools that are visually helpful really supports deaf or hearing impaired youngsters in not only gaining important skills but also in gaining confidence. Kids really do blossom when allowed to direct their learning at their own pace and having discoveries. So, I plan on using Montessori style myself whenever I have my own kid/kids.
Montessori looks amazing, especially for neurodivergent kids! As someone with ADHD, I can attest to how much better I learn with hands-on vs classroom instruction. Still not sure if I'll ever have a kid, but if I do I hope to raise them Montessori.
This sounds very good but as a linguist I'd just like to clarify that baby talk isn't harmful and doesn't slow down development. Child specific speech is normal, people even do it without noticing or trying to do it. If you call a dog a guagua your child will still eventually learn the word dog at their own pace just like how your child eventually stops being afraid to sleep alone or stops wanting to drink milk from a bottle. You don't need to do baby talk, it isn't better or worse. Just in case any parents felt that maybe they were harming their child don't worry. People theorize that we do baby talk because it helps the child know that we are talking to them or about them because it is different and "more exciting" with exaggerated pitch and tone but if you do or don't do it your child will still learn to speak "normally". Children absorb language like sponges and don't need to be taught in any specific way. The only reason children don't learn to speak is in extreme abuse situations where they are never spoken to or around or they are punished for making any noises.
Thanks for this comment! As a linguist and a former Montessori kid myself, that was probably the only thing in the video that made me slightly grumpy. While I think her intention was to point out that speaking to a baby the same way you would an adult stems from the Montessori philosophy of respecting the child, and I don't think she intended it to sound like baby talk is bad or harmful, I think it's possible some people will hear it that way. There's no harm in baby talk/parentese, nor is there in talking to your child the way Jessica described. The most important thing is to talk to them, period!
It's important to know that in the U.S. Montessori can be drastically different depending on the teachers involved and how regulated it is. You can have days cares and Christian schools passing themselves off as Montessori but not following the actual curriculum. It tends to be more regulated now than it used to, but it varies by state what the qualifications are. During the 90's I was in a so called Montessori preschool for 2 months and hated it. It was not child centred and the teachers were impatient and awful, it was mind numbing to a 4 year old hyperlexic Autistic child who just wanted to read and explore their academic interests, not do play or activities below their skill level. I preferred home, so my mom fortunately took me out.
I love that I watched this all the way through even though my partner and I have no intention of ever creating a human life- possibly harboring one, though, if ever we reach an acceptable level of financial security (you can laugh at that, we live in the USA so...yeah.) You're just such a wonderful teacher, I love all of your videos so much!
jeez, i really needed this as a child. i have adhd that wasn’t properly diagnosed as i was growing up, and because of this i was given extra help but i never understood why? i felt like an idiot having to leave the classroom to do tests, or have an open book when my classmates didn’t have to use one. i couldn’t focus and labelled as lazy… i was 8? :/ sadly, montessori was out of my families budget and i feel like i missed out on so much. i’m 25 and i feel hopeless because i haven’t gone to college- it’s just a lot for me to handle atm. this seems amazing and rupert has a great start to life! 💕 good job mamas!
I grew up without study habits or structure (my parents didn't have one either even though both of them graduated college) and my high school albeit academic-based still managed to make me (and people like me) be in the class's top 10 without even seriously studying, so I was culture-shocked going to university. I wish I had a bit of a structure because not having one means being more susceptible to comparing my progress to others', which my half brain knows is unfair to do.
The idea of asking for your child's permission from very young age felt just revolutionary to me, since I was never raised with anyone respecting my boundaries. Then again, I'm also from the age group where physical punishments were still an accepted thing, so perhaps there were bigger issues...
I'd argue that believing physical punishment is acceptable is an outcome of not respecting the boundaries of other people, especially children! Maybe I'm wrong, but surely if you respect another person's independence and boundaries, you don't then hit them.
I am an Old, so I went to grammar school in the 80's, and the NYC Bored of Education had a number of students IQ tested, and we were then educated in a program alternately called "gifted" and/or "enrichment". Most of it was modified Montessori, where we were self-directed, but within certain limits: an hour of doing independent maths lessons out of a box of cards, for instance, at whatever speed is comfortable for you. we also had specific lessons on critical thinking and understanding bias in grades 2 and 3. This set me up for a lifetime of self-directed learning, and while i dont have kids, i really hope more people are taught this way, both now and in the future.
I went to a Montessori school when I was around 3-6 and it really shaped me. I remember that I loved to learn and felt comfortable in the environment, even to this day (13 years later) I can remember what I learned because I wanted to do it and it wasn’t just because I had to. I can’t say the same thing about the things I learned in a regular high school just a few months ago, I don’t remember any of that. Throughout my life I have loved to learn in my own time, on my own terms, and I learn very quickly that way. I taught myself Korean, fashion history, and much more because I wanted to and could do it the way I wanted to do it. I wish I had only gone to Montessori schools throughout my childhood but I am thankful that I at least got to do it for a while because it really stuck with me.
I see a natural talent for teaching in conjunction with dedication and crowned with the ability for moderation. It happens that these gifts come together in one person, but it is rare!
For a number of years I attended the Sudbury Valley School here in the US which as a democratic school is not exactly Montessori, but it has many overlaps. In fact it was at least partly inspired by a UK school, Summerhill School. Utilizing a child's natural curiosity to drive learning is so much more effective than killing all motivation through forced learning of a specific subject at a specific age and specific speed.
like all Jessica vids, I am perpetually torn between commenting on my positive feelings on the video contents and commenting on my positive feelings on her outfit that pearl pendant is so cute....
Thank you for sharing! I don't like to "follow" any set system in full but rather use/try out pieces that fit best for our unique situation. Glad you're doing better!
I actually went to montessori for preschool to kindergarten, as my mother was a teacher there. While I can't remember much about what was taught, I know I enjoyed it and that there were some really fun activities (building arches with blocks, plastic farm, grating, the alphabet). I remember that there was free choice on what to do during at least the beginning of the day.
i didn’t attend a montessori school, but i attended a Quaker school that incorporated a lot of montessori elements, especially in the younger grades. As a child that was really ahead of my peers in some areas (reading, math, etc) but very far behind in others (motor skills, social skills, emotional control) i found that an individualized approach really let me thrive. it’s worth noting that not only do different children develop at different rates, but within one child different skills develop differently, especially if they’re disabled or neurodivergent like me. i think that with any alternative school it’s important to ensure that your child is still getting fundamentals like reading, writing, and math at an appropriate time, because unfortunately some alternative schools are not up to par. In general though, I think that when done well a montessori approach or other “alternative” approaches can be really great for some kids.
I am 64 and at the small school I went to this was how we learned we could even start at 41/2 we learned all subjects together e.g. we would go outside and be asked to collect some different leaves, indoors we would learn about what trees they came from and then we would count how many we had each and on each table so we had done nature, math and done exercise this is just a small example but I didn't find school to stressful until senior school hated it couldn't leave soon enough. Its a better way to learn much more organic
does montessori place emphasis on affection and care as part of the baby’s learning? like, it’s cool that the baby can play independently, but also that affection and bond and closeness with caregivers is important for social and emotional learning too. i’d be interested to learn more about how the philosophy sees those things!
It's interesting, Montessori didn't talk much about care (or creativity)... Two very important things!! When I did my training in the approach, we had a module on contemporary early childhood practice which covered them in more detail. It's so important to be open to new ideas!
does the audio sound a bit echoey to anyone else or am i hearing things? either way, great video as always :) i really relate to the concept of growing up with a passion for learning that just didnt extend to school, ive got tons of memories of neglecting schoolwork to focus on learning other, better stuff lmao
I'm a fan of child-led parenting. If my daughter or son show an interest in something then we'll explore that. My kids will go to mainstream school and we'll supplement their learning with activities and experiences outside of school. For me, this gives the best of both worlds. Being too focused on one method isn't necessarily the best plan. You're also very lucky that you're in a position to be able to parent in the way that you are. Will be interesting to follow how you get on as your son gets older
I'm sorry, I'm saying this coming from very negative experiences in normal education, but I feel like I must share these thoughts. How is having your child in normal education for A WOLE DAY, followed by maybe an hour of other experiences, a balance? And what's the best of both worlds, when one world has no good points in comparison? Honestly, I cannot see one thing that's done right from the view of the child in normal education. There's no advantage in my opinion, except for maybe location, as Montessori schools aren't omnipresent as other schools. Unfortunately, a large number of abusive situations in my childhood have sparked an unusually complete memory of that time in my life. Also unfortunately, but maybe luckily for my future children, I cannot forget even the smallest incident, where for instance the teacher yelled at me for not completing an exercise on time, one being very obviously disappointed in me for failing a test, putting me on the spot to be ridiculed by my peers. Now you may think that my school was just exceptionally bad, but I think there does happen a lot in there that doesn't reach the parents. I for one never told my parents about any negative feelings, no matter how serious they were, now beating myself up about it, but I simply thought that teachers weren't to be questioned or complained about. At that age they are very impressive and powerful adults that are always right. I see this still, when talking to young nieces and nephews, this almost reverence for their teacher. I see it even in the behavior of friends who are teachers, there's so little respect for children, empathy for how children think and feel. And no screening future teachers for possible abusive behavior. So I simply cannot ever fail to explain why schools must be very carefully selected, and how they do leave a lasting impression in the behavior of children, even if the kids forget all about where they got it from. Because you have forgotten too, how you felt. Almost everyone does. And though they are definitely the lucky ones for it, it means that they don't understand a child's mind anymore and therefore often cause conflict, confusion and less than desirable results. Not only in terms of future education, but also emotionally.
