Book Review: “How to Raise an Amazing Child the Montessori Way”
How to Raise an Amazing Child the Montessori Way
I am a firm believer in unschooling (with a side of homeschooling) but if I had to send my daughters to a school, it would either be a Montessori or a Waldorf inspired school.
Brielle is now 4.5 and questions about my schooling plans are starting to pop up more frequently from friends, family and complete strangers (oddly enough).
The time is drawing near that I need to solidify the unschooling plans and file the proper paperwork with my state to stay in “compliance”. I am also starting to think about ways to facilitate learning without a formal curriculum.
The first book I bought on alternative education(of what I am sure will be many books in the next few years) was How to Raise an Amazing Child the Montessori Way.
This book is a fantastic primer on the Montessori method in general but more importantly it gives easy to follow ideas to incorporate in your own home. It is an extremely easy read (it took me one night) because it is essentially a highly illustrated guide.
I already incorporate some of the ideas in my home even before reading the book, such as using toy shelves instead of toyboxes and velcro shoes instead of shoes with laces (both of which encourage early independence). I like organization and I enjoy/need the kids to do things for themselves so many of the Montessori basics come naturally to me.
What is new (and exciting) for me are the specific learning tools they use in the classroom that can easily be used at home as well. Many are easy to make if I don’t want to buy them and I am thinking of making a few for Christmas presents for the girls this year.
Sandpaper Letters
The purpose of the letters according to Montessoriworld.com is
“To learn the sound and shape of the letters of the alphabet. To gain a muscular memory of the shape of the letters as a prelude to writing.”
Another idea that can easily be made at home is a reusable placesetting placemat with an outline of the plate, glass and silverware in its respective place to help teach your child how to set a table. Brielle loves to set the table with placemats and cloth napkins and she would just love placemats like this to help her with the silverware placement (which she sort of throws on as an afterthought right now) 
.
One last idea that I just loved (and there are many, many more) is the use of a peace table. The peace table is a specific location designed to sort out fights or differences of opinions. The table consists of a child sized table, two chairs and an object that represents peace.
The procedure, according to the book, is
“the child who feels especially wronged places one hand on the table and the other hand on her heart, indicating that she speaks the truth , from the heart. She then looks at the other child, speaks her name and explains how she feels about what has occurred and how she would like the disagreement to be settled.”
Obviously this is more than just a peaceful and fair way to settle disagreements but it teaches both parties how to assertively state their case and stick up for themselves as well as a proactive way to settle their disputes on their own. This is a lesson that they can carry with them throughout life and all their future relationships.
There are so many ideas in this book that I cannot begin to list them all. Although they originated in the Montessori classroom they are easy to add to your own life whether or not you are interested in the Montessori method. You only need to be interested in raising organized, courteous, respectful, polite children while fostering their natural ability to learn.
How to Raise an Amazing Child the Montessori Way is available on Amazon.com.
November 23rd, 2009 at 2:32 pm
There is an uber expensive Montessori school 2 blocks from our condo. I think it costs $10,000 per child. Yeah – that’s per year…
Homeschooling isn’t a bad idea. But I would never have the patience for it. You’re a saint!
November 25th, 2009 at 7:24 am
Unschooling is not the way to save you child from the hustle and bustle of competitive world, best thing is to create a strategy for them with such books and then let them blossom in their way, so that they can be enough strong from within by tomorrow.
November 28th, 2009 at 12:10 pm
children should be given the wholistic education, where they can learn each and every aspects of life not only from book but also practically, which is very important.
November 30th, 2009 at 12:49 pm
Childrens need the wholistic education, only the education of books is not essential, besides this they should be given the real time education which includes the practical life and things associated with moral.
November 30th, 2009 at 1:10 pm
Children are the nature’s best creation, they are innocent and full of joy and love, they just need the education of real life, children now a days are not much famaliar with things that happens in life and only reason is lack of practical education.
December 1st, 2009 at 9:05 am
It’s all very well the benefits of home schooling but don’t you ever think your child will miss out from the friends and life experiences she will get at a mainstream school?
December 2nd, 2009 at 12:48 am
I am sure I can make sure that she has both friends and life experiences outside of a mainstream schooling situation.
December 2nd, 2009 at 12:52 am
I can’t believe how expensive some Montessori schools are, especially in urban areas. That is why I haven’t sent her yet ($$$). Sigh. I don’t consider myself a saint, I just can’t stomach the though of sending my little ones to mainstream schools.
December 4th, 2009 at 11:35 am
The Montessori Way is a lovely, clear, and fully illustrated overview of Montessori education from infant-toddler programs through the secondary level.If you are a parent, teacher, or university educator looking to gain a clear understanding of the Montessori approach.
December 10th, 2009 at 4:19 pm
I understand the motivation behind avoiding some traditional schooling methods, however, there has to be a balance. A close friend of mine runs a Montessori school in North Carolina: http://www.wakeforestmontessori.com and I honestly think that there are quite a few problems with the Montessori philosophy, primarily when it comes to discipline.
December 18th, 2009 at 6:55 am
Education plays an important role in children life…
Now we have to avoid the traditional schooling methods to shape up the children….
January 3rd, 2010 at 6:32 pm
One of the most important thing that a parent should have to think about for their children is their education. Education has a big role in our life especially in our kids and for that reason we must have to give the best education as much as we can to them such as sending them to a Montessori schools. We are rest assured that Montessori school gives a high quality educational training for our kids.
January 5th, 2010 at 10:44 pm
I am a firm believer in homeschooling and has been doing so for my 2 kids. The Montessori way teaches parents and teachers to respect a child’s individual differences, and to emphasize social interaction and their whole personalities instead of just teaching knowledge as it is. In a homeschool environment, this is pretty much inherent and am part of a daily education.
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January 15th, 2010 at 1:53 pm
I never used a book. I simply took what I see others doing and from that I knew what worked and what didn’t.
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