Positive Phrasing: Being Mindful of How We Speak to Children

During my time at Montessori Northwest, Primary Director of Training, Ginni Sackett, shared with us elementary teachers-to-be about the impact our words have on children. She spoke about the importance of Positive Phrasing, and as a first year teacher, I find it helpful to revisit this topic often.

It is so true that in the classroom, my words often set the tone for the day. The children feed off my energy—be it good or bad. This is why I try to greet my students with a kind smile and an excited demeanor every single morning. 

But being mindful of my words throughout the entire day (WHAT I say and HOW I say it) takes practice, to say the least.

Seriously, have you ever stopped to think about how many times in a single day adults say “no” or "don't" to children? These words are inherently negative, yet they sneak right into our words much more often than we intend. 

“Don't run in the classroom!”

“No talking in the hallway!”

“No dessert until you’ve eaten your vegetables!”

These are common examples of negative phrasing—telling children what we DON’T want.

Let’s just stop right here and try to imagine how we, as adults, would feel if we were told “no” so many times throughout the day.

“Don't talk so loudly.”

“Don't drive so fast!"

“You really shouldn't stay up so late checking emails."

How would you feel—frustrated? Uninspired? Insecure? Sure. All of the above.

Negativity begets negativity. Always. 

And, there really are nicer ways to make a point. If we are thoughtful enough not to speak to other adults in such a negative manner, shouldn't we offer that same respect to children?

Another approach? Let's not be ambiguous by telling children what we DON'T want. Instead, let's clearly & precisely set our expectations by telling children what we DO want. 

“We walk in the classroom. We can run when we are outside.”

“Let’s remember to walk quietly through the hallway.”

“After we eat our vegetables, we can have dessert.”

Positive phrasing reinforces positive behaviors. Simple, but affective.

Words are our most powerful tools of communication. And like any superhero knows, power can be used for good or for evil. Our words can be positive or they can be negative.

And our children learn from us! So let's model how to speak to others in a positive and encouraging manner.

As I said before, being mindful of how we speak to children (and to other adults) all day, every day takes practice. It is an art, developed over time. Consistency is key in developing a new & positive behavior. 

Many thanks to Ginni Sackett for introducing me to Positive Phrasing.

 For more on being mindful of how we speak to children check out:

• A Montessori Approach to Praise from Living Montessori Now

• 5 Reasons to Stop Saying Good Job by Alfie Kohn

• Encouraging Words from Positive Parenting Solutions

• Parenting Using Positive Phrasing from It's a Love/Love Thing

Leaf Classification and Leaf Art

Botany studies are such a fun part of the Montessori elementary curriculum!

I've been going through the Montessori leaf classification lessons lately. I'm also delving into some fine arts work focusing on the elements of design. My students will start out by examining different artists' use of lines in their artwork.

And because, Cosmic Education is interdisciplinary, I figured: why not combine art & scientific classification? Thus, I am planning a color resist leaf classification drawing, emphasizing the use of lines to show the venation of the leaves. 

What?! Why does that sound so complicated? It's a super simple activity, really. You have likely done color resist art before. It's when you draw with crayons, and then go over your drawing with watercolor. The crayon wax and the watercolor resist–meaning, they don't mix. 

Instead of regular crayons, we'll be using my Prismacolor Premier colored pencils to draw the outline of the leaves & the veins, then we will fill in the lamina of the leaves with the watercolor pastels. 

My students LOVE to use my special Caran d'Ache watercolor pastels. They aren't cheap (and they are my personal set), so I only bring them out occasionally. Judging by the kids reactions, you'd think they were magic! But if I'm honest, I love them just as much as they do. And for good reason. They are easy to use, and they yield beautiful results. I mean, you really can't go wrong.

You just color with them, as you would with any crayon. Then go back over the color with a wet paintbrush, and watch them turn into watercolor.

And when they have finished their leafy works of art, we'll discuss how they used various kinds of lines to draw the veins in each of the leaves–thick lines, thin lines, curved lines, smudged lines, and so on.

