11 Structure with Choice in the Montessori 6-9 Classroom

Rosemary Quaranta of the Seton Montessori Institute discusses the way elementary Montessori classrooms allow students to have structure with choice.

[@misamna]

kids are showing so much response and this is appreciable

[@heartfulmom]

So do the kids have specific work on their work plans or is it more broad as in they have to complete math everyday?

[@stephaneburgi5305]

What do you meen by "the chart"?

[@rebeccadunn252]

Stéphane Bürgi the students have a chart that outlines the tasks they need to complete at each level of learning. They have to practice each task on the chart (probably daily) until proficient then they get a promotion into the next learning level. Groups of students will be on a chart of the same skill set. They may hold a child back for a short period of time once they have completed a chart if they deem them to young yet to join the next group. Like they aren’t going to let a 6 yr old join the 10 yr olds if he’s brilliant and can read, write and do math and other subjects equal to the10 yr olds. Doggie Howser would not be doing surgery.

[@cl7gp3]

I don't see "choice" and "structure" working within the same operational definition. The idea that as educators we cannot guide their learning seems to insinuate a lack of structure.

[@estefaniaibanezreyes4078]

Parent 🤔 I think you might have the wrong definition of "guidance".

[@cl7gp3]

I actually went and taught in a Montessori classroom last week. It was exactly how i expected it to be--Unstructured learning. Which is shown by their overall lower scores on state exams. Guiding in education is vastly different than outside of education. This video claims that their "structure has choice", but students often need a higher level of "guidance" that does not always allow absolute choice and in fact one of the main complaints about Montessori school is that kids "choose" to stay on the same set of words for months or the same level of math for weeks and as a result of this lack of structure they falter on the state exams. We the teacher have a responsibility to "guide" students to challenge themselves on a DAILY basis and not simply say "Oh yes just do what you feel like doing"--because that is what I saw when I was there. Education is so much more than facilitation and it is more than direct instruction or inquiry, it is in fact all of these things. A good teacher understands their student's individual needs and differentiates their direct and inquiry based instruction to accommodate and educate. Critical feedback, both on the side of the teacher and the student, are essential to this process. All Montessori school is, is the opposite extreme built to satisfy those who are looking for something different than traditional education (which is also a polar-end extreme). Taking education to the next level requires us to make informed decisions and innovate educational experiences with experiential learning and challenging structural approaches dictated largely by the teacher but "guided" by students. In case you were wondering this is the middle-ground approach and yes, I am one hell of a teacher.

[@victoriabeckfinat225]

There's no way you went and "taught" in a Montessori school, at least no a reputable one, as you have to be certified to do so. Montessori wasn't trademarked so any school can call itself Montessori but it doesn't mean that it is. Unless the school is AMI or AMS certified then it's not Montessori. At least, the class should be guided by an AMI or AMS certified teacher.

[@rebeccadunn252]

Wayward Psychologist their learning is guided they just get some say in which tasks they do first to last. It actually teaches them a lot of life skills. Organizing, time management and how to make good choices. Teacher guide them through this, coach and teach.

[@heartfulmom]

@@rebeccadunn252 what is required on their work plan? Is the choice what they chose within that subject or is it the order in which they chose their work on their work plan?