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Montessori Going Outs: Elementary Field Trips
I think Maria Montessori was brilliant! As a scientist, she observed children and noticed that children aged 6-12 had a deep desire to learn about the world around them. In order to learn about the broader world, they have to leave the confines of their classrooms and their schools. Enter the Montessori concept of Going Outs.
What are Montessori Going Outs?
Elementary-aged children “go out” in small groups as an extension of their research and to gain experiences in the world outside the classroom. As a result, children develop independence, resourcefulness, and self-confidence through functioning capably in the larger world without adult intervention.
Going Outs take all kinds of … Read More
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Sri Lanka: A Moment of Silence for the World
Photo courtesy of Reuters I have immense privilege as a white, heterosexual, cis-gender, able-bodied person living in the United States. I can spend my time thinking about cheese boards or my upcoming vacation. I’m processing through the shame I feel about how I get to live my life to its fullest while others can’t even worship without the threat of losing their families in explosions, like what happened in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday.
It’s too easy to numb ourselves to the terror and violence that erupted in Sri Lanka. Terror and violence are proliferating around the world and in our own country. I try to hold front … Read More
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Montessori Vacations for Elementary-Aged Children
When Henry attended private school at Austin Montessori School (before we opened a public Montessori school in East Austin), I remember listening to a presentation about how to build a love of reading in children. Unexpectedly, the conversation veered into the concept of Montessori vacations. They didn’t name it that, exactly, but bear with me.
The presenter shared a story about a family that had been reading about wild horses in North Carolina. They then planned an entire trip to search for the horses in real life. That concept stuck with me! I think it’s so amazing to explore learning in a fun and self-directed way.
Now that my … Read More