Montessori Elementary Homeschool Blog - with documentation of our infant Montessori, toddler Montessori, and primary Montessori experiences; as well as preparation for the upcoming adolescent Montessori homeschool years.

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Homeschooling Mistakes and Montessori

I found this link for Landry Academy recently with many homeschool articles. One in particular caught my eye and I thought, "Let's fit this in with Montessori homeschooling".

The original article in its entirety:



Top 10 Homeschooling Mistakes
copyright by Greg Landry - written in 2012

Through 15 years of working with thousands of homeschooling families, teaching 4th-12th grade homeschooled students, and teaching university pre-med students who were homeschooled, I have unique insight into what we're doing right and what we need to work on as homeschoolers. This article is particularly geared towards college-bound students but much of it would apply to all students. Since science is my area of expertise, the article is also slanted toward students interested in science.

1. Not doing enough testing and not doing timed tests.
2. Schooling year round or schooling too far into the summer. Students need to know that they can work hard for a prescribed period of time and then have a complete break from classes for a while. I believe it's actually counterproductive to school year round or with very little break.
3. Being squeamish on the science of Creation. Science is on our side - God created it. We need to boldly teach our students all the ways that science and the world around us support biblical creation.
4. Not starting to prepare for college early by beginning to take the ACT and SAT early - in 7th or 8th grade, along with other preparations.
5. Not starting serious high school sciences early enough.. especially if a student may be a college science major. Critical decisions should be made going into 8th grade.
6. For younger students, call the sciences what they are (chemistry, physics, biology, anatomy & physiology) rather than "physical science" and "general science" and teach them that way. This makes high school science more familiar and far less intimidating.
7. Not giving students a structured academic environment early. Beginning in 6th or 7th grade, provide a structured academic environment for students that includes deadlines that have to be met. Inability to meet deadlines is a critical deficiency in most homeschooled students.
8. Not looking for colleges early - most families end up doing this in a last minute frantic rush - not good for many reasons.
9. Not allowing students to take some of their classes as "outside" classes in the middle and high school years. Students need to begin the process of taking classes from others / being accountable to other teachers as they prepare for collage.
10. Losing our focus - all we do should glorify God. Press on! :)

Greg Landry is a 15 year veteran homeschool dad and former college professor. He is founder and director of www.LandryAcademy.com



Now again, with Montessori connections: 


Top 10 Homeschooling Mistakes
copyright by Greg Landry - written in 2012

1. Not doing enough testing and not doing timed tests.
      Montessori does not encourage timed tests to be used very much as we would ordinarily think of them. But it is great to play games with timers, introduce the time challenge when the child is ready and wanting, in order to build a foundation of success. In latest elementary is the time to introduce timed tests as we ordinarily think of them, with some practice runs - low-stress. If you anticipate your child going to college, yes, it is VERY good to get used to the stress of such tests, but a little at a time ;) The author of this article advocates starting in 7th/8th grade, even with plenty of time to finish the test, but just with that time limit; as a Montessorian, I personally advocate introducing little bits of it at a time - baby steps. So a game with a timer - totally non-pressure. Learning to do mental activities with lots of noise and distraction (as well as complete silence) - just do those things throughout your normal day. Once in a while have the child sit at a table with a hard chair and do a bit of work there (if they usually work on a low table on the floor, or snuggled on the couch). It doesn't have to be every day or even every week; just enough to be familiar and functional. 
     EDITED TO ADD - another thought: We have work-plans and work-journals. So there is a sense of responsibility in-built already. Sure, those time requirements are more of "sometime today" or "sometime this week", but there is also scheduling of times to meet for a presentation, and giving specific deadlines along the way. These skills contribute to "timed tests" skills because they lay a foundation early on. 