“Gradually the time comes when the plant world no longer gives to the child a mere impression of greenery, sprinkled with the brilliancy of other colors, but as he walks around, wherever his eyes rest on a plant, on a leaf, on a flower, he recognizes a friend: ‘Yes, I know you, and all the details about you.’”

— Mario Montessori, The Botanical Cards. NAMTA journal vol. 23 no. 2

Coding for Kids: A Montessori Perspective

Over the weekend, I set out on a journey to learn about coding for kids. A couple of students in my class have expressed a keen interest in exploring the field of computer science, and so I attended a free code.org workshop for elementary school teachers.

I want to be the kind of teacher that encourages a curiosity for learning, and I want to be equipped to offer at least some guidance in any area of interest. And so, I set out to learn something new.

But, I'll be honest–I was hesitant. Because, you know, I'm a Montessori teacher. And I don't have an Album filled with computer science lessons. And my head was filled with questions:

Do I have access to the resources needed to implement a CS curriculum? And if so, would it have to be done as an after school program? Would parents be onboard? And the most daunting question of all–what would Dr. Montessori think of children in the second plane learning computer science?

I wanted to address that last question head-on, before I ever attended the workshop. So I brought out my albums and my collection of books written by the pedagogue herself. 

I immediately called to mind the characteristics of the elementary child–in particular, the reasoning mind. Children in this age group constantly ask WHY? and HOW? They want to understand systems and how they work; they are attracted to cause & effect. And naturally, they enjoy deciphering new and unfamiliar codes.

So, I started by looking at coding (or computer programming) as a language. 

“Language touches both nature and the history of humanity. A new language is a natural phenomenon.”

— Maria Montessori, Creative Development in the Child, Vol. 1

In Cosmic Education, Dr. Montessori breaks language into three components: spoken language, writing, and reading. She describes spoken language as being naturally developed and refers to written language as a "superior form of language." She says that written language is "the language necessary to the culture of our times."

“The alphabet has influenced human progress more than any other invention because it has modified man himself, furnishing him with new powers, above those of nature. It has made man the possessor of two languages: a natural and a supra-natural one. With the latter, man can transmit his thoughts to far away people. He can fix them for his descendants. He can practically build up a treasure of the intellectual products of the whole of humanity through time and space.”

— Maria Montessori, The Formation of Man

Dr. Montessori goes further with this warning:

“The civilization of our days cannot make progress among people who possess only spoken language, and illiteracy becomes, therefore, the greatest obstacle to progress.”

— -Maria Montessori, The Formation of Man

Of course, computer programming wasn't around during Dr. Montessori's time. But, her thoughts on the written language lead me to wonder if coding might be the language necessary to the culture of our times and if illiteracy in the field of computer science might be the current greatest obstacle to the progress of humanity.

So I decided to look at this workshop as a learning experience for myself, and I went into it with an open mind. 

And I had a great time! I learned a lot, and I got the opportunity to meet other elementary educators from all over the Bay Area. Their passion for STEM education was inspiring!

The workshop actually reminded me a lot of my Montessori teacher training. We started by learning as a whole group, receiving instruction from the workshop facilitator. We broke into small groups and practiced giving some very hands-on and collaborative lessons--some of us pretending to be students. And at the end, we met back together as a whole group for a discussion. 

What did I take away from the workshop? Can coding work in a Montessori environment?

• Hands-on coding is very Montessori-friendly! Code.org does a great job of providing concrete experiences when introducing a new concept. They call these "unplugged" activities because they don't rely on the computer. For example, I was able to participate in a lesson called "Graph Paper Programming" in which students draw a design on graph paper, then they create symbols to write a program that will allow a friend to recreate the design on their own, following the program instructions. Some of the unplugged activities involve a deck of cards or songs with hand motions.