@@MrsJolene- I've worked in primary schools and they are adopting some aspects of child-led learning so they have changed since I was at school. I understand that my kids aren't going to get on with every teacher they have but I will do my best to advocate for my children if they need it. And there are also teachers that they will get on with and really learn from Outside of school my children help with things around the house as well as me and their dad and fairy godmother doing things with them that explore their interests. Overall I feel they're getting a holistic learning experience. This will give them a sense of identity and confidence in who they are and what they like. I don't talk down to my children and treat them with respect as equals. This way they know how they should expect to be treated so will notice if they aren't treated with respect. So many of the teachers I have worked with, especially in primary school want the best for the children in their care and are happy to have meetings with parents to resolve issues. I think the headteacher is important in setting the tone of the school and I would be happy to move schools if needed. Raising babies and toddlers is key to setting the tone for when they are children and that can help them be resilient and trust that their parent will have their back and be on their side if there are any issues. I just feel that mainstream schools offer a more realistic expectation for adulthood
With our baby Mj, we always spoke to her but also signed to her. It helps them understand language much easier! You’re doing the right thing ladies!!! Bless your hearts. 🥰🥰🥰
A fundamental principle I don’t think you specifically said that really seems to pervade Montessori is respect for children. They’re total unique human beings in their own right, just with limited life experience and further developing to do.
I totally agree. Children most of the time want to be adults but they aren't at the stage in life. They need guidance which is why parents have to help them, but I think a lot of the time it becomes a war on control when really that shouldn't be the case. Treating children as if they are adults by the way we talk to them and respect their boundaries would help restrict how much rebellion a child feels they need to have because they feel unheard. This way the child is heard and respected and will grow to hear and respect others I feel
@@annmariebarreiroart yep. I don’t think I ever had one of my parents say ‘because I said so’ to me growing up. My mother especially had a knack for giving a short, developmentally appropriate explanation for a rule if asked. That developed a level of trust and knowledge of the underlying principles (keeping myself and other people and things safe, etc.) that meant that eventually explanation wasn’t really needed. It never felt arbitrary.
@@archervine8064 how wonderful! My mother was/is the example of what not to do. "Because I said so!" was her default sentence. As a result, I grew up with A LOT of "when I'm a parent " vows. I'm an expat (nothing like putting an ocean between you and your parents) and I always treat my 2.5 year old as someone new to the country of Humans who just needs useful explanations and time to get up to speed on the language, culture and how things work.
@@sarahrosen4985 ‘new to the country of Humans’ - I love that! IMHO the only disadvantage I have noticed is that one thing that particularly annoys me is when something ‘must’ be done a certain way even though it doesn’t make sense to me and a better process seems obvious. I also, in school, complained to my mother when homework was too easy or repetitive. She would respond with ‘you still need to show your teacher you can do this well, and even great athletes, musicians, etc practice fundamentals’. Couldn’t really argue with that, and in retrospect I am glad she didn’t let me off the hook or I would have really struggled later on when things got more difficult and I needed study skills.
This is beautiful. I think my sibling unknowingly used Montessori when they were talking care of their cat when it was a kitten! I can't begin to tell you the immense bond the two of them have now ☺️
Montessori teacher here!! Love this video! I think you did a beautiful job explaining what Montessori is! Love your insight on how you raise your small Montessori baby❤️ There aren’t a ton of videos giving this much detail on how they use the Montessori approach with infants, so thank you 😊
as a chronically ill kid who read ahead and had multiple “fun books” on my desk at all times i would have done so much better with montessori. but we didn’t have one that i know of.
I remember skimming ahead my school books (especially science, history, and English/Filipino literary) and couldn't wait for the teacher to tackle it, but I'd always get disappointed that the teacher either skipped some or ran out of the school year to go through all of the topics.
My youngest child had this style of teaching in nursery, plus reading to him as soon as he was born like I did with my other three. This style of teaching helped him so much he is like a little sponge and soaks up everything he learns easily now, he adores learning and is extremely clever. All my children are naturals at reading and science we encouraged it as much as we could. Every nursery and school should use this system children would flourish alot more.
Wow, you explained it so well! I started incorporating Montessori elements into my home when my son was a toddler, so I loved to learn how you've been using it from birth. If I have another baby I will come back to this video for sure. Thank you Jessie!
I went to a montessori school for preschool and kindergarten, and it was wonderful! We got to have the freedom to choose our own activities, but the environment was always calm and never chaotic. It helped me to learn things like reading and writing, but also social and hands-on skills! By the time I went to first grade, I was already far more advanced in reading than the other students. I love that you're starting the Montessori method at such a young way, and would 100% recommend it for any child
I just wanted to say thank you for this video. Youve helped me realise I do still have a future in education and that I was just in the wrong setting for me. I'm a qualified secondary school teacher and honestly I barely got through my first year. It was so restrictive, covid made things ten times harder, and I really struggled to help balance all of my students. In the end I created a sheet with a range of generic activities so that those students who finished the main part of the lesson could explore for themselves into new areas but even then I had to be careful not to stray too far from the rigid curriculum. I also have adhd and this way of teaching and elarning nearly cripplled me. After watching this, I've looked into training as a Montessori guide because this is definitely more fitting for me as a teacher and as a future parent. Thank you so much for helping me find my passion for education again x
my mum's a montessori teacher and i went to a montessori school till i was eight. that made my childhood all the more amazing and i have montessori to thank for that
I went to a similar school when I was between 13-16 that about 70% of what we did in school we had to come up with the subject ourself and plan our time so if I wanted to write a report about a artist I could but I got the curriculum so I could match it to the grade I wanted myself. So the goal was “can I write about this thing and how can I match it to as many goals in the curriculum as possible”. It gave us lust for researching bc it was in something we liked and gave us control over our own grade. So if there was 1-3 goals that I couldn’t figure out myself I just asked the treacher how to reach them and they could give an example. It was amazing and a lot of students liked to go to school even tho a lot of us had diagnoses or hated school before. AND super useful before university!
My wonderful husband's mother TAUGHT Montessori, back in the late 1940's. He has dyslexia, bit of autism light, and was very shy, so this was so perfect for him. I think it is why he has done so well in his life as an engineer, and in his personal life. Go, Montessori!
I think it's wonderful when parents are so invested in their kids that they do all of this research and find what they think will best help their little ones grow; that said, you can have a plan for just about anything and life will choose to laugh at the best-made plans by throwing you something completely unexpected. I think that it's best to remember that and be flexible. We never know what will happen, so be ready and willing to scrap whatever plans you have and adapt when necessary. People are ever-changing and growing and one size does not fit all. As long as you love and support your children, you're doing a good job.
I wish I had known about this method before my son was born. My son has a mild intellectual disability and was mostly non-verbal until he was about 4.5 years old. He's 10 years old now and over time we've really had to embrace allowing him to learn at his own pace. He's still several years behind his pears but we have found a balance where he now loves school and learning. He is healthy and happy most of the time; that is what is important to me.
My sister was a Montessori teacher for years. When her children grew up, she went back to school and got a teaching degree but knew the only way she would ever teach was Montessori. She now teaches Montessori to teachers at the university level. She's published many times over and often writes in the Montessori Newsletter. Her 3 children are some if the most amazing humans you could ever meet with her youngest daughter getting her Doctorate in 2017 at 31. So Hanna is just a little older than you and she and her partner also have a little boy who is now 3 and has been raised with Maria Montessori's principals. Several of my nieces and nephews are raising their children using Montessori methods. I think the future of these children will be so much brighter with parents who have been taught how to appreciate their children and treat them always with love and respect. I think many - if not most! - children miss out on that. Thank you for this amazing video. My sisters name is Teresa (Terri) Sherrill. If you ever want to look even further into Montessori methods, I could help you get in touch with each other. Of course, this is in the United States and she works in conjunction with a university in Florida.
I didn’t have a Montessori household growing up but I did go to a Montessori school from pre school to 3rd grade and having experiences it and the typical public school education, I have a strong preference for the Montessori style. Even after 1st grade when things got a bit more structured, I was given a lot of freedom.
This was lovely! There are many similarities between Montessori and Waldorf education. Beautiful surroundings, natural materials, child led learning, lots of movement, and outdoor time are key in both educational philosophies. You and Claudia are wonderful mums and teachers. 💗
This was absolutely fascinating. Have you ever met anyone who received a Montessori education in full? What of those people who only receive Montessori upbringing for a few years and then have to go into mainstream education? I can't imagine the shock... I'm in my sixties but still remember the trauma of my school days. Being so happy until the age of ten thanks to a traditional but kind and flexible junior school, then my world gradually and thoroughly falling apart because of the expectation that everyone will learn in the same way at the same time once you begin senior school. And of course being "different" is never good, as you say. Thank you, I look forward to hearing more of your and Rupert's experiences,you are both beautiful mums, he's a lucky boy. 🤗
I grew up in a Montessori school and switched to public school after 7th grade and there was a bit of a shock, yes. At first I was incredibly excited to be going to a "normal" school, but the switch to high school in grade 9 was not great. I stopped going for a few months in grade 10 due to depression, and had to switch to an alternative school in my district that worked much better for me to be able to finish high school. The alternative school was hosted on a college campus, we had a great deal more freedom, could take college courses, and were by and large treated like responsible adults. It made all the difference in the world. I felt so little of that at my first public high school.
As a non‐parent, this is actually quite reassuring. I see so many parents constantly complain about how tired they are, they never get to shower, use the toilet, eat a hot meal, or sleep. It's like they seem to think that if they ever put down their kid or aren't actively entertaining/interacting with them, it's neglect. The idea that you're letting the baby concentrate on things in his own time and figure things out and tell you what he wants seems perfect. My mom has chronic fatigue and a bunch of other problems but still tried to homeschool my siblings and I. Learned a lot more from playing outside in the woods than from her attempts at teaching (not her fault, she didn't know what to do with 4 kids, 3 dyslexic, me dyslexic and autistic). If I ever have kids I'm gonna send them to Montessori school, speak with them like they're adults, spend time on my own hobbies, ask them lots of questions, offer help but not butt in, and most of all, let them play outside in the forest (with age appropriate levels of supervision, so alone in the woods by about 10 with a clam shell phone for emergencies).(note: I could be wrong about when what levels of independence are appropriate). Anyway, this parenting style seems like it's good for both the kids, and the parents.
Yes! I am so excited to see more and more people talking about Montessori philosophy, child-led learning, and gentle parenting. While I'm sure it is not for everyone I am so excited to see what our future brings with these becoming more common and widely known parenting (and educational) concepts.
i'm so excited that you guys are doing montessori (i also can't shut up about the m word). the montessori at home series by the hapa family is also a great beginners resource for montessori on youtube .
