Video: Blueprint for the classroom: A Way to Move Forward

How do we encourage peacefulness and respect in the Montessori classroom? Together with the children, we prepare a blueprint for our classroom community!

We invite children to share their vision for a wonderful classroom and then ask them: “What do we need to do to achieve that?” Using their ideas and beliefs, we help them define ground rules, from “listening to the person who is talking” to “being gentle with one another”. By engaging them in the process, the children feel heard, take ownership of the rules and feel personally responsible for the classroom community. Check out this video to see how we do it!

Want to learn more? Read our next article:

VIDEO: COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT

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PEACE EDUCATION

It is no secret that Dr. Maria Montessori is known for her strong advocacy of peace education and how it relates to an essential yet often “invisible” component of the Montessori Method – Grace and Courtesy. Her vision to help all children to feel safe and cared for while preparing them for adulthood is the very foundation of Peace Education in every Montessori classroom, aimed to help cultivate empathy and kindness.

What does Grace and Courtesy look like in practice?

The purpose of the Grace and Courtesy curriculum in Montessori is to offer our children the best possible assistance on this path. Explaining and modeling clearly, we share the most harmonious ways of behaving, relating and communicating, and help children practice and master them. Step by step, from the simplest skills (like saying “excuse me” or shaking hands) children build a “vocabulary” of actions that allows them to act appropriately and feel confident in social settings. How do we actually practice it in particular age groups?