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“When will my son stop playing with the blocks in the classroom and start to do some real work?” This is a question I’ve heard many times from concerned parents. Parents are anxious to see some tangible results of their child’s time in the classroom. I can think of no better learning pastime than “playing” […]
As we work to prepare places for optimum learning and living with purpose and meaning, one idea that needs to be added to a prepared environment—consisting of people, ideas, tools, objects and the natural world—is how we help others obtain independence. Stephen Covey called these steps 7 levels of initiative or self-empowerment. In Montessori terms […]
Self-Construction: The Foundation of Learning As we explore ideas for creating optimal learning environments, one central concept emerges: from birth, each of us is engaged in the process of self-construction— building ourselves through our experiences and interactions with the world. We are born into an environment of people, ideas, tools, objects, and the natural world. As […]
Observation is the skill to help you become more effective. Please join me for this free 20-minute instant mini-workshop training, How To Become A Better Observer. In this information-packed session you’ll find out… Watch at your convenience, now or later. Watch this video for more information. Look forward to seeing you there! Remember, your email […]
There is an enduring quote about learning: “Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn”. Attributed to Benjamin Franklin and to Chinese Confucian philosopher Xun Kuang, the idea that active engagement is key to powerful learning has survived for over 2000 years. When I was in junior […]
As I’ve come to a different stage of my life–as a grandparent–and I observe my grandchildren and their peers, I’ve seen the skills of practical life as key to living a happy life. These articles came out of my realization, too, that among my peers–fellow grandparents–the ones that were the healthiest and happiest practiced practical […]
As we look at education as a help to life, safety comes first in my mind. If we don’t feel safe, we can’t learn. When we are in the edginess of fear, it’s hard to enjoy our lives. How do we create places where safety comes first? Let’s begin by defining safety: Safety is the […]
In this session, Ain’t Misbehavin’, we’ll consider the adult’s perception of children’s behavior. We’ll explore an important dynamic, often hidden, that drives human behavior. When we are involved in conflict with children it may be easy to overlook this basic motivational force. What is this force that drives behavior? Personal needs. Children’s actions are judged as misbehaviors […]
As I look out my window and see this mature, mangled olive tree, I wish that, for the tree’s sake, someone had given a lesson to the tree’s pruners on the branching and budding patterns of fruiting trees. This was a lesson that most of the eight-year-olds in my classroom enjoyed and were proud they […]
What should our children learn? Over the past posts I’ve tried to show that children need to learn, as a life-long foundation, the practical life skills that include care of the self, care of the environment, care of others, and care of community. The skills of practical life offer the child a way to build […]