Personally, I attended a Montessori elementary school. It was an experience that I did thoroughly enjoy and would not change for the world. Within the first years of middle school, however, I noticed that there were some subjects that had not been covered by my co-students before. This is because the whole learning-at-one's-own-pace thing in Montessori makes it easier to advance in studies since there is no need to keep the pace of others with the exception of certain "goals" one has to reach by the end of the year like with any other school (but we as the students were not informed of these). Mind you, adapting to the stereotypical public school system, later on, was complicated, especially when it came to re-learning approaches to f. ex. division in mathematics. I would say that for me at least, the entire system led to a more "visual" thinking style, making highly theoretical subjects harder to grasp.
I was in primary school 1971-77, and a lot of it was informed by the Montessori methods. We had an open plan middle bit, where we could mix with bigger and smaller kids, and a lot of "Station" type learning. We had different teachers/helpers on different tables and there was an emphasis on being creative. I remember learning about numbers and maths with building bricks and construction. And there was a lot of what I thought was playtime, but I realise I was learning now! :-). It breaks my heart they way things have changed in state primary schools now. They're so hung up on handwriting, and the "Chalk and Talk" style. Which works for next to no one Imagine an 8 year old with exam stress! Bring back 1970s methods, I say!
This is honestly great but i also know that many finnish schools have failed with the montessori method... My friend went to a montessori school and I've heard a few disturbing stories about kids that won't be taken to the bathroom or outside if they don't for example learn how to tie their shoes... That actually goes against the idea of montessori doesn't it?
That definitely sounds like the opposite of Montessori. From what I've heard, that's generally not the case in most schools, but there are always going to be bad schools and bad teachers in any country.
Yeah, I feel like a lot of these non-mainstream schools turn out either incredible or incredibly bad. I went to an amazing Steiner school in Finland but I've also heard of some pretty bad experiences people in other Steiner schools have had. Doesn't mean the principles are bad, just that some people just apply them in a bad way
I feel like the Montessori schools that you hear about that "don't work" or do something that sounds quite strange like this are honestly not using the Montessori method the way that Maria originally created it. Montessori often gets a bad rep for reasons that usually end up being untrue. Like this for example. I am a Montessori teacher, trained by someone who was trained by someone who worked with Maria Montessori herself (so 4th hand/generation I suppose), and this is definitely something that would never be encouraged. Children are supposed to have freedom and responsibilities, and how are they supposed to feel responsible and independent when they aren't even allowed to decide when they have to use the washroom? Every rumor I have heard that sounds wrong is pretty much entirely untrue and I'm not sure why some schools warp the method into something that disagrees completely with what Maria originally believed and created. I bet if she was here today she would shake her head at a lot of us lol. It's not supposed to be a strict method that forces children to do anything, it's supposed to give children the means to have their own self-discipline which allows them to have freedom of choice and decision making, not because they are forced to, but because they want to, and for the greater good of the people around them.
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts on this and so many of the other lessons you've learned as a new mother, Quaker, LGBTQ+ member, person with disabilities, etc. You truly feel like a digital mom sharing thoughts and advice in a non-judgmental way. All your videos bring such peaceful joy to my day and teach me something new. Thank you!
Makes me so happy to hear Rupert playing while you record. You are amazing mothers who are raising your sweet baby with clearly communicated expectations & boundaries, and so much love!
I have definitely not heard of this way of education for children. I don't have children but I babysit my three year old sister and honestly sometimes it amazes me how much she does truly understand.
Thank you ! This video was so interesting ! I find these child educationnal philosophies so healing. Even as a young adult they bring me so much peace, joy and confidence. I love researching them, even for my own grow-up sake. And I love thinking about all those parents and educators who help children become a very good version of themselves Sending lots of love xx
I'm not even a parent, I'm just a teenager, but I genuinely found listening to you talk about this so interesting and engaging? also omg Rupert cooing in the background he's sooo cute 🥺😭
![8 Montessori Items For An 8 Month Old Baby [CC]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YBtpAKmsMR8/mqdefault.jpg)
Find out more about Montessori here:
www.montessori-ami.org/
justatheory.com/2008/09/good-at-doing-things/
www.montessori.org/
www.montessori.edu/prod.html
www.montessorisociety.org.uk/
have you edited this video with the wrong audio track? seems too bright and echoey compared to other videos youve done?
I knew you'd rebel against being told not to say the "m" word eventually. 😉
I went to a Montessori school for the first 14 years of my life. It was deffinetly better than a traditional school
@@erisjola5857 sounds like it. Honestly, I think Montessori fits way better with my learning style.
You probably love Montessori because of the learning stuff, but I love it because it’s so fun. When I was little I moved around a lot, I went to some Montessori schools and some non Montessori schools. In Montessori schools, I learned better, memorized better, and had the most fun. It was typical for my friends and I to play game and do art and music that was heavily involved with math English and science. We used to play store, but we actually counted money and set accurate prices. We even baked in class. Once I moved to other types of schools, I started disliking certain classes. In Montessori I liked certain classes, but never disliked any
So, I went to a Montessori school for a while, and in my opinion it doesn't match well with ADHD or pupils with concentration issues. I was lost in my uninterrupted learning time and ended up doing very little. Once I entered a 'normal' structured school, I did much better, having a lot of outside structure was really beneficial. Just something to look out for. I think Montessori can sound beautiful in theory, especially to parents, but can come with its challenges for the child later on. Some children do better with set milestones and tasks.
Thank you for saying this!
Montessori can be great for many children but for those of us with ADHD it can mean never really finish learning anything because nobody forced you to so you just keep starting and abandoning projects all of the time and feeling you are no getting anywhere which can cause depression
This is very true. I went to a Montessori school from age 3-16 and though I loved it, many of my fellow students couldn’t handle the freedom. My friends with ADHD would have been screwed if it was not for my school having less than 15 pupils per year group. That way they could get some additional structure from teachers on an individual basis.
Thank you for posting this! I am a big fan of Montessori (really benefitted from learning in the Montessori style) and am often quick to tout its benefits, but it's really good to be reminded that there is no one size fits all solution and that just because it worked for me doesn't mean it should or will work for everyone. I know I forget that sometimes and appreciate the reminder, especially right after hearing all about the situations in which it can work :) So thank you!
I went to a highschool that was a 4 hours a day "learn at your own pace" style school using workbooks that if you got all your credits done early, you could graduate early (though generally you needed to have at least SOMETHING done by a certain deadline), and while things I was interested in, like physics and accounting, I could finish an entire years work in just a few months, other subjects like english or math, I was technically held back for, because I wasn't interested in them thus I didn't work on them. I was in 11th grade for like a 1.25 years because I just couldn't make myself write one essay. I think maybe a hybrid style might work with us with ADHD? Like encouraging what we show a tendency for, while also making sure we keep up with and have a schedule for things we need to know/do, but don't have that drive for.
It definitely depends on the child. For some, it works great. For others, it doesn't work so well. But regardless, I think that the basic philosophy of respect for the child is something that all parents(and adults who work with kids) should adopt.
Man, if this was how everyone was taught we would be absolutely unstoppable
Unfortunately, here in the U.S. it's mostly only for rich people. Ironic as Montessori started her teaching in what would be "the projects", the poorest children.
Imma invent time travel just so I could put my kid-self in Montessori, brb.
It’s the philosophy of ECE’s (early childhood educators) and daycares pretty much everywhere, but ECE’s are treated like babysitters while our education system collapses and fails its teachers and students!!! Many teachers try to teach this way, but they just aren’t supported by the education system and the government!!
@@ClaireCaoimheRaeMoonshadow montessori schools are expensive, but you can do Montessori at home, as Jessica does. If you're interested in learning more about it, I highly recommend the youtuber Hapa Family, who has a "Montessori at Home" series
@@ClaireCaoimheRaeMoonshadow Sadly true. My sister-in-law raises her children through the same method and the toys and equipment are ridiculously expensive.
To answer OP, it is absolutely a great child rearing method, but it also has its own drawbacks. Montessori doesn't teach much about being team members and doesn't prepare children for the traditional world of work. That's not to say it's bad, but be aware there if there was ever a perfect way to raise children, we'd all be following the same philosophy.
The way you describe talking to Rupert as you dress him, pick him up, etc reminds me of when I was a CNA. We’re trained to treat patients the same way. The golden rule is “never assume they can’t hear or understand you.”
Love that!
yeah, once my dad called my brother useless because he thought he couldn't understand yet (my dad's not rude- just a very jokey person) when he was a baby, and he started crying
Talking to your baby in a slightly exaggerated tone and pitch is called parentese and it's highly beneficial to language development. Research has shown babies pay attention to it more. If you find you naturally do this with babies it's totally fine and encouraged!
Adding to this - the way that parents talk to their babies varies significantly between cultures, and ultimately, as long as your baby is exposed to language, they will learn it! So parentese - or child-directed speech, because parents aren’t the only ones who use it - is totally fine! It’s also fine to not use child-directed speech at all. This also goes for signed languages.
I’m a children’s librarian with a linguistics degree and I see parents worry a lot about their child’s language acquisition, so I just wanted to pop in and reassure anyone that however they speak to their child is fine, their child will acquire language, and there’s no secret method they’re missing that would make their child a genius.
As long as your baby hears and/or sees language, they will acquire it just fine :)
I wanted to comment this as well as someone who majored in speech pathology. A lot of parents get really panicked that "baby talk" is going to harm their child and it absolutely isn't. So if you choose to use parentese, it is perfectly fine and doesn't harm their mental or speech development!
@@geealion however, mothers around the world across cultures and languages use motherese, suggesting this is more biological than cultural.
Maybe I misunderstood Jessica but I don't think she said anything against parentese but using different words instead of the regular ones. You can use your regular grammar and words while also speaking in a higher pitch and more exaggurated.
I mean maybe I'm the exception but my dad hates baby talk because he thinks it made it harder on his management of dyslexia later. So he only talks in normal ways (so no moomoo for cow etc.) with children and of course also me back then.
