The Montessori Message

The Montessori Message

Tag Archives: research

Changes

11 Thursday Oct 2018

Posted by Lisa Lalama in 21st century learning, Research

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change, education, hamilton, innovation, NFL, research, schools, theater

I love the game of football. I’m also a huge theater buff. What do these things have in common? Throughout my lifetime, and I’m sure before, both this sport and art form have changed. They have changed in their presentation to the public. The rules of the game and the rules of theater have shifted. Theater and football today are clearly different than they were 30 years ago. Suffering penalties under the new roughing the passer rules in the NFL or attending a performance of “Hamilton” highlight some of these differences. Things change.

The same is true in schools. The best schools today are not exactly like the schools of our childhood. The educational practices, curricula and even the buildings do not look like they did 20, 30 or 40 years ago. They have been adapted and changed to reflect what we now know through research, science and practice. We now know much more about how learning occurs. There are fMRIs and studies in neuroscience that allow us to actually see how the brain responds to varying stimuli and ultimately how different areas of the brain “light up” during certain tasks. There are years of data that guide educators as they make instructional decisions for students. To put it simply, we know more now than we knew then, whenever “then” was – 30 years ago or last year.

Learning brings the evolution of thought and change. What educators embraced even 10 years ago in teaching may now be dormant as other practices have taken their place. The best thing that can happen in education is to make thoughtful shifts in practice that make learning more accessible for all learners. Everything we do must be with the students, how to best serve them each and every day, in mind.

Montessori Education: An Example of What’s Possible

29 Thursday Jun 2017

Posted by Lisa Lalama in Montessori Education, Research

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austin matte, Maria Montessori, montessori, Montessori education, montessori method, montessori philosophy, research, schools, sir ken robinson

Sir Ken Robinson jokes that when he goes to a dinner party and says he works in education, the conversation stops.

“Of course,” he says, “if you’re in education, you aren’t invited to dinner parties.”

When you say that you work in Montessori education, polite looks of curiosity often follow; not many people know about Maria Montessori and her educational methodology, which was developed more than a century ago. Although there are literally hundreds of Montessori schools throughout the world – and many of those are in your town – people remain puzzled by them. They may not look like the schools of their youth. Continue reading →

What do you want to learn?

25 Thursday Feb 2016

Posted by Lisa Lalama in Learning, Montessori Education, Research, Teachers, Wilmington Montessori School

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21st-century, arts integration, connections, education, engaged learners, engagement, geography, hands-on learning, Maria Montessori, math, mathematics, montessori, Montessori education, motivation, quilting, research, sewing, teachers, Wilmington Montessori, Wilmington Montessori School

sewingfinal.JPGTake a moment to think about something in your life you really really wanted to learn. Now think about how you went about learning it. Who was involved? Who or what helped you? Who or what stood in your way? How did you overcome those obstacles? Why did you keep trying in the face of difficulties? Continue reading →

Reading, Writing and… More

07 Thursday Jan 2016

Posted by Lisa Lalama in Learning, Research, Wilmington Montessori School

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21st-century skills, brain, curiosity, education, innovation, inspiration, montessori, Montessori education, research, Wilmington Montessori, Wilmington Montessori School, wonder, yong zhao

“Reading and writing should be the floor, not the ceiling.”
– Yong Zhao

Room 19 - Dioramas 2The past two weeks have brought time to reflect and catch up on some reading. As I’ve done so, I was moved by the statement above. Yong Zhao is the Presidential Chair and Director of the Institute for Global and Online Education in the College of Education at the University of Oregon. I heard Dr. Zhao speak at a Learning and the Brain Conference a few years ago and have been captivated by his thinking ever since. He is not only entertaining; he also understands the challenges our students will face in a rapidly changing world.

“Reading and writing should be the floor, not the ceiling.” Reading and writing are the basis of an educated populace; our goal is that all of our citizens are able to read and write. That is not the end game. If it were, how would we compete in a world market? How would we inspire our students to create and innovate? It is not enough to read and write and, I might add, to compute numbers. We need these skills to be able to do so much more.

As we begin 2016 and I consider the goals of students at Wilmington Montessori School and at every school, what I know is that the children are at the center of what we do and why we are here. Children are eager to learn, to ask questions, and to play with materials and ideas. They are naturally curious and willing to try and try again. They are thrilled when they unlock the squiggly lines that make up the words they learn to read and write. They can’t get enough.

Our responsibility is to keep that wonder alive. We must create a strong and sturdy foundation of those skills in order for them to apply them to increasingly challenging and interesting work. We cannot simply pat ourselves on the back when we can prove through test scores or other measures that our children can read and write. We must challenge ourselves to do more. The “more” is creating an atmosphere where learning is valued and everyone is a learner. That is what we strive for each day and each new year at WMS.

Learning is at our core, and learning is not defined by a grade, an age or an ability. It is defined by the very children in our midst. What is it that each child needs to remain engaged and inspired and wanting more? That is the question we ask ourselves each day as we greet the children at WMS.

An Australian Rainforest Biome… with QR codes!

02 Thursday Apr 2015

Posted by Lisa Lalama in Montessori Education, Research, Wilmington Montessori School

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arts integration, Australia, biome, Daintree, iPad, lower elementary, QR code, rainforest, research, technology

Room 17 Biome - Flying SquirrelA few short years ago most of us were not privy to QR codes and their door-opening possibilities. They were certainly on items we purchased and slowly crept onto the books and videos (yes, videos…remember them?) that we checked out to enjoy in our homes. However, they weren’t used by individuals and seemed like “computer speak” that we could not be a part of. That was a few years ago. Now they are everywhere and anyone with a smart phone or tablet is able to easily “read” them.

In the lobby of WMS there is a wonderful replication of a rainforest biome created by the students in Room 17. It is a beautiful display of the creatures, plants and habitats in the Daintree Rainforest in Australia. This year you will notice that there are QR codes at several points as you venture through this rainforest. Please take a moment to listen to the children tell you about their animals and what they have learned through this project. It is delightful to hear about their work in their voices. You don’t have to sign up for a tour as you can go on a self-guided tour with the students there sharing their knowledge. If the iPad is being charged, download a QR reader on your phone, scan and listen. Interactive learning is at your fingertips.

Enjoy the tour!

Room 17 Biome 2015

More photos are available on our Facebook page.

21st-Century Skills (Part 5)

05 Thursday Feb 2015

Posted by Lisa Lalama in Learning, Montessori Education, Research, Teachers, Wilmington Montessori School

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21st-century, 21st-century skills, curiosity, education, Maria Montessori, montessori, Montessori education, questioning, questions, research, teachers, understand by design, Wilmington Montessori, Wilmington Montessori School

BenBiomeResearch Skills

One of the focuses of a 21st-century education is acquiring research skills. This is another skill upon which Dr. Maria Montessori built her educational philosophy – one that is evident in every classroom at WMS.

Our early childhood students are asking questions about forest animals, hibernation, prehistoric animals, rocks and minerals, and the peacemakers in our world. In the elementary classrooms, children are busy researching biomes, continents and birds in our woods. They are asking questions, finding answers, refining their questions and searching further. They are discovering the recursive nature of research. An answer is not always the end, but just the beginning. Continue reading →

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