So, what's so special about Montessori?

Well, about 6 months ago, I "discovered" the Montessori method as I was researching activities to do with my then 3 year old. The activities seemed easy, and the more I tried, the more my son asked me to do with him.

I began researching the method, and was shocked that as a teacher, I'd never even heard of this method. Wow, was I in for a surprise! There is SO much other there on the web about this technique, and so many people are willing to share their resources.

So, what do I like about Montessori?
- it is student centered... what my child wants to learn is what he learns!

- it teaches pre-reading and pre-writing skills YEARS before other methods even consider the idea.

- it teaches the innate nature of silence (that's a good thing!), as one learns to tune his sense of hearing.

- it teaches manners, organization, and structure.

- it teaches the formal names of things at an early age... how many other 3-6 year olds know what a cylinder is??? or a carapace (the shell of a turtle)?? or that an octogon has 8 sides??? I thought this was silly until I actually discovered that Aikman WANTED to know these things, and often used this vocabulary in sentences, after being introduced to it.

- it focuses on senses as a way of learning.

- it encourages learning through practical applications.

These are just some of my favorites. What do YOU this is so special about Montessori?

Welcome to Montessori Tidbits!

Welcome everyone! I've decided to start a new blog for my blogger friends, separate from my family blog.

This blog will be primarily my adventures with my 4 year old, Aikman, as I school him using the Montessori method.

So, what can you expect over the next couple of months? Lots of pictures of what we are doing. Freebies to use with your kids. Reviews. Ideas. What's worked for us, and what we're struggling with. All in all, our adventures as we learn and grow together.

Check back regularly; I'll be posting again soon!