Well I mean I don’t disagree but it only is beneficial because everyone around baby talks with them this way so they adjust. I was actually spoken to like a normal person and rarely had parentese talks and I was talking fluently before a year old. :) Everyone around me as of then was speaking to me like normal so I picked up on normal language really early on that’s why. I’m not special for this and most babies can do this if talked to like I was! :D
Hello, I have been teaching the Montessori method for 23 years and am certified to teach primary level(3-6 yrs). Although, Montessori might not be for everyone, it does work for many children with a wide variety of learning styles. I love that Montessori focuses on the whole child and their needs. There are many, many misconceptions about this teaching philosophy so I wanted to take a moment to thank you for taking the time to speak about it. On a side note, you have a lovely family! My wife and I have been together for 30 years this coming January.
Amazing. I'm wondering if there are any Schools in the UK that use this teaching method? My Son is 4 and on the Spectrum. I'm considering home schooling due to him struggling in his mainstream school. Homeschooling may be on the cards if not.xx
I would love ideas on how to implement the philosophy with teens/young adults. We have two teen girls who came to us from foster care and I think this philosophy could help them feel more confident and independent.
@@resplendentclarity2188 I don't know but I'm autistic myself and would have loved this method of school/home stuff. I believe it meets needs I've heard many others in the autistic community express, as well, so it sounds like you're looking in a very good direction to support your child:)
Also, (in the US at least, I know Jessica is in the UK) regular Kindergarten just isn't well suited to Kindergartners. Simply doing something different, even if that different philosophy isn't perfect, will get you better outcomes. That's why it's so important for people to explore different philosophies, to come up with multiple options that aren't so highly focused on standardized testing. I realize by high school, it might be impossible to get away from that obsession with testing. But, elementary schoolers shouldn't have to deal with instructors forced to worry about their students scores.
@@resplendentclarity2188 likely to be private, I was in a private Montessori nursery as a kid. Look for charter schools or check out Boy In A Band's video about alternative schooling
I used the Montessori style with my kiddo pretty much from Day 1, and even though they go to a public school, I still encourage them at home with the same method. They love to find new things to tell and show me. We've had a few bumps in the road with public school teachers. My kiddo loves dinosaurs and in third grade, the teacher assigned them a Mammoth for a dinosaur project. They promptly and correctly told the teacher that a Mammoth wasn't a dinosaur. The teacher still made them do the presentation. My kid then did the entire presentation in front of the class on how a Mammoth wasn't a dino. I love the confidence that Montessori has given them and how they discover the world around them through research AND observation.
That is really cool. I feel I struggle with being able to speak up to others, especially those who are in higher authority positions than I am. I am 19 and I am just learning how to deal with that kind of thing. And though it isn't much progress since I started, I feel I have grown a lot in how I deal with confrontation. So big props to that kid for standing up for himself and the mamanth! I think if I had been raised in a similar fashion it might change my confidence levels and how I deal with confrontation
I guess "extinct animals" would have been a more accurate name for that project. The teacher went with dinos for clarity.
Tbh it's just annoying when people correct you on things like these. Like those people who feel the need to inform you that tomatoes aren't vegetables. Yeah I know Becky but did you understand what I meant? Yes? Then we're good
Good for them! Unfortunately, I suspect the teacher learned nothing. For me, this doesn't bode well for her teaching skills overall.
@@idek7438 Except, I have a big 'thing' about giving children incorrect information, and even more so in an educational setting (former teacher) - child is correct, a mammoth isn't a dinosaur, and if the teacher meant 'extinct animals' they should have said that. It also would have opened a discussion on the meaning of the word 'extinct' - there was no clarity to be had by using 'dinosaurs' as a short cut, it just comes across as a lack of knowledge.
@@kimtomlinson2963 dinosaur is, actually as much as I am kind of cringing at the teacher not correcting themselves or clarifying, is a term a lot of people use as synonymous with old or extinct or vintage themed.
I worked as a Montessori teacher. Our Principal kicked out all disabled kids stating they they take up too much time. That is how I started being an in home special ed Montessori teacher. I was sickened to the soul she had that opinion. What better way to learn than Montessori no matter what your abilities are it is perfect.
OMG!😱 I'm speechless.
I appreciate that Montessori was pretty much developed for children with additional needs and focuses on practical tasks.
This video makes me want to cry so much of my mental illnesses would have been easier to deal with if I had been shown even a fraction as much respect as a child as this method describes. Now instead I need my therapist to teach me how to “parent myself” this way as an adult lol.
I feel you and I’m so sorry. Mental illness can be devastating. I’m both mentally and physically ill, my physical illness is similar to Jessica, I use a wheelchiar too. I’m so sorry about you having to learn to parent yourself. I feel for you because it’s what I have to do too. Not only I wasn’t taught anything but I was also abused physically frim the beginning of my childhood to my teenage years. Now I’m 28 and I started to realize from an early age that this is because my parents were raised in an orphanage and its not their fault but still im a traumatized and severe mentally ill adult bc of it and its not my fault either
I went to a Montessori school up until 2nd grade. It was a unique experience. I almost failed at math once I started going to regular school because they didn't teach numbers, they taught concepts.
So basically they where teaching us what fractions where, but never showed us numbers. So we had these like bowling pin type objects made of wood, and we learned that if you put 2 half ones together it's a whole one, and if you put 4 of the quarter cut ones together it was a whole one, and 2 quarters make a half etc. All these wonderful concepts, but when presented with a problem like 1 1/2 + 1/4 = , or 1.5 + .25= I had no clue how to work with the actual numbers. Bottom line, it's great for younger kids.
I was also a Montessori kid, and I'm fascinated that your teachers didn't include numbers! I very distinctly remember the concepts going hand in hand with the practical (numbers) aspects, especially as we got older.
Other people also talk about their Montessori experience that their work was never checked, so they just never did a subject for a year etc, and all I can think is they just had bad Montessori teachers! 😂
Wow. I never knew I was using Montessori when I had my kids and I’m a psych major! But that’s how my family teaches to care for babies.
that's really great tho!:)
@@paadoxal I always thought so! Although math while grocery shopping made it easier for my mom to get other info out of me! 😝
I had Montessori style “station” settings in kindergarten with a guiding teacher verses any lectures. In general I think it is a thousand times better. Before puberty begins, have you ever noticed that kids only have an attention span from 5 - 15 minutes?
Even if one is not dyslexic (which I am as well). The idea of sitting and listening to a lecture for kids like adults in college? Of course it does not work well. One can take a test but forget all the material 24 hours later. Where as structured play and interaction with objects lasts a lifetime.
A teacher has to be a kind and empathetic yet structured presence for it to work. But it can work.
Montessori toddler guide here! One of the many things I love about the Montessori method is how concentration is valued and protected. In my toddler classroom, we give our children purposeful practical life work that will really engage their concentration for long periods of time (preparing their own snack, scrubbing a table, filling a bird feeder, etc.) The concentration that is developed in our toddler environment helps prepare them for concentration on challenging academic work later in childhood. It’s not uncommon to see a Montessori child able to focus on something for long periods of time! It’s practiced and developed from the start. My toddlers (18 months- 3 years) will sometimes choose a work and work with it for 20-30 minutes!!
@@laurenwilliams4830 That is impressive. At age 5 I had issues adjusting to the station work style. But it was because I did not go to a Montessori Day Care. So I was like huh? They don’t make me focus 🧘♀️ at home lol. That is impressive. My 7 year old niece struggled past 7 - 14 minutes at the beginning of homeschool grade 1. (2020 Covid)
But it did get extended as her teacher found what helped for her. It can be a really good thing with the right guidance. I agree.
I wonder if I could teach myself Montessori for my own sake as a malfunctioning adult, lol.
I was the oposite as a kid - I once spent ten hours straight painting paper plates when I was under the age of 6, and this was not at all an anomaly (autistic/adhd). I hated regular school and would have loved montessori for the opposite reason - the unnatural and abrupt transitions from one subject to the next really felt distressing, draining, and too sudden. I did go to a montessory-like school when I was around 5 and it's the only educational institution that didn't traumatize me in some way, and where I felt consistently safe, supported, and respected
My parents didn't raise me according to a specific method nor did i go to a certain method school but I always naturally focussed for hours on things I was obsessed with. I could play hours with one balloon as a baby or spend hours reading books and watching documentaries as a seven year old. I hated constant changing of topics. In my experience people who have bad focus as a kid all got better with age but are still worse at focussing than people who already have lengthy focus spans as a kid. Neither is worse. They can produce things in 30min and at the 30min mark i am still easing into a topic. But then studying was easier for me. But i do agree that for lifelong practical skills regular practice is better than cramming a lot of info in one sitting.
Interesting. My mother's educational philosophy can be summed up by her two favourite quotes:
“Education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel."
― Socrates
“Do not train a child to learn by force or harshness; but direct them to it by what amuses their minds, so that you may be better able to discover with accuracy the peculiar bent of the genius of each.”
― Plato
I think she would have been a fan of Montessori.
Scishow tangents has a similar quote:
The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be lighted.
Beautiful quotes. Thanks for sharing
@@comprends2138 Possibly, but 350 years after Socrates.
@@comprends2138 Well, I had a good search and you might be right. "Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire", was definitely written by Plutarch.
I don't think it sounds as good as the paraphrased quote attributed to Socrates, but thanks. Good to know.
While I have no interest in children, I find it very interesting and somewhat funny that I am basically doing a lot of those things while teaching my dog. He's a rescue with some unknown trauma and since he was already 9 when I adopted him, I had a fully developped personality to get to know, and very strict boundaries to be aware of for the sake of my fingers' integrity. We've been having a great time experimenting with new toys, tricks and intelligence-activities such as taking food from unknown materials and surfaces etc. I remain very aware of the fact that every dog would be different and need different things while I am working with him to best find out what works for him. And yes, I am telling him what I am doing while I for example harness him. It increases the safety of my hands, once again, as when scared, restricted or surprised, he may snap.
That’s funny to read your comment, because the whole time I was watching this video, I was thinking, “wow, that sounds like me with my cats!”