2. Schooling year round or schooling too far into the summer. Students need to know that they can work hard for a prescribed period of time and then have a complete break from classes for a while. I believe it's actually counterproductive to school year round or with very little break. 
     Montessori says YES! Part of a childhood is having "endless time" - time to become BORED! LET YOUR CHILDREN BECOME BORED! Boredom begets creativity, problem-solving, tests a person's character, provides fodder for fantastic grace/courtesy lessons! Avoiding boredom throughout all of childhood creates in children an internal sense of "gimme" and "gotta have" and absolutely no sense whatsoever of delayed gratification. There are times and places for fulfilling "needs" in the moment; but we *need* to differentiate wants from needs and also develop a sense of how to wait or work appropriately even for needs. The elementary years are the place to hone in on these skills - NOT the emotionally roller coaster adolescent years, when they NEED those skills in place already. 
     We can have school year-round, but take decent breaks that are clearly labeled - BREAK. VACATION. Some children will choose to work anyway - and that is *their choice*. 
     As elementary children get older, there comes a time we also have to say, "We are on vacation and while we know that the subjects we study are directly related to our lives and our world, we are not going to take any of our Montessori materials with us. 
     It is tough as Montessorians not to count everything our children do as school - because of the cosmic education nature of life and our Montessori-styled studies. But let's put it this way: there should be built-in times of the year, with NO work-plan, NO work-journal, NO major academic responsibilities. Just USING what has already been learned and just exploring the world. 
     EDITED TO ADD an additional thought: in some places, summer IS when we homeschool because it is SO HOT! Snow days are days that everyone else is at school and the weather is perfect for building snow men and making snow forts all day long! As homeschoolers, we have that flexibility to work on school as well as enjoy life according to the weather. Use these opportunities while they last :) 

3. Being squeamish on the science of Creation. Science is on our side - God created it. We need to boldly teach our students all the ways that science and the world around us support biblical creation.
     Within Montessori, it is very important that the family address their beliefs in lower elementary (and primary). Lay a strong foundation. Introduce other belief systems in upper elementary. Do not be afraid to address these emotionally-filled topics in all directions, *at* the appropriate time. 
     Intelligent discussions; RESPECTFUL discussions and sharing; and at some point, the ability to agree to disagree until we are all standing before God and can ask Him face-to-face. 

4. Not starting to prepare for college early by beginning to take the ACT and SAT early - in 7th or 8th grade, along with other preparations. 
     If college is the goal, then yes, you must be preparing for those requirements. See number 1 above. 

5. Not starting serious high school sciences early enough.. especially if a student may be a college science major. Critical decisions should be made going into 8th grade.
     Within Montessori, they should have a very strong foundation in the sciences by the end of elementary; with lots of time for personal research and exploration. Thus even by 6th grade (age 12), the child typically knows where their interests lie. By age 15 (end of adolescence), they should be ready to embark on their high school journey, with firm footing. 

6. For younger students, call the sciences what they are (chemistry, physics, biology, anatomy & physiology) rather than "physical science" and "general science" and teach them that way. This makes high school science more familiar and far less intimidating.
     YES! Montessori has the albums divided into geography (study of the earth sciences) and biology (study of life sciences). However, within the presentations and when doing their own research and projects, they should be learning the terminology appropriate to what they are studying, including what the study is called, be it physics or chemistry or taxonomy. 

7. Not giving students a structured academic environment early. Beginning in 6th or 7th grade, provide a structured academic environment for students that includes deadlines that have to be met. Inability to meet deadlines is a critical deficiency in most homeschooled students.
     While Montessori shares many characteristics with un-schooling and can be utilized with minor modification by un-schoolers. the fact remains that children must learn responsibility. Thus we utilize a work-plan/work-journal system that evolves over time to address the changing needs of the children and the family situation. 

8. Not looking for colleges early - most families end up doing this in a last minute frantic rush - not good for many reasons.
     This is a personal family matter. Not Montessori related, other than, for the most part, the Montessori model emphasizes

9. Not allowing students to take some of their classes as "outside" classes in the middle and high school years. Students need to begin the process of taking classes from others / being accountable to other teachers as they prepare for collage.
     This could begin in elementary as well. Online or co-ops. Or at first, simply anything with another adult in charge. This is one of the many reasons I do NOT join my son's tae-kwon-do class, despite his strong invitation. 


10. Losing our focus - all we do should glorify God. Press on! :)
    Yes! No particular Montessori response here ;) 

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