• New vocabulary is also introduced with each new concept. Because I am a Montessori teacher, I immediately began looking up the etymology of words such as algorithm, function, binary, and variable. I was contemplating ways to incorporate words such as debug and decompose into our prefix exercise, while thinking that username, workspace, toolbox, and crowdsourcing could work well with a lesson on compound words.

• As for the online portion, I learned that there are two types of coding: visual coding and text-based coding. The code.org curriculum takes the visual before text-based approach, which I like because it reminds me of Montessori's idea that spoken language precedes written language. It allows children to really work through the abstraction of each new concept. Also, each student can work at his or her individual pace, and the teacher has an online record of each student's progress along the way.

• The visual coding is a lot of fun, and although I haven't worked through much of the course, I have already come across concepts from geometry, such as degrees of angles and circles. It would be interesting if there were connections to other subjects as well, as Cosmic Education is interdisciplinary.

An example visual coding on code.org.

The mission of code.org is for computer science to be a fixed part of school curriculum. They also hope to address issues of equity in the CS field. Here are some stats provided by code.org that I found interesting:

I'm still mulling over these questions and many more. There will likely be follow-up posts as I explore this topic further. Might coding be the language necessary to the culture of our times?  Could computer illiteracy be an obstacle to the progress of humanity? These are huge questions to consider. I am extremely interested to hear the thoughts and opinions of others, so please share yours in the comments!

“Before elaborating any system of education, we must therefore create a favorable environment that will encourage the flowering of a child’s natural gifts. All that is needed is to remove the obstacles. And this should be the basis of, and point of departure for, all future education.”

— Maria Montessori, The Secret of Childhood

Cleaning Supplies for the Montessori Classroom

Today I want to share with you just how much I LOVE the aspect of my job as a Montessori guide that is "preparing the environment." I could spend hours upon hours organizing my classroom--arranging & rearranging the beautiful Montessori materials in order to make them the most accessible & aesthetically pleasing as possible, all while keeping in mind the tendencies and characteristics of the elementary child. If you are new to Montessori, part of the teacher's job is to prepare the classroom environment to suit the developmental needs of the child. 

More specifically, the Montessori prepared environment should:

• Serve the whole child--their physical, mental, & spiritual needs

• Consist of furniture & shelving that is properly sized for the children

• Include high-quality, natural materials that are developmentally appropriate

• Include quality resources that support further learning

• Be kept clean, organized, and in proper repair

• Include the proper supplies & materials to allow the children to take part in the care and maintenance of the environment

Since the new year has arrived & school is back in session, I figure that it's the perfect time to reevaluate the classroom environment. Take inventory. What is working and what isn't? Preparing the environment is definitely an on-going, never-ending process. 

That last dot point is what today's post is about. Perhaps because cleaning the classroom is SO important during this germy time of year! I have curated some of my favorite cleaning supplies from all around the web that would be well-suited for the elementary Montessori classroom. They are quality materials that would make cleaning more intriguing for the children!

I'll start with dusting. This really can't be overlooked because–all those shelves & materials! And, you know, dust happens. 

1. This Lambswool Duster is from Montessori Services. It's 9" long and perfect for shooing away those dust bunnies hiding in small places.

2. For larger surfaces, I love this Lambswool Duster from World Market. They also carry feather dusters & wool dusters that would work well.

3. Finally, the Ritz Duvateen Flannel Dusting Cloths are a MUST HAVE. These are professional quality, reusable, and long lasting. You can purchase a set of two from Crate & Barrel or a set of six from World Market.

Laundry. At most Montessori schools I've seen, the children take the dirty laundry home once a week, and bring it back clean & ready to be folded.

1. These Large Rectangular Crunch Cans by Umbra are up to the task! They are available at the Container Store. I first learned about these awesome carryalls from this post written by Heather Sanders from Pioneer Woman Homeschooling. The colors have since changed, but the durability hasn't. A real game changer in my book! Plus, they crunch flat for easy storage.