I agree but I think that's good that we give such respect to dogs and cats and other pets people may own because those they differ from humans in intelligence they are still smart and still have the right to be respected.
I train humans to train their dogs, and my quickest and most engaged students (the humans) are all teachers of human children. This is not a coincidence. Mammals pretty much all learn the same way. My teachers mostly just need to learn how to read the little subtle stuff from their dog and a little tightening up on timing and reward placement, but the foundations of reward and communication are already there, and they understand the importance of managing the environment.
We're all animals after all.
I think it’s so sad that western society has devolved to such a point that people think it’s okay to compare raising a dog to raising a child.
I went to a Montessori school in Sweden when I was a kid and it was the best school experience I've ever had. Other than their teaching techniques, I loved how they grouped everyone between the age of 6 and 8 and 9 to 11 together to learn. We weren't in different grades basically, only in these two grade groups. By doing that we got comfortable with kids younger and older than ourselves, understanding better how no-one is automatically ''smarter'' for being older and vice versa. Almost no hierarchy or bullying can pass through that. You two are doing such a lovely job for your child and I love these videos!
I love how you shared actual, practical tips and things you have done so far with Rupert that align with Montessori philosophy. And you share it in a very accessible way for adults. A lot of the resources I've found online that try to explain Montessori just skirt around the issue/philosophy and don't explain it in a concise and accessible manner that you can actually apply immediately. Closer to when we actually will have kids I'll grab the books but in terms of online reading it hasn't been made clear/accessible, at least not to me/in a way I can understand it, but your videos do just that.
Thank you Jessica!
I love the way this video went through the information. I had never hear of Montessori before and honestly I feel I have a good understanding now after watching this video. I also liked seeing or having her explain examples of how it is implemented into their family since I think it will help others
Check out Hapa Family. She's also Montessori and licensed to teach 0-3. Very practical with examples.
I agree 100%. The practicality is often missing in online resources.
Montessori is a brilliant lifestyle. First encountered when I was 8 and we adopted a baby brother. Used many of the good common sense style ideas myself. That brother is now 55. 🥰
I love the idea of montessori but honestly it all goes out of the window a bit when you have to get ready for nursery in a rush. I do try to include letting my daughter choose and participate as much as I can but when they're a little older I strongly believe you need to set some boundaries and follow rules too. Respect always goes both ways.
I used to work at a Montessori school and worked with older toddlers. I wanted to bring up how beauty is a huge part of it. This means children deserve beautiful things. We had a lot of parents who created wonderful toys and material - beaded, knitted and wooden. As Jessica mentioned, Montessori is not for every child but you can totally incorporate any of the six principles and work with your child. It's all about works for you and your child(ren).
Hi, I'm autisct and this seems the perfect way to interact with autistic childrens. I wish I can go back in time and be in such a marvelous environment. I really enjoyed learning about materials, colors and shapes. I'm almost crying watching your video. I'm glad you both are doing a wonderful job as a parents.
Edit: my firsts years or life I hated people because no one asked my permission to touch me or take the spoon out of my hand and feed me. I would have been happier if they had asked my permission and talked to me like an adult. (I have memories of me being angry before reaching 1 year old, so please talk to babies) Thank you.
I got really mad while they fed me too haha. I hated how they cleaned my face with the spoon when it fell out of my mouth because it was too much, ugh.
First - I absolutely love the philosophy of autonomy that seems so central to Montessori. We tend to treat kids in ways that strips them of autonomy, and I highly encourage folks to look up John Bell’s paper on adultism.
I do want to mention, though, that the way that parents talk to their babies varies significantly between cultures, and ultimately, as long as your baby is exposed to language, they will learn it! So parentese - or child-directed speech, because parents aren’t the only ones who use it - is totally fine! It’s also fine to not use child-directed speech at all. This also goes for signed languages.
I’m a children’s librarian with a linguistics degree and I see parents worry a lot about their child’s language acquisition, so I just wanted to pop in and reassure anyone that however they speak to their child is fine, their child will acquire language, and there’s no secret method they’re missing that would make their child a genius.
As long as your baby hears and/or sees language, they will acquire it just fine :)
(I know I left this comment in a couple of different places, but I really feel for parents who worry about talking to their child correctly and want to reassure anyone down here in the comments.)
I went to a Montessori primary school, ages 3-11, and it definitely helped me. We had small classes of 8-15, and we were really encouraged to do our own reseaech and be independent. We had montessori lessons where we could teach ourselves anything we were interested in, from maps to volcanoes to word forms to colours. We also learnt practical skills like tying knots and once we turned 8, we would do our own research projects so that we all learnt how to research topics, create aesthetically pleasing poster boards, and how to do public speaking.
It was great, and the Montessori route is defintely a great start to life.
I had the exact same experience ! our school also focused a lot on leadership and teamwork, which has served me so well in secondary school. I had the confidence and responsability to start and run an lgbt+ club, which is still going strong! and I'm not scared of public speaking or suggesting ideas in class, which is entirely down to the amazing teacher I had for my last 3 years of primary (when I was 10 to 12)
As a trainee teacher, I see the positives in this method and how it can be infused in the classroom.
But I also know the difficulties teachers face - headteachers, governers, Ofsted etc. are focused on results and curriculum. Unfortunately, it's not always the teacher at fault if a child can't thrive in their classroom. What I do know is teachers want their children to succeed and will try to accomodate them as best they can within the constraints of their school (eg. use of concrete resources, cross curricular teaching, outdoor and student led learning).
This sounds fascinating...and also reaffirms that I'm definitely not cut out to be a parent. The sheer amount of patience required is already epic, if on top of that you have to spend a lot of time waiting for your baby to be ready for whatever comes next...yeah, glad some people can do it, but don't think I could!
It's a difficult realization to make but very important to realise before you have a child.
It's a bit harsh to admit but patience is a skill developed when there is the incentive to do it. I don't have the patience to deal with pther children but I learned it for my own because I am invested in their development. 🤷♀️😅
I think this world shows that everyone can be a parent, just not necessarily a good one. Glad you recognize that you may not have that patience. For me, I don’t want to. Why volunteer to do that? I don’t have to have kids.
Couldn't agree more. I'm pretty set on never becoming a parent to a human, and this is one of the main reasons I know I can't do it. The amount of patience needed is not something I'm interested in.
I remember back as a tween when we started to get textbook math problems I started having trouble with math cause I grew up in France but french wasn't my first language so I sometimes didn't understand the words in the problems. Which made me have the wrong results since I didn't do the right thing.
The teacher just said, "Oh don't worry it's just because you are a girl you are just genetically bad at math." But by the end of that particular lecture, I would finally have understood the vocabulary and be able to do the thing right but by that time the test would be done and we had moved on to the next lecture and it would start all over again.
Maybe if I had been at a school with a Montessori like system I wouldn't have gotten so terribly behind... or maybe if I hadn't just gotten such a terribly sexist teacher and instead gotten one that made me feel confident enough that I was allowed to ask questions without getting ridiculed... 😅
What a horrible thing to say to a child! :-(((( it angers me to think of how many teachers bring those biases into the classroom‚ where they can do immeasurable harm…
In a lot of areas of the UK there is a lot of classism associated with motessori. Because the nurserys/schools etc that say they follow it are all private schools. The parents influence and money means these schools become too results focused to truly follow the model.
Also sadly in public schools the teacher to pupil ratios make this learning model impossible.
This is the comment I was looking for! I kind of feel like this entire video is a big look down on people who won't be able to educate their children in this way for this exact reason. It's basically impossible in the UK unless you are from a privileged background
Did you know that almost all early years education is private? But there is funding available for most 2 and 3 year olds that can be used at most settings (including montessori)? I agree there is a huge intersection between privilege and access to education but there doesn't need to be. The philosophy itself is accessible. I've applied it to settings with severely limited resources! I've also worked with children from a range of class/socio-economic background using the Montessori approach. It's important to acknowledge the accessibility but I also don't want people to be put off from exploring different approaches!
I went to a montessori school form ages 4-10, but at the time just assumed the way my school was set up was the norm. As I got older it was always weird to me to learn how different my early education was in some ways from my friends! I still don't understand how some schools expect 6 yr olds to sit in desks all day!!
I have been to three different public schools in North America and I feel like if I didn't have to sit in a desk all day when I was younger, I would have been able to learn most easier.
I love the theory of this method and hope to incorporate some ideas into raising my future children, but I also want to acknowledge that this method isn't for everyone, as not every parent has the financial or time resources to keep their care at home or home school their child 24/7. I like that in this video, she highlights that it's not perfect for everyone and even if you are trying Montessori, you don't have to be perfect while doing it.
I love learning...always have. But school was a whole other issue. When I was in 4th grade I was put into a 4th/5th/6th combination class. My teacher believed that children should learn at their own pace and I loved it and did so well. The next school year, a different teacher who did 'everyone does the same thing at the same time' teaching. It was such a letdown from the year before. I'm 53 and I still remember going from loving school to just enduring it.
i think it's important to think of how you would have wanted to be taught as a child and aply that to your own children (and of course listen to them and their needs) :) so this was interesting
i dont think i may ever want a child, but if one day i do this is absolutely the road we will take, its just amazing
Will Rupert be learning the language Claudia's family speaks? I'm blanking on what it is right now but the way you're teaching him language already sets him up to learn other languages really easily and maintain them through media as he gets older!
It’s Cantonese :D
I super support the teaching kids many language in their early ages. As someone from a inherently bilingual country, (my country also has many dialects, but I grew up only adjacent to some so I didn't learn any), I find it easier to correlate and latch on to many point of reference when it comes to learning other language system like Korean or Russian.
Also, code-switching is interestingly fun and makes you more cognizant of people.
I believe Jessica and Claudia already incorporate a bit of sign language when around Rupert.
Work generally takes me longer to finish due to a learning disability, however, this was only worsened by people insisting i took a break every 15-30mins, which works for most people. However, i work best in 1 or 2 long chunks per day, allowing me time to understand the task and organise thoughts before work begins. Interruptions or breaks tend to make me forget my train of thought and often leave me unable to find that concentration again.
