Finally! Books that Bridge the Gap

I’ve been immersed lately in reading, researching, and making decisions and plans for the upcoming school for my son. He starts Kindergarten this fall, and we’re going to gently begin our home learning process.

I am attracted to many different philosophies and approaches, but I’m working out a plan that will suit my son’s style of learning and our kind of parenting. And finding that takes some observation, prayer, trial and error, and experience (i.e., time). Since I’m a newbie, I know we’re still a work in progress. I don’t have that experience under my belt. But I also know that even being a veteran homeschooler I’ll still have the same attitude — we’ll always be a work in progress.

Besides Charlotte Mason and Classical approaches that appeal to me, the other philosophy of education that attracts me is Maria Montessori’s work. I’ve spent a long time researching and reading her works and about how to implement her philosophy, and I had Catechesis of the Good Shepherd training that had a heavy Montessori emphasis. I love how Mrs. Montessori really recognized the potential of a child in learning. She recognized the absorbent mind at the young ages, and illustrated how there are different sensitive periods of learning. It’s easy to recognize how children need the tangible, sensory types of learning at a young age. She really did see the beautiful gifts of a young child, and tried to respect the child.

But I have never been able to completely embrace the philosophy for several reasons. (I’m not trying to debate Montessori philosophy, I’m just stating how I see we’re at different premises.) First, that God gives us the gift of a child, and the parents cooperate with God to take care and educate that child. The parents are the primary educators, as taught by the Church. From the Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2225-6:

Parents are the principal and first educators of their children…”The role of parents in education is of such importance that it is almost impossible to provide an adequate substitute.” The right and the duty of parents to educate their children are primordial and inalienable. Parents have the first responsibility for the education of their children.

I also believe the ideal environment for a young child is to be a home. I can’t imagine sending my young child away to school before the age of 6.

Thirdly, if the Montessori philosophy is universally true, then it should be universal for all children. It should not an elite education, unapproachable unless one has very specialized and extensive training and precise materials and scripts.

And I can’t be burdened by so much “stuff”, or manipulatives. Can’t everyday or moderately priced double-duty items suffice? I truly believe that Montessori is more about the principles than the manipulatives, and even heard a quote from herself or one of her early disciples that agreed with me. I need to find that quote….I’ll share it if I find it.

Finally, a child is not a science experiment. While the Montessori classroom is so appealing in the order and materials, it’s still a classroom. Montessori used her classroom as a controlled scientific laboratory to observe the child. And that’s not my aim.

So why do I find Montessori attractive? I am still attracted the deep understanding of a child, how he learns, and how to work with the child. I haven’t been able to resolve some of these issues, but have been seeking ways to incorporate small bits that I think will work with my son.

I can recognize that young children are not abstract thinkers. I’ve added some practical life exercises in real life at home and my son has always responded enthusiastically. I love the language and math and geography approaches. But I always see a missing link — how to make Montessori work in my home so that Faith, family, and home life come first, THEN the educational approach. I don’t want to recreate a classroom, and I don’t have the money to buy all sorts of official manipulatives.

So I am so excited that I found the missing link for me for incorporating Montessori approach in the home for the younger ages. Inspired by the review in this thread, I bought Mommy, Teach Me! and Mommy, Teach Me to Read! by Barbara Curtis. Both are slim volumes, packed with encouragement and information, but not intimidating or overwhelming. I would say she’s a modern Elizabeth Hainstock, but makes the Montessori in the home even more parent friendly and less intimidating and scientific. The emphasis isn’t about making one’s own materials, like Hainstock, but more about making it all approachable and doable for mothers in the home.

Mommy, Teach Me!

Mommy, Teach Me!

Mrs. Curtis is a mother of twelve and homeschools her children and does understand the needs of a child and busy SAH moms. She had AMI training and taught Montessori in the classroom. She shares her knowledge and experience with other parents. She recognizes the role of God and our spiritual lives in education. (Not only does she keep her focus on God, I found out she’s a recent convert to Catholicism!) I loved reading this:

Just as we moms learned how to care for and feed our babies, we can learn how to care for and feed the developmental needs of our young children. Once you know these “secrets,” you will be confident that you are the best teacher your child will ever have.