2. A good, sturdy drying rack is necessary in any elementary Montessori classroom. This one from World Market can easily be folded and put away when not in use.

Sweeping. From crumbs to paper scraps to glitter and sequins, sweeping happens all throughout the day, everyday in the elementary classroom. 

1. The Mint Smiley Dustpan from (you guessed it!) World Market will give any child something to smile about!

2. The Fuller Carpet Sweep from Crate & Barrel is professional quality, lightweight, and durable.

3. This Dustpan + Brush Set from West Elm is beautiful. The small set is great for crumbs & the large set works well for bigger messes. That said, these are a bit expensive for classroom purposes. But I would definitely buy these for the children to use at home!

4. At $7.99, this Bamboo Brush & Dustpan from the Container Store is a steal! Plus, it can easily be hung on the wall when not in use.

And, just to round out the list, I have added a few other items that would be useful for cleaning the classroom environment.

1. I'm in LOVE with these natural fiber bottle brushes from Anthropologie. They come in 3 sizes--small, medium, and large. They can be used to clean water bottles & other dishes OR science beakers & test tubes! They come in several beautiful, color options. Who wouldn't want to clean if it means you get to use these fun brushes?!

2. Sometimes, you just need Goo Gone. There's no way around it. For those sticky & tough to clean jobs that pop up in the classroom, the Goo Gone Mess Free Pen is essential.

3. This Metro Aluminum Spray Bottle is perfect for surface cleaner. And, of course, you'll need to fill it. Check out this recipe for a DIY all-natural, all-purpose cleaner from Julie over at Home Ready Home.

Preparing the environment can be so much fun! I hope this post provides you with some inspiration to get you going.

What cleaning supplies do you keep in your classroom? Any favorites? Please share in the comments! 

Happy cleaning! 

Montessori in the Home: A Guide for the New Year

As I welcome the New Year, I find myself reflecting on my passions, my interests, and my goals. I consider myself to be a lifelong learner. This world is big, and I long to explore it all, leaving no stone unturned. So, I'm excited about a new year that will bring with it new experiences and opportunities for growth.

I am also thinking about the kiddos I get to work with every day and am excited about what this new year has in store for them. My hope is that they will enjoy learning just as much as I do. I constantly ponder new ways that I can support my students' education and exploration in the classroom. My goal is to encourage their curiosity and to inspire them to seek out new information and knowledge. Like any true Montessorian, I try to offer the children the keys to the universe. 

But right now, it is the words of parents that ring in my ears. Naturally, parents want the very best for their children, and they want to know what they can do to best support their child's education at home. Is there a workbook or a textbook that they can use to extend their child's schoolwork into the home?

I don't believe that workbooks, textbooks, or assigned homework is the answer. They might help with rote memorization; they might provide busywork to keep a child away from prolonged bouts of passive television watching; but they will not encourage a child to love learning. Quite the contrary, I believe that those are often the very things–along with standardized testing–that stifle a child's curiosity and cause them to doubt their ability. 

So then, how can parents support their child's education at home in a way that stays true to what we do in the elementary Montessori classroom?

My advice? 

Experience is often the best teacher. Children learn by doing. 

With these thoughts in mind, I have put together a list of recommendations that, I believe, will truly benefit any child's education. 

• Volunteering. Let your child think up ways to volunteer his or her time and energy in order to serve the community. Offer suggestions and ideas–making holiday cards to hand out at a local nursing home, picking up litter at a beloved park, donating unused clothing or toys to a shelter. Introduce your child to local organizations and charities they can take part in. It's important that the child choose a project that resonates most on a personal level. Volunteering is a great way for young people to learn the importance of community involvement and to gain the realization that their actions can make a difference.