I'm the same way. When I was being homeschooled, I'd arrive at the university my parents worked at with a topic in mind to research, and I'd typically spend all morning researching it - or things I stumbled across tangentially while researching it. I'd take a break for lunch, infodump to my parents about what I'd learned, and go right back to my research for the afternoon. Much more suitable for me than a day full of classes on many different subjects.
@@ettinakitten5047 In college i had to go onto campus to catch up with work sometimes. I would arrive 8.30am work straight through until lunch, have a 10 min break to eat and then go right back to work. Sometimes i managed to finish whole assignments in a day because i was in such a good flow. I miss those days of concentration.
I absolutely love Montessori and did it myself till 5th grade. I have to disagree with the ban on baby talk however as more recent research has shown it's evolved as a way to teach and encourage children to learn speak by practicing mouth movements they're physically capable of making. The recommendation now is to babble in a conversational rhythm, and as they develop switch to words but keep that baby talkieness in making sure to phase it out slowly with intermittent use of the adult word.
Also, per my experience, the worst thing about it for me was when I aged out in 5th grade and got thrown into a public school setting I was completely unprepared for. I wound up repeating a grade and then barely graduated high school and was unable to make it work in 3 different degree programs at different schools. There were, of course, other factors in that but I think it's important. Especially since with covid I saw my kid go from kindergarten, which was more like Montessori, to homeschool for a year where she had lots of one on one attention, to a traditional classroom. She's usually only crying once a day now but at the start it was all day long and she couldn't get any learning done. She's actually asked to speak with the PTA and the school board to make more interactive learning opportunities available in the classrooms and we're going to the next meetings to do so. She's going to speak from her perspective and then I'll bring in the research to back her up. Because let's be honest, schools were designed to produce factory workers doing repetitive and often mindless tasks and today's jobs look nothing like that and often require a person to have not just the ability to continue lifelong learning but a drive to do so. And I'm done with having research backed methods of education only available to those who can afford it. I highly suggest if you have a baby you want taught properly, or a society that thrives in every way instead of one of needless suffering and inequality you get involved in public education near you now. As one of my favorite sayings goes "I don't fund education so my kids learn, I fund it because I don't want to live in a society of idiots."
True, you don't see many sixteen year olds speaking in baby talk. It's age appropriate and child will clearly let you know what stage they are at. Lots of kids go back to baby talk around the age of six and I've seen many parents pulling their hair out over it (myself included at the time) but I realise now it was a stage she needed to go through, process and move on from.
After intently watching his mobile for months, one of my sons finally reached up, grabbed his mobile, and tore it apart. He had been thinking of grabbing it the whole time. He turned out ok though. He now rips apart computer code and rewrites it. His brother played peek-a-boo with his. What's my point? Some people, like my son's, are computer geeks, and have always loved gadgets. They adored those things that spin when you push a button. I neither encouraged or discouraged it. I let them find their own path. And that's Marie's message.
I was a Montessori kid, taught both at home and in a school and I loved it! I found it fun as a child and it definitely helped when I went to more traditional schools cause I was seen as a very disciplined and independent child. It’s such an interesting learning/teaching style and I definitely want to use it when I have children of my own :)
I really wish I had done this with my child. They’re 14 now. This year, their first year of high school, they’re finally doing a lot better and developing self-confidence, but I’ve had to fight her school for seven years to get them to provide her with the tools she needs to pass and grasp concepts such as higher math. Her anxiety has been so bad we’ve been looking into a service dog. I think the Montessori method would probably have helped her a lot.
Is there a Montessori highschool you could move her to?
@@minksrule2196 I live near Flint, MI USA so I doubt it. She is doing A LOT better this year than last though.
I think Rupert is doing the talky-talky. :) ♥️ love it!
I was a Montessori baby with speech therapy and other classes for my disabilities.
The very idea you wanted to use a method to help raise Rupert, is in itself , very responsible !! You two bring a lot of knowledge, smarts and experience with what works. I'm a senior, but will def find it interesting, and knowing ya'll , probably humorous ! My sister & her hubby used a child rearing class and my goodness it worked. Paying attention to your child's growth is such a key to how well they do being human. Rupert is one lucky boy !!
Montessori is great. I discovered it some ten years ago and promptly wrote a thesis about it in relation to hearing impaired kids when I was working on getting my academic degree. I think the fact that there is a prepared, structured environment and lots of tools that are visually helpful really supports deaf or hearing impaired youngsters in not only gaining important skills but also in gaining confidence. Kids really do blossom when allowed to direct their learning at their own pace and having discoveries. So, I plan on using Montessori style myself whenever I have my own kid/kids.
Montessori looks amazing, especially for neurodivergent kids! As someone with ADHD, I can attest to how much better I learn with hands-on vs classroom instruction. Still not sure if I'll ever have a kid, but if I do I hope to raise them Montessori.
This sounds very good but as a linguist I'd just like to clarify that baby talk isn't harmful and doesn't slow down development. Child specific speech is normal, people even do it without noticing or trying to do it. If you call a dog a guagua your child will still eventually learn the word dog at their own pace just like how your child eventually stops being afraid to sleep alone or stops wanting to drink milk from a bottle. You don't need to do baby talk, it isn't better or worse. Just in case any parents felt that maybe they were harming their child don't worry. People theorize that we do baby talk because it helps the child know that we are talking to them or about them because it is different and "more exciting" with exaggerated pitch and tone but if you do or don't do it your child will still learn to speak "normally". Children absorb language like sponges and don't need to be taught in any specific way. The only reason children don't learn to speak is in extreme abuse situations where they are never spoken to or around or they are punished for making any noises.
Thanks for this comment! As a linguist and a former Montessori kid myself, that was probably the only thing in the video that made me slightly grumpy. While I think her intention was to point out that speaking to a baby the same way you would an adult stems from the Montessori philosophy of respecting the child, and I don't think she intended it to sound like baby talk is bad or harmful, I think it's possible some people will hear it that way. There's no harm in baby talk/parentese, nor is there in talking to your child the way Jessica described. The most important thing is to talk to them, period!
It's important to know that in the U.S. Montessori can be drastically different depending on the teachers involved and how regulated it is. You can have days cares and Christian schools passing themselves off as Montessori but not following the actual curriculum. It tends to be more regulated now than it used to, but it varies by state what the qualifications are.
During the 90's I was in a so called Montessori preschool for 2 months and hated it. It was not child centred and the teachers were impatient and awful, it was mind numbing to a 4 year old hyperlexic Autistic child who just wanted to read and explore their academic interests, not do play or activities below their skill level. I preferred home, so my mom fortunately took me out.
I love that I watched this all the way through even though my partner and I have no intention of ever creating a human life- possibly harboring one, though, if ever we reach an acceptable level of financial security (you can laugh at that, we live in the USA so...yeah.) You're just such a wonderful teacher, I love all of your videos so much!
jeez, i really needed this as a child. i have adhd that wasn’t properly diagnosed as i was growing up, and because of this i was given extra help but i never understood why? i felt like an idiot having to leave the classroom to do tests, or have an open book when my classmates didn’t have to use one. i couldn’t focus and labelled as lazy… i was 8? :/
sadly, montessori was out of my families budget and i feel like i missed out on so much. i’m 25 and i feel hopeless because i haven’t gone to college- it’s just a lot for me to handle atm. this seems amazing and rupert has a great start to life! 💕 good job mamas!
I grew up without study habits or structure (my parents didn't have one either even though both of them graduated college) and my high school albeit academic-based still managed to make me (and people like me) be in the class's top 10 without even seriously studying, so I was culture-shocked going to university. I wish I had a bit of a structure because not having one means being more susceptible to comparing my progress to others', which my half brain knows is unfair to do.
The idea of asking for your child's permission from very young age felt just revolutionary to me, since I was never raised with anyone respecting my boundaries. Then again, I'm also from the age group where physical punishments were still an accepted thing, so perhaps there were bigger issues...
I'd argue that believing physical punishment is acceptable is an outcome of not respecting the boundaries of other people, especially children! Maybe I'm wrong, but surely if you respect another person's independence and boundaries, you don't then hit them.
I am an Old, so I went to grammar school in the 80's, and the NYC Bored of Education had a number of students IQ tested, and we were then educated in a program alternately called "gifted" and/or "enrichment". Most of it was modified Montessori, where we were self-directed, but within certain limits: an hour of doing independent maths lessons out of a box of cards, for instance, at whatever speed is comfortable for you. we also had specific lessons on critical thinking and understanding bias in grades 2 and 3. This set me up for a lifetime of self-directed learning, and while i dont have kids, i really hope more people are taught this way, both now and in the future.
I went to a Montessori school when I was around 3-6 and it really shaped me. I remember that I loved to learn and felt comfortable in the environment, even to this day (13 years later) I can remember what I learned because I wanted to do it and it wasn’t just because I had to. I can’t say the same thing about the things I learned in a regular high school just a few months ago, I don’t remember any of that. Throughout my life I have loved to learn in my own time, on my own terms, and I learn very quickly that way. I taught myself Korean, fashion history, and much more because I wanted to and could do it the way I wanted to do it. I wish I had only gone to Montessori schools throughout my childhood but I am thankful that I at least got to do it for a while because it really stuck with me.
it's so good that from day one a child is being taught that their boundaries matter and should be respected! I love this
I see a natural talent for teaching in conjunction with dedication and crowned with the ability for moderation. It happens that these gifts come together in one person, but it is rare!
It would be lovely to have some more Montessori videos as Rupert grows up, just to see how you modify and apply it over the coming months/years
For a number of years I attended the Sudbury Valley School here in the US which as a democratic school is not exactly Montessori, but it has many overlaps. In fact it was at least partly inspired by a UK school, Summerhill School. Utilizing a child's natural curiosity to drive learning is so much more effective than killing all motivation through forced learning of a specific subject at a specific age and specific speed.
Wow! My dream is to one day work in a democratic school:) Did you enjoy your experience?
like all Jessica vids, I am perpetually torn between commenting on my positive feelings on the video contents and commenting on my positive feelings on her outfit
that pearl pendant is so cute....
