My Thought: The BPS are trying to cultivate a city full of lifelong learners. Perhaps the right directive, but the wrong avenue.

“Practical life lessons should be taught to children one-on-one.” (Whitlock, 10/3/09)

“We do things at Montessori that are good for children. Our needs are last.” (Eileen Buermann, Buffalo Montessori Training, 10/3/09)

“What is ‘challenging work’… it’s much more appropriate to say ‘Please choose some language work today.’” (Whitlock, 10/3/09)

“The lesson should be given in silence. Words get confusing.” (Whitlock, 10/3/09)

“Practical life lessons are very zen. Many little children will do practical life activities each day before they do anything else.” (Whitlock, 10/3/09)

“Don’t say things… do.” (Whitlock, 10/3/09)

My Memory: After one-on-one lessons there can be a group lesson to display certain activities (such as walking around the rug). After a group lesson there is no need for a discussion, simply invite a few children to demonstrate the activity to the rest of the group (kids who clearly demonstrate the activity correctly).

My Memory: Do not ‘f’ix’ rugs while kids are there… it sends them a message that their work is not good enough. At five to seven’s you can ask kids to redo their or have certain kids that have a job – like a rug roller.

My Memory: In Carrying a Tray, a point of interest is sliding your fingers along the edge of the shelf to demonstrate correct placement of the tray. In this lesson, a control of error are the two blue dots on either side of the tray to remind the child where the hands are placed on the tray.

My Memory: For the coat flip lesson, tell them “put your knees (or feet) where the hood (tag or collar) is.

“That is a Montessori concept, indirect preparation for life” (Sandy Hassleback, Buffalo Montessori Training, 10/3/09)

“The environment you’re in has certain expectations with it, when you get out of it, you can be something else.” (Hasselback, 10/3/09)

My Question: “What ideas, background, or thoughts gave Maria Montessori the courage, strength, insight, and dedication to start this whole new educational philosophy?”

“Maria had a strong sense of purpose. She taught that we are here to serve each other.” (Amy Cornfield, Buffalo Montessori Training, 10/3/09)

“Her (Maria’s) father said ‘there is no conflict between science and religion.’” (Hasselback, 10/3/09)

“Our consciousness and the way we see the world leads us to create certain environments and then that environment works back on us.” (Hasselback, 10/3/09)

“The environment causes you to feel a certain way… how did you feel when you first walked into a Montessori school or walked into this space – the house we are in – last night?” (Hasselback, 10/3/09)

“Environments have certain expectations. In a standard classroom, the expectation is that the teacher needs to control the child’s education, that children cannot learn on their on. The teacher is beholden to outside authorities as well.” (Hasselback, 10/3/09)

My Thought: “Lots of hierarchies! How can we setup a school where principals and the administration are not ‘above’ teachers, students and the rest of the school?”

My Question: “What kinds of expectations does a standard school environment have; regarding teachers, students, administrations, etc?”

“Maria Montessori was a medical doctor. She was used to observing patients.” (Hasselback, 10/3/09)

My Thought: “That is how she approached a classroom; she observed, made a slight change, took notes and observed again… she let the child show her what he was interested in.”

“The first couple weeks toddlers will bounce off the walls. then they will settle in; then they will come into class and know exactly what they want to do.” (Hasselback, 10/3/09)

My Question: “I wonder if a high school class will be the same?”

My Thought: “It’s not about teaching young people to do something. It’s about allowing them to experience the kinesthetics of what they’ll be doing later in life (don’t make them wash the dishes to get them clean, encourage them to wash the dishes to experience their hands in the water, the feeling of the sponge and the dish in their hands.”

“What is fun? Fun is a complete sensorial experience that has your total attention and nothing else is going on in the world.” (Hasselback, 10/3/09)

“Intelligence comes through the hands; with little children it first comes to the heart, then it goes to the head.” (Hasselback, 10/3/09)