• Cooking & baking. This is truly a practical life skill that everyone should learn. Simply provide a recipe book, and your youngster can take it from there. Following the directions in a recipe is reading comprehension at its finest! Your child will learn the ins and outs of shopping for the ingredients. At some point, it will be necessary to convert cups to ounces or figure out how many grams are in a teaspoon. And as your budding chef becomes familiar with the tastes & aromas of various herbs & spices, he or she will eventually grow bold enough to think outside of the recipe, creatively putting a unique spin on a classic dish. Preparing a meal with no help could certainly inspire an appreciation for all the hard work that goes into each and every meal that we eat. Adult supervision is required, of course, and modeling the proper kitchen safety techniques is essential for the handling sharp knives and hot pans.

• Handwork. I have seen, firsthand, the enjoyment that knitting, crocheting, and stitching can bring to a child. This kind of activity supports the development of hand-eye coordination, concentration, and attention to detail. It also provides a lesson in diligence and delayed gratification. But, oh! The excitement of a completed project is well worth the effort! Children love gifting a homemade scarf or pillow to friends & family. Not to mention that sewing on the button that fell off a favorite cardigan or patching a hole in the knee of a well-worn pair of jeans is a practical life skill that will come in handy time and again.

• Family game night. Fun for all, board games and puzzles also engage the mind. They brilliantly–and almost effortlessly–develop skills of strategy & risk-taking. While I am quite fond of the classics like chess, train dominoes, and rummy, there are so many new, fun, and educational games available! I'll have to do a follow-up post reviewing some of the latest & greatest options for school-aged children.

• Camping & hiking. These family friendly activities introduce practical life skills such as packing essential gear, setting up camp, starting a fire, reading a map and using a compass, and the list goes on. You could encourage explorations of wildlife or vegetation or geology. I have also discovered that children are often extremely interested in learning about about the history of the national parks and what makes each one unique.

• Pet care. From feeding, to walking, to grooming, to organizing the vet records–pets are a huge learning experience for children and a great responsibility.

• Household repairs & general upkeep. Plumbing backed up? Light bulb blown? Need to hang a painting or rearrange furniture? Children can really be quite the handy helper. Provide them with a personal tool set complete with screw drivers, a hammer, a wrench, a level, a measuring tape, etc. While developing practical life skills, this kind of work also teaches the importance of caring for the home environment.

• Reading. Some children will read for hours on end. Let them. Books expand the mind and the vocabulary, and they provide the best lessons for moral & character development.

• Family outings. Make time for new experiences shared as a family–symphonies, plays, museums, libraries, festivals, parks, road trips, geocaching, concerts, etc. Great for bonding and introducing a child to cultural activities, this one seems obvious. But, you know, life gets busy, and these kinds of activities can easily be put on the back-burner.

• Traveling. New places, new foods, new cultures, new experiences, different lifestyles. Not only can traveling be educational for both children and adults, but it opens eyes, minds, and hearts.

• Arts & crafts. Having the right art supplies available for your child to use anytime inspiration strikes will support creativity, self-expression, and an appreciation for beauty.

• Follow the interests of the child. As a Montessori guide, this is my role in the classroom. From baseball to computer programming to airplanes to fashion design–as a parent, you often know better than teachers the specific interests of your child. I cannot overstate the importance of encouraging the exploration of anything your child shows interest in, no matter how random it may seem. This is what creates a love for learning! This is what will keep your child curious about the world. How can you support these interests? Have conversations. Ask questions. Provide books, apps, websites, models, etc. Introduce your child to people in the community who have relating experience or expertise. If they show interest and you provide the tools, children will explore & learn naturally!

I realize that this list is pretty basic, but this is the kind of at-home support that can truly make a difference in a child's education. These kinds of activities–along with the parents' involvement and encouragement–are what make learning fun! What I love about Montessori education is the understanding that fostering a child's interests and encouraging a child's curiosity are what inspire lifelong learning. That can be done at school AND at home! 

Oh, and one parting thought: It's always a great idea to model lifelong learning for children. Let them see you following your interests. Have conversations with them about your passions, your goals, and your dreams. Let them know what you are curious about! Let them see you explore and wonder and grow. 

So, here's to curious minds and passionate hearts in the New Year!