How does free choice and requirements work in Montessori classrooms?

Maria Montessori has made a huge impression on me and influenced who I am and how I run Organize 365®.  Maria was born in 1870, in Italy. She was a very curious person and wanted to pursue a medical degree despite her parents guiding her towards a teaching degree. She is a great example of someone who worked hard and followed her passions - I love those characteristics. After becoming the first female physician, she worked in a psychiatric clinic and observed the children. Not too long after that she did pursue a degree in education, not because she needed it but because she wanted to have the academic conversations so her work would live on. 

How Do Children Learn?

Maria was curious, “How do children learn?” She was in a population that was deemed uneducatable. She watched as their food fell to the dirt floors, they’d play with it, and then they’d eat it. She saw the children gravitate towards the manipulatives instead of toys or even candy. They thrived in the structured environment where children were learning independently and the role of the teacher is to observe,support, and guide.  Each student is treated as an individual. I saw this displayed, for the first time, in China. There was a quiet hum of productivity. 

How it applies to schools

Montessori schools operate in a 3 year cycle. For example grades 1-3 are together for three years; a multigenerational classroom. They will all have, let’s say, a dinosaur lesson appropriate for their grade. Because of this structure the younger kids are looking up to the older kids. The older kids are learning leadership. And some children will find their niche and become the “dinosaur”expert, thriving in their purpose or their uniqueness. See any similarities to Organize 365®? 

As children we experience these Sensory Periods; think Golden Windows. It’s a period of time when children are drawn to learn a certain skill. I gave the example of the Monkey Bars. For about two weeks that child will practice and practice. Once they get it, they move on to the next thing they want to learn. We all love to learn until about 3rd grade, what would happen if learning didn’t become work? If we didn’t have to fit within “the perimeters?”  I will say to thrive in Montessori school you need to be an independent learner, self paced, and hold yourself accountable without much guidance. There are still standards you need to meet, you just get to go about it the way that works the best for you. I know I would have really loved being in Montessori school. 

How it applies to Organize 365®

And so in Organize 365® I love to provide great school supplies and manipulatives.  You can learn at your own pace. I try to support your sensory periods, AKA Golden Windows the best I can. There is a community to connect with others, find those you want to emulate, and provide help to others just starting out. It takes about 18 months to get your home organized but by the time you are refining, you continue to hang around because you have found “your people” that encourage you to thrive in your uniqueness. And by then you understand how I operate as a teacher. And through it all, you gain time, confidence, and get to realize what you are uniquely created to do - you find your purpose.

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