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Facilitating Discovery Through Play

Children are compelled by their curiosity to seek out, explore and master that which interests them. By supporting them, the Montessori teacher facilitates creativity, innovation, problem solving and “joy” within the child.

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INNOVATION → Problem Solving Skills

While the “play” that children engage in may appear simple, there is great meaning in it. This is their work. Mastery occurs when a child stumbles on a problem he cannot solve. Each avenue he explores to solve it—encourages brain pathways and innovative means of getting it to work. This is why guiding the child to discover on his own is of such importance to his/her development.

Pathway Montessori Skip counting 2

INDEPENDENCE → Self Confidence

When a child asks for help—help them. When a child says “I can do it,” let them. A famous quote by Dr. Montessori was based on the profound benefits she witnessed firsthand over many years of teaching: “Never help a child with a task at which he feels he can succeed.” Not only does independence aid in learning, it is vital to self esteem, self reliance, and self confidence.

 

TOP THINKERS OF OUR AGE → Montessori Schooled

Larry Page and Sergey Brin, founders of Google, credit their success to a Montessori education, as it instilled within them the ability to be self-directed, self-starters. The role of a Montessori teacher is to use innovative teaching tools which promote natural discovery and expertise. By honouring the natural inclinations of the child; true passion and love for their work […]

By |April 3rd, 2014|Montessori Education, Uncategorized|0 Comments
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Engaged in Learning

Inside the BCMA Montessori Conference

Nancy Graham, owner of Pathway Montessori schools, attends several Montessori conferences each year. It is a means of sharing ideas, networking with other teachers and strengthening ties within the community.

Keynote Speaker

At this years BCMA (British Columbia Montessori Association) conference, Nancy had the opportunity to converse one-on-one with the keynote speaker, Eduardo Cuevas, a world-class speaker and trainer in Montessori Methods. His primary message? It is much more powerful for children to be concentrated instead of just occupied. A calming of the child occurs after a child has worked with a Montessori material that fully engages their interest in a concentrated manner. Teachers were reminded to mindfully observe and follow the child as opposed to arbitrarily telling them to pick a project.

The 3 i’s of Learning

As a Montessori Directress, Nancy has observed first hand, how engagement is key to learning. She calls this effect the 3 i’s of learning: an INQUISITIVE nature, an INTEREST in the materials and the INDEPENDENCE to explore. Supporting a child’s natural curiosity and allowing them to work things out themselves, leads to confidence, enhanced problem solving skills and innovative thinking. Children experience the present-day joy of discovery, while setting the groundwork for future success.

The Montessori Conference in Pictures

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About Eduardo Cuevas:

Eduardo Cuevas is the Director of Training at the Montessori Training Centre of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada. He has lectured extensively at Universities around the world on the Montessori method.

About Nancy Graham:

Nancy is owner of Pathway Montessori schools in Calgary, AB and Fort Langely BC. She continues to act as a Montessori directress at one of the schools and believes that teachers […]

By |January 22nd, 2014|Montessori Education|0 Comments
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