tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5661319394438545484.post6896861972485705293..comments2024-03-22T03:56:43.372-04:00Comments on Montessori Nuggets: Montessori: Keys Approach to Life - 2Jessica http://www.blogger.com/profile/07750741589516318310noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5661319394438545484.post-88004618706702029842012-04-10T23:07:22.851-04:002012-04-10T23:07:22.851-04:00Beth,
Thank you for your insight here!
My son ...Beth, <br /><br />Thank you for your insight here! <br /><br />My son has used some "workbooks" off and on - he loves filling things in and "proving" he knows something in a way that non-Montessorians understand. We've done similar to what you've done - remove binding and re-group (or in our case, I've put them in sheet protectors with dry erase markers to be done several times by the same child). but these are rarely, if ever, counted within his requirements - so it is self-chosen work. <br /><br />One of my Montessori trainers responded to my statement, "My son likes workbooks" - with, "Children like junk food too." She's right, in a way; but even junk food has its place ;) <br /><br />We don't use them as drill and kill; or every day (or even every week). And they are always interest-driven as part of a bigger picture. It's a balance to maintain. <br /><br />Just as the freedom is - my son has the freedom to do workbook pages; but he does not have the freedom to ONLY use workbook pages - he must be creative and branch out. <br /><br />:)Jessica https://www.blogger.com/profile/07750741589516318310noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5661319394438545484.post-24567393718858058832012-04-10T17:57:24.035-04:002012-04-10T17:57:24.035-04:00You have relieved years of guilt! :-) I confess th...You have relieved years of guilt! :-) I confess the use of workbook pages with my students--mostly for practice with a variety of math problems. They certainly were *not* used as a primary source like you say, but I found that to offer enough repetition in certain math areas, we needed prepared problems. We found textbooks useful for this too, as well as some prepared math problems from folks like Albanesi and Montessori Made Manageable. To reduce the "workbook effect" I would take the books apart (or photocopy) and laminate single pages and put on the shelf as "shelf work." The children might use materials or solve problems abstractly. Whatever their level. We also avoided workbook pages with silly distracting pictures or cartoons. I looked for straight forward, plain math problems. <br /><br />I'm also glad to hear you speak to the "requirements" issue. The balance between required work and freely chosen work is hard to achieve. I swung between allowing too much choice, then not enough choice as a new teacher. It took awhile before the students and I could use work plans effectively. The whole idea of "freedom" can be fuzzy, and I think a lot of people interpret it to mean "only what the child wants" rather than "limited choices." At the same time, we have to step out of the way when a child's enthusiasm carries him/her in a constructive direction. Can't tell you how many times a work plan got "revised" (chunked in the wastebasket) when a new love was found.<br /><br />I really enjoy your insights and find your posts very helpful in getting back to the essentials. Thanks for your time and hard work!m.e. holleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08329793344025213027noreply@blogger.com