Montessori 101: Start Here
New to Montessori or want to help a friend learn about Montessori? Welcome to an amazing way of life. Here are my tips for getting started learning about Montessori without getting completely overwhelmed.
I'm Aubrey Hargis, Montessorian and mom of two. And I love teaching parents about Montessori because I know how absolutely life-changing it can be. I'm here to help you get started in the easiest way possible.
Because Education is a journey we take with our children, and the opportunities for learning start over every day.
Hello, sweet friends! I hope that wherever you are listening you are safe, happy, healthy, and well. And I hope over all, you’re being self-compassionate--and focused on those things which you must do to survive right now, and letting go of the pressure to perform and be ALWAYS ON.
Today’s episode is for Montessorians of all experience levels. If you are brand new to Montessori, you’ll find a wealth of information to help you get started on your journey! If you are an established Montessorian--a long time parent, or guide, I hope today’s episode will serve as a reminder of how we can share and support people who are finding Montessori for the first time.
For many years, Montessori was sort of a closed system--there was a lineage and information on Montessori was limited within the community of folks who were already practicing, attending, and living Montessori every day. But that’s not (and shouldn’t be!) the case anymore! There is room for everyone to come and eat at the Montessori table.
Montessori might not be what you think (10:50)
It won't make your child smarter or more academically advanced
It's not expensive
It IS trendy online right now, but we're actually (mostly) nerds (13:36)
It's not a list of specific toys (14:55)
It's not putting toys on a shelf
You may have heard that Montessori children are studious, concentrate and focus better
You might have heard that the goal of Montessori is independence (15:52)
You might have heard that it's great for certain children - children who like structure and don't pretend play or children who aren't hyper - or children who ARE hyper
The truth is that Montessori myths are huge in number because what we do is not easily summed up! Unlike many other teaching methods, there is not just one underlying principle. We are complicated, messy, nerdy people. (16:14)
Our ultimate goal is to raise children who are supported in a way so that they can reach their own potential. So while there are specifics to the method, there is no ONE thing we ascribe to in order to teach children.
Instead, we follow the creed, "follow the child." But what EXACTLY does it mean to follow a child? That, my friend, is where it gets complicated. (17:42)
Tips for Getting Started With Montessori:
It can mean different things at different parts of your child’s journey. It will mean different things in different parts of your parenting and Montessori journey! Here’s the advice I can give you when it comes to learning what it really means to be a Montessori parent and to really follow the child:
Be patient. (18:48)
Put aside your prejudices / preconceived notions. (21:54)
Tap into your intellectual side (nerds unite!) (25:12)
Find a mentor and/or follow some Montessori parents on social media - and try to do it without judging. Find the ones that resonate with your personality. Don't just go for the ones with the highest numbers of followers. (26:28)
Read. A lot. Blogs, articles, books, etc. (28:52)
Be willing to experiment and make mistakes. (29:57)
Today, I’m grateful for every opportunity I’ve had to read things that made me feel uncomfortable because they did not fit my definition of Montessori. Each one of these posts on the internet allowed me to become clearer on what Montessori is and what it is not. It pushed me to go back to the source and study more deeply.