The Montessori Method

By Stephanie Anne Dahlman

Many parents are concerned about placing their Indigo child, or any child for that matter, in the proper school system. One type of school which has been making headlines and reproducing like a rabbit is the Montessori system. Montessori schools are ideal for an indigo child, but beware of which school you choose, many are not what they seem.

The name Montessori was taken from the founder of the first school and creator of its philosophy, Dr. Maria Montessori. The problem with this name is that, since Dr. Montessori founded her first school in the early 20th century no one thought to copyright the name. Therefore, any school or day-care that chooses may represent itself and advertise as a Montessori school, even if it is not!

A true Montessori school is very beneficial to children, especially Indigos, because they are very structured and at the same time very flexible in their ways. The day works with a series of programs for the children, such as music, phys. ed., lunch and recess, but they also include “circle time” and “work sessions”. These are created for a child to have choice and still learn through a system of discovering how to do things themselves. Every work session is designed around each specific child’s needs, with the child setting their own pace, level of interest and advancement. Very few Montessori schools have a play session, unless it is acting out something through puppets or role playing through dress-up. In a child’s mind, everything they “play” with is a way for them to learn. And through this method they are learning, but they also enjoy what they are doing. They call it their “work”, because a child’s job is to learn.

The schools that follow Dr. Montessori’s teachings and the evolved concepts are the ones you want to pursue. Check to make sure the school you choose is AMS or AMI certified, and that they have a certificate to prove it. This means that the interns and teachers have all gone through very difficult Montessori training at a specialized facility. Montessorians are not only taught the fine art of the Montessori curriculum, but have also been intensely trained in child psychology and child development. And many training sessions have begun to recognize and teach about Indigo children and how to direct them.

Just because they are certified does not mean that the teacher chooses to run her classroom as Montessori has instructed. Go and observe the classroom while the children are in a work session. The teacher should either be observing the children herself, or she should be presenting the children/child with a new work. She should never be telling a child how to do something the “correct” way, and she should never be criticizing or specifically telling a child what to do. The way the program works is that a child is given the option to choose any work they have been presented with or must ask a teacher to present it to them. Sometimes the teacher may ask a specific child if they would like to work on a specific topic that they need help in.

They should have certain specific materials, and you may need specifically to ask if these are available. They should have a “practical life” section where the children learn how to pour water, fold clothes, prepare food, sweep floors, or anything that relates to teaching them a technique that we use in an everyday setting. “Sensorial” sections should include teaching many types of sensory skills, such as touching different types of fabric and learning the names of the textures, as well as using different sized bells to differentiate sound. They should have a Math section that includes counting beads and blocks. The language section should have the “movable alphabet” and “sandpaper letters”, and the reading section with books is a must. An art section should be available with many choices, not just one project for that day. The children need to develop their own sense of creativity. And many schools have Science/Geography as well. Also ask them if they have at least one hour a week dedicated to rhythm and music.

Last, but not least - and I can’t stress this enough - involve your child in the process of choosing a school and teacher. Let your Indigo meet the school director who is giving you the information about the school, because if she is truly Montessori she will know that it is important for your child to know what he or she is getting into. Your Indigo may even have questions. And also let the child meet the teacher he is to have before enrolment, because if the teacher is not the right one, your Indigo will know.

Most Montessori schools are based in a pre-K group, ages 2-6… but now many are starting to include toddler programs and elementary programs. A most wonderful breakthrough is that many public schools are starting to work the Montessori method into their system. To find out more about Montessori teachings and philosophy look up AMS, AMI, and Montessori World web sites on the internet, or go to your local bookstore and get a book written about or by Dr. Maria Montessori herself. A child’s chance to learn should not be taken lightly. It will shape and affect the way they view the world and rob them of or give to them the ability to soar to new unimaginable heights.

Born in the snowy land of Minnesota, Stephanie Dahlman lived with her close knit family and extended family near by. When she was 10 her family moved to New York where they lived for 6 years and endured many trials. However, she looks back on these times and sees them as learning experiences, chooosing to take what she needs for her journey through life and leave the rest behind. Just before her 16th birthday, Stephanie’s family moved again , this time to the state of Michigan, which she finds to be a nice balence between the two places she has lived. Now living in the Detroit area of Michigan, Stephanie (or Steph as she would rather be called), has completed Montessori training and is now going on to complete schooling in hopes of becoming a child psychologist. Steph discovered she was an indigo child in late 1999 through working with another indigo child, who she nannied for. She hopes to someday bring a greater understanding of the indigo children and children in general to the world, which is still so blind. “Not everyone will understand everything... but hopefully someday everyone will understand Love. Remember, whatever the question, the answer is love... unconditional love."