Thank you for sharing! I don't like to "follow" any set system in full but rather use/try out pieces that fit best for our unique situation. Glad you're doing better!
I actually went to montessori for preschool to kindergarten, as my mother was a teacher there. While I can't remember much about what was taught, I know I enjoyed it and that there were some really fun activities (building arches with blocks, plastic farm, grating, the alphabet). I remember that there was free choice on what to do during at least the beginning of the day.
i didn’t attend a montessori school, but i attended a Quaker school that incorporated a lot of montessori elements, especially in the younger grades. As a child that was really ahead of my peers in some areas (reading, math, etc) but very far behind in others (motor skills, social skills, emotional control) i found that an individualized approach really let me thrive. it’s worth noting that not only do different children develop at different rates, but within one child different skills develop differently, especially if they’re disabled or neurodivergent like me. i think that with any alternative school it’s important to ensure that your child is still getting fundamentals like reading, writing, and math at an appropriate time, because unfortunately some alternative schools are not up to par. In general though, I think that when done well a montessori approach or other “alternative” approaches can be really great for some kids.
I am 64 and at the small school I went to this was how we learned we could even start at 41/2 we learned all subjects together e.g. we would go outside and be asked to collect some different leaves, indoors we would learn about what trees they came from and then we would count how many we had each and on each table so we had done nature, math and done exercise this is just a small example but I didn't find school to stressful until senior school hated it couldn't leave soon enough. Its a better way to learn much more organic
The m video we were all waiting for !
Love reading to infants. The way they absorb the sights and sounds is so fascinating to me!
does montessori place emphasis on affection and care as part of the baby’s learning? like, it’s cool that the baby can play independently, but also that affection and bond and closeness with caregivers is important for social and emotional learning too. i’d be interested to learn more about how the philosophy sees those things!
It's interesting, Montessori didn't talk much about care (or creativity)... Two very important things!! When I did my training in the approach, we had a module on contemporary early childhood practice which covered them in more detail. It's so important to be open to new ideas!
does the audio sound a bit echoey to anyone else or am i hearing things? either way, great video as always :) i really relate to the concept of growing up with a passion for learning that just didnt extend to school, ive got tons of memories of neglecting schoolwork to focus on learning other, better stuff lmao
Yes! I had to turn on the captions
I also had this impression, but then I guess I got used to it
@@TherealHRHMarissa Good thing I always have it on, especially for channels that provide it officially.
It is I had to turn my volume up
@@NataliaNNS the baby crying I’m the beginning made trickier to hear. After that it got better.
I'm a fan of child-led parenting. If my daughter or son show an interest in something then we'll explore that. My kids will go to mainstream school and we'll supplement their learning with activities and experiences outside of school. For me, this gives the best of both worlds. Being too focused on one method isn't necessarily the best plan. You're also very lucky that you're in a position to be able to parent in the way that you are. Will be interesting to follow how you get on as your son gets older
I'm sorry, I'm saying this coming from very negative experiences in normal education, but I feel like I must share these thoughts.
How is having your child in normal education for A WOLE DAY, followed by maybe an hour of other experiences, a balance?
And what's the best of both worlds, when one world has no good points in comparison?
Honestly, I cannot see one thing that's done right from the view of the child in normal education. There's no advantage in my opinion, except for maybe location, as Montessori schools aren't omnipresent as other schools.
Unfortunately, a large number of abusive situations in my childhood have sparked an unusually complete memory of that time in my life. Also unfortunately, but maybe luckily for my future children, I cannot forget even the smallest incident, where for instance the teacher yelled at me for not completing an exercise on time, one being very obviously disappointed in me for failing a test, putting me on the spot to be ridiculed by my peers.
Now you may think that my school was just exceptionally bad, but I think there does happen a lot in there that doesn't reach the parents. I for one never told my parents about any negative feelings, no matter how serious they were, now beating myself up about it, but I simply thought that teachers weren't to be questioned or complained about. At that age they are very impressive and powerful adults that are always right.
I see this still, when talking to young nieces and nephews, this almost reverence for their teacher. I see it even in the behavior of friends who are teachers, there's so little respect for children, empathy for how children think and feel. And no screening future teachers for possible abusive behavior.
So I simply cannot ever fail to explain why schools must be very carefully selected, and how they do leave a lasting impression in the behavior of children, even if the kids forget all about where they got it from. Because you have forgotten too, how you felt. Almost everyone does. And though they are definitely the lucky ones for it, it means that they don't understand a child's mind anymore and therefore often cause conflict, confusion and less than desirable results. Not only in terms of future education, but also emotionally.
@@MrsJolene- I've worked in primary schools and they are adopting some aspects of child-led learning so they have changed since I was at school. I understand that my kids aren't going to get on with every teacher they have but I will do my best to advocate for my children if they need it. And there are also teachers that they will get on with and really learn from
Outside of school my children help with things around the house as well as me and their dad and fairy godmother doing things with them that explore their interests. Overall I feel they're getting a holistic learning experience. This will give them a sense of identity and confidence in who they are and what they like. I don't talk down to my children and treat them with respect as equals. This way they know how they should expect to be treated so will notice if they aren't treated with respect.
So many of the teachers I have worked with, especially in primary school want the best for the children in their care and are happy to have meetings with parents to resolve issues. I think the headteacher is important in setting the tone of the school and I would be happy to move schools if needed.
Raising babies and toddlers is key to setting the tone for when they are children and that can help them be resilient and trust that their parent will have their back and be on their side if there are any issues. I just feel that mainstream schools offer a more realistic expectation for adulthood
With our baby Mj, we always spoke to her but also signed to her. It helps them understand language much easier! You’re doing the right thing ladies!!! Bless your hearts. 🥰🥰🥰
A fundamental principle I don’t think you specifically said that really seems to pervade Montessori is respect for children. They’re total unique human beings in their own right, just with limited life experience and further developing to do.
I totally agree. Children most of the time want to be adults but they aren't at the stage in life. They need guidance which is why parents have to help them, but I think a lot of the time it becomes a war on control when really that shouldn't be the case. Treating children as if they are adults by the way we talk to them and respect their boundaries would help restrict how much rebellion a child feels they need to have because they feel unheard. This way the child is heard and respected and will grow to hear and respect others I feel
@@annmariebarreiroart yep. I don’t think I ever had one of my parents say ‘because I said so’ to me growing up. My mother especially had a knack for giving a short, developmentally appropriate explanation for a rule if asked. That developed a level of trust and knowledge of the underlying principles (keeping myself and other people and things safe, etc.) that meant that eventually explanation wasn’t really needed. It never felt arbitrary.
@@archervine8064 how wonderful! My mother was/is the example of what not to do. "Because I said so!" was her default sentence. As a result, I grew up with A LOT of "when I'm a parent " vows. I'm an expat (nothing like putting an ocean between you and your parents) and I always treat my 2.5 year old as someone new to the country of Humans who just needs useful explanations and time to get up to speed on the language, culture and how things work.
@@sarahrosen4985 ‘new to the country of Humans’ - I love that! IMHO the only disadvantage I have noticed is that one thing that particularly annoys me is when something ‘must’ be done a certain way even though it doesn’t make sense to me and a better process seems obvious. I also, in school, complained to my mother when homework was too easy or repetitive. She would respond with ‘you still need to show your teacher you can do this well, and even great athletes, musicians, etc practice fundamentals’. Couldn’t really argue with that, and in retrospect I am glad she didn’t let me off the hook or I would have really struggled later on when things got more difficult and I needed study skills.
This is beautiful. I think my sibling unknowingly used Montessori when they were talking care of their cat when it was a kitten! I can't begin to tell you the immense bond the two of them have now ☺️
Montessori teacher here!! Love this video! I think you did a beautiful job explaining what Montessori is! Love your insight on how you raise your small Montessori baby❤️ There aren’t a ton of videos giving this much detail on how they use the Montessori approach with infants, so thank you 😊
as a chronically ill kid who read ahead and had multiple “fun books” on my desk at all times i would have done so much better with montessori. but we didn’t have one that i know of.
I remember skimming ahead my school books (especially science, history, and English/Filipino literary) and couldn't wait for the teacher to tackle it, but I'd always get disappointed that the teacher either skipped some or ran out of the school year to go through all of the topics.
My youngest child had this style of teaching in nursery, plus reading to him as soon as he was born like I did with my other three. This style of teaching helped him so much he is like a little sponge and soaks up everything he learns easily now, he adores learning and is extremely clever. All my children are naturals at reading and science we encouraged it as much as we could. Every nursery and school should use this system children would flourish alot more.
Wow, you explained it so well! I started incorporating Montessori elements into my home when my son was a toddler, so I loved to learn how you've been using it from birth. If I have another baby I will come back to this video for sure. Thank you Jessie!
I went to a montessori school for preschool and kindergarten, and it was wonderful! We got to have the freedom to choose our own activities, but the environment was always calm and never chaotic. It helped me to learn things like reading and writing, but also social and hands-on skills! By the time I went to first grade, I was already far more advanced in reading than the other students. I love that you're starting the Montessori method at such a young way, and would 100% recommend it for any child
I just wanted to say thank you for this video. Youve helped me realise I do still have a future in education and that I was just in the wrong setting for me.
I'm a qualified secondary school teacher and honestly I barely got through my first year. It was so restrictive, covid made things ten times harder, and I really struggled to help balance all of my students. In the end I created a sheet with a range of generic activities so that those students who finished the main part of the lesson could explore for themselves into new areas but even then I had to be careful not to stray too far from the rigid curriculum. I also have adhd and this way of teaching and elarning nearly cripplled me. After watching this, I've looked into training as a Montessori guide because this is definitely more fitting for me as a teacher and as a future parent. Thank you so much for helping me find my passion for education again x
my mum's a montessori teacher and i went to a montessori school till i was eight. that made my childhood all the more amazing and i have montessori to thank for that
I went to a similar school when I was between 13-16 that about 70% of what we did in school we had to come up with the subject ourself and plan our time so if I wanted to write a report about a artist I could but I got the curriculum so I could match it to the grade I wanted myself. So the goal was “can I write about this thing and how can I match it to as many goals in the curriculum as possible”. It gave us lust for researching bc it was in something we liked and gave us control over our own grade. So if there was 1-3 goals that I couldn’t figure out myself I just asked the treacher how to reach them and they could give an example. It was amazing and a lot of students liked to go to school even tho a lot of us had diagnoses or hated school before.
