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When my Montessori elementary class returns from winter break, we usually begin the new year by discussing the tradition of making resolutions. Together, we talk about what a New Year’s resolution is, what it means to set goals, and whether the students set goals with their families. As a group, we set resolutions for our classroom, determining the goals we should all work on. Students are also invited to set individual goals. Classroom Goals Respect the peacefulness of our classroom by working quietly Respect the orderliness and cleanliness of the classroom Include everyone during recess Encourage each other to try our best and use excellence Individual Goals Try to print more neatly Remember to organize the page properly and form letters correctly Use excellence in my work Practice patience and kindness with my friends Some years, we have focused our resolutions on developing leadership within the class and the school as a whole. We begin by brainstorming what it means to be a good l...

Whoever touches the life of the child touches the most sensitive point of a whole which has roots in the most distant past and climbs toward the infinite future. —Maria Montessori     There are many things that need to be done to prepare for the new school year. Because I am a Montessori school owner as well as a teacher, I have responsibilities for the building, the classroom, the staff, and the families to ensure they are ready for a successful school year. Preparing for the New Year in a Montessori School: A School Owner's Perspective Each year the building needs inspections to ensure it is up to code for health and safety and fire regulations. Smoke detectors and fire extinguishers must be inspected and serviced. Our school puts aside some money annually to maintain the building and keep it looking well cared for. The repairs and upgrades we do each year vary from replacing windows or flooring to painting. The outdoor space also needs to be maintained. We invite our f...

In my Montessori elementary classroom, I spend the first week of school building on the foundations that I set on the first day — further establishing rules and routines, empowering the students, developing relationships, and presenting inspiring work. As I mentioned in a previous blog, I begin talking with the students about classroom routines and expectations on the very first day of school. Throughout the week, we build on these discussions, usually during circle time. Like all Montessori teachers, I have high expectations of courtesy, respect, and order. Taking time during the first week to fully establish these expectations helps the students understand what is required of them and of others in the classroom. It serves us all well for the remainder of the year. Montessori Teachers Lay the Foundations for a Successful Elementary School Year in the First Week A great interactive strategy for discussing expectations is to invite the students to role-play different scenarios. For exam...

In our previous blog , we discussed the first part of the first full day of school during which the students were introduced to the routines and expectations of the classroom. In this article, we discuss the remainder of the day when students are ready to do some work. Ideas for Work Periods for the First Day in the Montessori Elementary Classroom I find that inviting the students to write in their journals about something they did over the summer is a good way to start them working on the first day. Usually, the new students need direction on page orientation and sentence building. I often ask an older student to help a younger friend if they need help. Once they are all finished, we go outside and have a snack while those who would like to share their stories do. While we are outside, my assistant kindly takes a photo of each student for the scrapbooks that we work on throughout the year. When we return to the classroom, I ask the returning students to start their work, beginning whe...

The first day of school is very exciting for both students and teachers. I always look forward to the first day when I am able to greet students and establish our routines and expectations. As the students arrive, I invite a returning student to give the new students a tour of the environment. They show the new students where to put backpacks, coats, lunch boxes, etc. and where they will find things such as pencils and erasers. Once all the students have arrived, I begin our time together with a circle. To start, I light the peace candle. As this is the first circle of the year, I explain the candle’s purpose to the students. I tell them that we light the peace candle at the beginning of circle time to signify peace and reverence. This means that there should only be one person speaking at a time and we show respect to the speaker by sitting silently and respectfully. Then, I ask the students to brainstorm other expectations for our circle times. Circle Time Routines and Expectations ...

You know you are in the right profession when you look forward to the start of your work year. There are so many things I anticipate each year. I enjoy reacquainting with our staffing team and re-establishing the strong connection we have; we share a passion for Montessori and for supporting the development of students who positively contribute to the world around them. Our first week back with just the staff is a wonderful opportunity to further develop strong bonds of friendship, communication, and collaboration in the classrooms and in the school as a whole. It is an exciting time, preparing for the students to arrive and anticipating our year together. A Montessori Teacher Reflects on the Joy of the Beginning of the School Year I also really look forward to the first day that students arrive. Our school has always started each year with a Welcome Celebration. This is a special time on their first day when the students and families come to the school, have a tour, meet the staff, re...