(2013)

Created for Babies, Toddlers, Preschoolers and the People who Love Them 

Bringing Montessori into any Environment

Why Montessori at Heart?

 The Montessori Method is not just a teaching practice that involves the mind. Montessori involves the heart as well.  The love that a Montessori teacher shows for the class and the individual child results in many wonderful experiences for the child, the teacher and the family. I created this wiki to share how Montessori teaches the whole child from the heart. The method can be extended into many environments and can be included in daily activities at home. Montessori is a classic pedagogic structure nourishing at the roots and filled with the light of the child.  

“The study of love and its utilization will lead us to the source from which it springs, The Child.”

--- Maria Montessori 

(Daily Montessori, 2013) 

My Story:

Hello, my name is Kara-Lisa. My professional career in early childhood development began in 1993 as an afternoon assistant teacher at the Cal Tech Children’s Center in Pasadena, California. I have been a Montessori-trained teacher since 2000. I trained at the Montessori Bay Area Teacher training center. I have an undergraduate degree in Psychology and a Masters degree in Advanced Montessori Studies. I have taught in classrooms in both southern and northern California. The children have taught me so very much over the years and I want to share some of those experiences with you.

Currently, I have the unique opportunity to teach children in classrooms, at home and in the community. I work primarily with toddlers. I am able to get creative with some of my teaching when not in the classroom. I teach each day with a Montessori heart in various environments in the community. This wiki is designed to share ideas on how to bring Montessori into any environment.  For parents, this could be at home, or on vacation, or even in a restaurant! You would be surprised how much teaching can occur while shareing a simple snack.

The key is to keep children interested in learning. Learning happens all the time with small children. Finding ways to teach and learn together can be fun.  We want fill our children with love. We want to care for their happy hearts. One way to do this is to teach during everyday activities to increase their independence. We all know children love to say, “Look, I did it!"

“The essence of independence is to be able to do something for one’s self.” – Maria Montessori

(Daily Montessori, 2013) 

As you can see, when a children feel loved it shows on their sweet little faces even as babies.

Topics on this site include:

  The Prepared Environment

Student Work

Carrying Montessori into the Community

Quality and Beauty in Montessori

Grace and Courtesy for Little Ones

Setting Expectations to Create Peace

When I was a classroom teacher, I would sing this song at the end of each school day

“Love is something if you give it away

Give it away, give it away…

Love is something if you give it away

You end up having more!

It’s just like a magic penny.

Hold it tight and you won’t have any.

But, lend it, spend it

You’ll have so many

They’ll roll all over the floor. So…

Love is something if you give it away

Give it away, give it away…

Love is something when you give it away

You will end up having more!"

After the song I would say, “Thank you for letting me teach you today. I think that now it's time to go play!” I think that thanking the children for their time was a respectful way to end the day.

A Story about a child I taught:

Recently, I ran into the mother of a child I taught in a traditional Montessori classroom. She was so excited to tell me how much her child has grown over the last five years. This child in particular was one of the shyer children in the class. I made it a point to build her confidence by showing her loving support through monitoring classroom peer relationships. I would intervene when necessary with lessons about peace and equality. It was so nice to hear that after all of these years she still talks about me with her family. At this recent meet up it was quite an honor when her mother handed me her business card and said that her child would be thrilled if we could have lunch. I believe the peace education that a Montessori education provides is the reason for this positive experience. Every child is important and deserves to have a voice in a peaceful environment.

"Similarly, sincere teachers have a deep love and respect for the children in their classrooms. It is this love and desire for children’s success that motivates them to continue day after day inspiring and educating the children”---Sonnie McFarland.

(From Shining Through: A Teacher’s Handbook on Transformation)

My "Teacher's" table:

Mim's table

There is so much learning that can take place in the home!

It can be as simple as setting the table or as intricate as creating a meal.

Some of my favorite presentations are creating nutritious snacks with the children. Parents can do this right in the home, granted, if there is time. 

A positive relationship I had with a teacher and friend:

      In keeping in alignment with the spirit of this site, I want to talk about a “teacher” that taught me in everyday activities and has made a lasting impression on most things that I do. When I was growing up I had a neighbor named Mim. Our relationship began when I started to babysit for her beautiful child, James. I was included in family life as if I was one of the family. I traveled with the family, I often ate dinner with the family and I grew up feeling supported and loved by Mim and her family. Around her kitchen table she taught me lessons about cooking, parenting, relationships and life. Happily, Mim gave me this table and I have it in my kitchen to this day. When I sit there, I still feel the love and support that she provided over the many years while I matured into adulthood.

     Over all, I learned that some of the greatest teaching could happen in the home. When somebody shows genuine love and interest, learning happens naturally.  I was always enlightened with what Mim taught me in her home, on vacation, and even in restaurants. The love she showed for her child taught me incredible amounts of wisdom. The love she showed me spoke to my heart and to my soul.

     For example, I learned a lesson about child creativity. When James was very little, maybe two or three, he found a crayon and decided to write on the walls.  I came into the room and immediately corrected him. When Mim arrived home I immediately reported this naughty behavior. Her sweet and insightful reply was, “Kara, he did not do that in a spirit of being naughty, he did it in a spirit of creativity.”  What I learned that day was what Montessori calls the spontaneous activity of the child. He was showing me he wanted to color and if I had been aware, I could have directed him to the appropriate place. In that moment, with Mim, I was taught to honor the child.

“Respect all the reasonable forms of activity in which the child engages and try to understand them.” --- Maria Montessori

(Daily Montessori, 2013) 

The Power of Observation

I know babies and toddlers are busy.  If you can carve out a moment to sit back to observe with an open mind and heart, it will make a significant difference in planning your next teaching moment. Usually I find myself so busy with the needs of daily life that I rarely get a chance to sit back and observe. Teaching is a busy business.

 Knowing this, I am sure that parenting must be exponentially greater in demands and full of surprises. With that said, observation is the key to knowing the child. Whatever the format - a journal, a photo series or a voice recording - noting observations can reveal a trend or pattern that can prove useful in teaching. In Montessori, observing the children is the only way to know how to proceed in teaching. It may seem counterintuitive; however, next time something falls from the table or the basket gets dumped on the floor…take a moment to see what your little one is doing. It might surprise you.

“The new science that followed was based not on intuition, but on direct perception…”

--- Maria Montessori

 Backyard observation of a child observing an insect

The large carpenter bee on the stair holds the child's interest while an adult shares information about the bee. 

If you are interested in learning about Montessori, view this video. I think you might be interested to continue in your discovery of the method. I believe you will see why it is a powerful tool to bring into the home. Just click on the link to the right.

Enjoy!

(Buildingthepinktower.org, 2012)

 I have more to share. Learn More About Montessori for Parents:

Just click below to discover more about Montessori Happy Heart

The Prepared Environment

Setting Expectations to Create Peace

Grace and Courtesy for Little Ones

Student Work

Quality and Beauty in Montessori

Carrying Montessori into the Community

Any questions? Send an e-mail to kara.lisa@icloud.com