AND super useful before university!
My wonderful husband's mother TAUGHT Montessori, back in the late 1940's. He has dyslexia, bit of autism light, and was very shy, so this was so perfect for him. I think it is why he has done so well in his life as an engineer, and in his personal life. Go, Montessori!
I was a Montessori teacher before I became disabled. It is great that you’re starting so early with your sweet baby.
This is the earliest I’ve ever been. Hi, Jessica and Claudia, you’re the best 🥺
I think it's wonderful when parents are so invested in their kids that they do all of this research and find what they think will best help their little ones grow; that said, you can have a plan for just about anything and life will choose to laugh at the best-made plans by throwing you something completely unexpected. I think that it's best to remember that and be flexible. We never know what will happen, so be ready and willing to scrap whatever plans you have and adapt when necessary. People are ever-changing and growing and one size does not fit all. As long as you love and support your children, you're doing a good job.
I wish I had known about this method before my son was born. My son has a mild intellectual disability and was mostly non-verbal until he was about 4.5 years old. He's 10 years old now and over time we've really had to embrace allowing him to learn at his own pace. He's still several years behind his pears but we have found a balance where he now loves school and learning. He is healthy and happy most of the time; that is what is important to me.
My sister was a Montessori teacher for years.
When her children grew up, she went back to school and got a teaching degree but knew the only way she would ever teach was Montessori.
She now teaches Montessori to teachers at the university level.
She's published many times over and often writes in the Montessori Newsletter.
Her 3 children are some if the most amazing humans you could ever meet with her youngest daughter getting her Doctorate in 2017 at 31.
So Hanna is just a little older than you and she and her partner also have a little boy who is now 3 and has been raised with Maria Montessori's principals.
Several of my nieces and nephews are raising their children using Montessori methods.
I think the future of these children will be so much brighter with parents who have been taught how to appreciate their children and treat them always with love and respect.
I think many - if not most! - children miss out on that.
Thank you for this amazing video.
My sisters name is Teresa (Terri) Sherrill.
If you ever want to look even further into Montessori methods, I could help you get in touch with each other.
Of course, this is in the United States and she works in conjunction with a university in Florida.
The bus I take to and from work passes by a Montessori nursery, and I think of you and your little family every time I see it!
My grandmother was a Montessori teacher and I did Montessori school until I was 6. I loved it so much
Just got my second jab, perfect timing for a Jessica video!!!
I went to Montessori schools as a child and it was the best gift my parents ever gave me.
I didn’t have a Montessori household growing up but I did go to a Montessori school from pre school to 3rd grade and having experiences it and the typical public school education, I have a strong preference for the Montessori style. Even after 1st grade when things got a bit more structured, I was given a lot of freedom.
This was lovely! There are many similarities between Montessori and Waldorf education. Beautiful surroundings, natural materials, child led learning, lots of movement, and outdoor time are key in both educational philosophies. You and Claudia are wonderful mums and teachers. 💗
The big difference is that Waldorf was created by a esoteric luniac and the other isn't.
@@emilwandel I need to dig into that tea.
This was absolutely fascinating. Have you ever met anyone who received a Montessori education in full? What of those people who only receive Montessori upbringing for a few years and then have to go into mainstream education? I can't imagine the shock...
I'm in my sixties but still remember the trauma of my school days. Being so happy until the age of ten thanks to a traditional but kind and flexible junior school, then my world gradually and thoroughly falling apart because of the expectation that everyone will learn in the same way at the same time once you begin senior school. And of course being "different" is never good, as you say. Thank you, I look forward to hearing more of your and Rupert's experiences,you are both beautiful mums, he's a lucky boy. 🤗
I grew up in a Montessori school and switched to public school after 7th grade and there was a bit of a shock, yes. At first I was incredibly excited to be going to a "normal" school, but the switch to high school in grade 9 was not great. I stopped going for a few months in grade 10 due to depression, and had to switch to an alternative school in my district that worked much better for me to be able to finish high school. The alternative school was hosted on a college campus, we had a great deal more freedom, could take college courses, and were by and large treated like responsible adults. It made all the difference in the world. I felt so little of that at my first public high school.
@@PaperTiger so glad you found somewhere that worked out for you in the end. 🤗
As a non‐parent, this is actually quite reassuring. I see so many parents constantly complain about how tired they are, they never get to shower, use the toilet, eat a hot meal, or sleep. It's like they seem to think that if they ever put down their kid or aren't actively entertaining/interacting with them, it's neglect. The idea that you're letting the baby concentrate on things in his own time and figure things out and tell you what he wants seems perfect.
My mom has chronic fatigue and a bunch of other problems but still tried to homeschool my siblings and I. Learned a lot more from playing outside in the woods than from her attempts at teaching (not her fault, she didn't know what to do with 4 kids, 3 dyslexic, me dyslexic and autistic).
If I ever have kids I'm gonna send them to Montessori school, speak with them like they're adults, spend time on my own hobbies, ask them lots of questions, offer help but not butt in, and most of all, let them play outside in the forest (with age appropriate levels of supervision, so alone in the woods by about 10 with a clam shell phone for emergencies).(note: I could be wrong about when what levels of independence are appropriate).
Anyway, this parenting style seems like it's good for both the kids, and the parents.
Parenting style is important for sure but also each child is different.
Yes! I am so excited to see more and more people talking about Montessori philosophy, child-led learning, and gentle parenting. While I'm sure it is not for everyone I am so excited to see what our future brings with these becoming more common and widely known parenting (and educational) concepts.
i'm so excited that you guys are doing montessori (i also can't shut up about the m word). the montessori at home series by the hapa family is also a great beginners resource for montessori on youtube .
Personally, I attended a Montessori elementary school. It was an experience that I did thoroughly enjoy and would not change for the world. Within the first years of middle school, however, I noticed that there were some subjects that had not been covered by my co-students before. This is because the whole learning-at-one's-own-pace thing in Montessori makes it easier to advance in studies since there is no need to keep the pace of others with the exception of certain "goals" one has to reach by the end of the year like with any other school (but we as the students were not informed of these).
Mind you, adapting to the stereotypical public school system, later on, was complicated, especially when it came to re-learning approaches to f. ex. division in mathematics. I would say that for me at least, the entire system led to a more "visual" thinking style, making highly theoretical subjects harder to grasp.
I'm a veteran educator and this is one of the best summaries of Montessori for the general public that I have read/seen.
I was in primary school 1971-77, and a lot of it was informed by the Montessori methods. We had an open plan middle bit, where we could mix with bigger and smaller kids, and a lot of "Station" type learning. We had different teachers/helpers on different tables and there was an emphasis on being creative. I remember learning about numbers and maths with building bricks and construction. And there was a lot of what I thought was playtime, but I realise I was learning now! :-). It breaks my heart they way things have changed in state primary schools now. They're so hung up on handwriting, and the "Chalk and Talk" style. Which works for next to no one Imagine an 8 year old with exam stress! Bring back 1970s methods, I say!
This is honestly great but i also know that many finnish schools have failed with the montessori method... My friend went to a montessori school and I've heard a few disturbing stories about kids that won't be taken to the bathroom or outside if they don't for example learn how to tie their shoes... That actually goes against the idea of montessori doesn't it?
That definitely sounds like the opposite of Montessori. From what I've heard, that's generally not the case in most schools, but there are always going to be bad schools and bad teachers in any country.
Yeah, I feel like a lot of these non-mainstream schools turn out either incredible or incredibly bad. I went to an amazing Steiner school in Finland but I've also heard of some pretty bad experiences people in other Steiner schools have had. Doesn't mean the principles are bad, just that some people just apply them in a bad way
@@noellova yeah ik some great stiener schools. But the one in my area got shut down bc of safeguarding issued
@@noellova Okay great to hear that there are some good ones here too
I feel like the Montessori schools that you hear about that "don't work" or do something that sounds quite strange like this are honestly not using the Montessori method the way that Maria originally created it. Montessori often gets a bad rep for reasons that usually end up being untrue. Like this for example. I am a Montessori teacher, trained by someone who was trained by someone who worked with Maria Montessori herself (so 4th hand/generation I suppose), and this is definitely something that would never be encouraged. Children are supposed to have freedom and responsibilities, and how are they supposed to feel responsible and independent when they aren't even allowed to decide when they have to use the washroom? Every rumor I have heard that sounds wrong is pretty much entirely untrue and I'm not sure why some schools warp the method into something that disagrees completely with what Maria originally believed and created. I bet if she was here today she would shake her head at a lot of us lol. It's not supposed to be a strict method that forces children to do anything, it's supposed to give children the means to have their own self-discipline which allows them to have freedom of choice and decision making, not because they are forced to, but because they want to, and for the greater good of the people around them.
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts on this and so many of the other lessons you've learned as a new mother, Quaker, LGBTQ+ member, person with disabilities, etc. You truly feel like a digital mom sharing thoughts and advice in a non-judgmental way. All your videos bring such peaceful joy to my day and teach me something new. Thank you!
I went to a Montessori school when I was in kindergarten and I loved it very much being able to go around and do different activities.
Makes me so happy to hear Rupert playing while you record. You are amazing mothers who are raising your sweet baby with clearly communicated expectations & boundaries, and so much love!
I have definitely not heard of this way of education for children. I don't have children but I babysit my three year old sister and honestly sometimes it amazes me how much she does truly understand.
Thank you ! This video was so interesting !
I find these child educationnal philosophies so healing. Even as a young adult they bring me so much peace, joy and confidence. I love researching them, even for my own grow-up sake.
And I love thinking about all those parents and educators who help children become a very good version of themselves
Sending lots of love xx
I'm not even a parent, I'm just a teenager, but I genuinely found listening to you talk about this so interesting and engaging?
also omg Rupert cooing in the background he's sooo cute 🥺😭