Because you are, you know. You are the one God created to be fully tuned-in to your children, to understand their strengths and weaknesses, to love them unconditionally, and to be there forever.

Mommy, Teach Me! explains your preschooler can thrive at home because “The Best Teacher is Forever”…”The Best Classroom Has No Walls”…”The Best Instruction Doesn’t Stop at Noon”…and “The Best Foundation is Love.”

This isn’t a purist Montessori approach, but a gentle family friendly approach. Mrs. Curtis gently describes how to present to a child, but that presentations aren’t just those 3 hour periods, but all day –life — with the child. I totally recognize that when I teach my sons, I’m also learning, probably five times more. I’m learning to be calm, deliberate, patient, gentle, leading but not forceful. I’m learning to be a better parent. Of course I’m a work in progress, but her books do give me encouragement! I’m also learning self-discipline by creating order and to help my sons thrive.

The presentations in this book cover the basic exercises like pouring, using tongs, sequencing, etc. They are recognizable as simple Montessori presentations, but in a friendly home environment, not segregated from family life. She has lots of applicable ideas in shopping trips, laundry, and other daily chores. The other chapters cover Manipulatives, Imaginative Play, Beginning Math, Science, Geography, Fine Arts, and Spiritual Life.

Mommy, Teach Me to Read!

Mommy, Teach Me to Read!

Her other book, Mommy, Teach Me to Read! is just what I need right now, since my son is on the brink of reading. Mrs. Curtis explains the sensitive period for reading happens before the child is six, agreeing with Montessori “the first five years of a child’s life involve a period of intense absorption and learning. God has built into each child the potential for seeking knowledge.”

The book is broken down into three stages, Birth to Two Years, Two to Five Years, and Five to Seven Years. The first stage is laying down the groundwork, first by the way we talk to our child, and then by reading to the child, from a very early age and continually. Incorporating books isn’t in the Montessori approach. These beautiful picture books weren’t in Maria Montessori’s day, but we have them now, and we should incorporate them in our learning environments, even if we were using a Montessori approach. The books Mrs. Curtis suggests throughout to read-aloud or for early readers are those that have stood the test of time.

The next level, two to five, is when the learning-to-read happens. It’s all based on a phonetic approach using the 3 period lesson Montessori style. She uses simple terms like the Sound Game, the Letter Game, and the Word Game, but they all incorporate the Montessori approach to language (sandpaper letters, movable alphabet, phonetic objects).

The final stage, five to seven, is reinforcement and further exploration into language, showing patterns in grammar, although not necessarily identifying parts of speech.

And it all is very natural and doable. Mrs. Curtis emphasizes that this is is just an approach, “[i]t’s not a straitjacket,” so take what works for you, and move on if it doesn’t. For those mothers who are seeking approachable and successful ways to teach your preschooler at home, especially to learn to read, I highly recommend these books.

Mrs. Curtis also blogs at Mommy Life and has Montessori Mondays and other Montessori posts.

3 thoughts on “Finally! Books that Bridge the Gap

  1. Thank you for these resources! My little guy is only 15 months old now, but he already shows such a penchant for learning! He loves puzzles and will choose a book over a toy 9 times out of 10. I just have to remind myself and pray for the grace to patiently read that same book, “girl. Boy. Shirt. Car. Cat.” or “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” twenty seven times a day and be happy he wants to do that rather than stare mutely at Sesame Street or happily sit quietly and play with, something else . . . I’ve been considering preschools (where I live, it’s super competitive and I almost feel a pressure to choose one early and get on the waiting list) and have felt a pull toward Montessori, which is crazy expensive for a three year old, but read Elizabeth’s blog daily and can’t imagine sending my little one to school five days a week, several hours a day at such a young age. . .

    Your post really states what I’ve been feeling. Learning at an early age should be in the home. I like Montessori, but also want to delve further than counting rods and tracing sand paper letters into picture books and ideas and outside activites and LIFE. . . I have that book on my amazon.com wishlist now! Thank you!

    Best,
    Sarah

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