Montessori beyond Elementary

Are there Montessori options past Elementary?

MOST DEFINITELY.

And my son is creeping on 11.
ELEVEN.

WHAT!?

Sigh.....



Ok, stepping off the nostalgia box.... Or... trying....


As far as resources go - there is very little directly related to adolescence (the third plane of development).

But the elementary Montessori theory album contains some information the third plane of development - and the concepts of Cosmic Education continue into adolescence.

The elementary Montessori theory album, along with adolescent readings (mostly lectures from Maria Montessori) sold via NAMTA provide a few key points (with lots more details):

• cosmic education continues
• personal vocation (personal place in the cosmos) is coming into focus - so we want to hone in on finalizing personal skills such as the following: 
• personal economics
• small business economics
• hospitality (the adolescent practical life)
• essentially: time to practice those skills that will allow the adolescent to live independently as an adult, long before that independence is entirely necessary (lots of practice time)
• Now that those essentials are out of the way, the adolescent is freed in the final years of adolescence (ages 15-18) to explore his options for personal vocation: goals in life, mission, etc. 

So resources to DO all that? 

NAMTA is offering an adolescence "algebra" album - actually covers a LOT more than algebra. ;)
(this album is the one exception to my "no materials" comment below)

Otherwise, it is ENTIRELY necessary to follow the child. There are no specific materials to learn, which is both GREAT and scary at the same time (those materials become comfort zones for us - what do you mean "NO materials!?")


So - look at what your child needs in various areas to accomplish the tasks of personal economics, small business economics, and hospitality. Fill in those areas with resources that serve YOUR child.


Our ideas to come ;)

Adolesence: Montessori Beyond Elementary

Keys of the Universe is building onto the adolescent portion of the Keys of the Universe Discussion Community (private link).

The glitches with the weekly reading announcement have been overcome (sort of - they're just going to be manually sent out now, instead of the auto-sending that didn't want to work).

And now there is a place to share adolescent resources. YAY!

Current Topic Headings

Adolescence is primarily the ages of 12-15 (which are equivalent years to 0-3 in the first plane of development); but for our purposes, we also include ages 15-18 (equivalent experience to years 3-6 of the first plane of development). See these Montessori Nuggets on the Planes of Development.

I hope I am preaching to the choir when I say that elementary covers ages 6-12. I have seen a few places that try to group 9-12 in with the 12-18 year olds and that isn't a fair grouping for the children of either group OR the adults! 9-12 is still firmly in the second plane of development. 12-15 is the rapid changes, hormones, emotional development; and the 15-18 settles back out and consolidates the way that the 3-6 year old did.
9-12 is still elementary. ;)


So what is it about adolescence that makes it SO tricky!?

1. Maria Montessori had limited time in her life - she was intense and did a LOT; no-one since then has been as intense so it's taking more time to make the same discoveries. 
2. She did discover the correlation of the years of 12-18 and the years 0-6. 
3. Personal interests and personal growth. It starts in primary - we have core materials and then we create a few language materials based on personal interests; we encourage the children to creatively apply what they have learned; we have experiences to expand their horizons as well deepen their interests. In elementary we have the core materials, but now the child's imagination takes off and within the framework/foundation of elementary, the child can explore SO MUCH! Now, in adolescence, the child has a strong foundation and is ready to take on the world - but is dealing with the emotional and hormonal changes of adolescence. Now, we want to take what they know and *apply* it in a very practical manner, in a manner that places him within society. In a way, the adolescent is back to first plane of development. By high school, the not-so-child is ready to take some typical high school lecture-based courses, along with apprenticeships and other real-world experiences. 
4. (really "3B") The needs of every adolescent will be different - interests, personalities, foundation, environment.... 
5. Thus we are working on what that framework looks like (NAMTA has some great publications we are studying over at the Keys of the Universe adolescent study group) and then we utilize a variety of resources that meet the needs of the particular child before us. 

cross-posted here at Keys of the Universe Articles

Adolescent Montessori - Homeschool - Can it be DONE!?

I have fielded more than a few questions on this topic.

The short answer is YES.

The long answer involves a lot of discussional points with those who say "No" and have extremely valid points.

Now, I do not personally have any training or orientation for the adolescent age. NAMTA and AMI are now offering an Orientation to Adolescents course that is great time-wise, but it is frankly more expensive per day than primary and elementary AMI training combined.
OUCH.

And they don't even "have all the answers." It's not a full training - the MES Fund does not consider it a training for scholarship purposes. It is simply an orientation. And it is geared for a group setting (which I am ok studying and practicing, then adapting for homeschool purposes).

It sounds LOVELY anyhow, but I cannot afford to attend :( I need to finish paying off primary and elementary first!

In the meantime, I have started consolidating all of the resources provided in both primary and elementary, along with the required reading list for the Orientation and other resources.

I am putting together a small online discussion group specifically for this age, with reading assignments on a suggested schedule, discussion topics and sharing of ideas and resources. Everything will be from a homeschool perspective.

If you are part of our Keys of the Universe discussion board, you are already in! I will begin the official group June 21 in the adolescent section and Keys of the Universe participants have full access as part of their regular participation.

If you are not part of the Keys of the Universe discussion board, join us here:
Keys of the Universe Individual Album Support - Adolescent Montessori Discussion Group Access
One-time payment; life-time participation

We will begin June 21 in earnest; but anyone can join at any time.

The ideal participant:

• you have a child age 10-16 right now, with or without elementary Montessori experience
• you have an older child and would like to contribute from that perspective
• you have Montessori adolescent experience
• you have extensive other experience working with the adolescent group and you are familiar with Montessori principles; and want to apply those principles to the adolescent group

Anyone with any age child can be participate, but the earliest stages will be better suited for someone in the field right now or very soon; or who has been there and can provide some insight. 

If you are looking for something totally put together with all the answers handed to you - we're not there yet! This initial group is for those who want to explore and share, together. 

Goals - Main Topics:

• establish foundation of understanding of the adolescent age
• including their needs, tendencies; how to meet them
• difference between societal expectations and reality of needs and tendencies
• What if we provide all that Montessori suggested? What will happen?
• Compare our own experiences and work through personal barriers. 
• Establish the universal principles of an adolescent Montessori homeschool
• Lend support to filling in the specifics for each individual home
• Establish collection of resources for use by homeschooling families for this age

Already part of Keys of the Universe: no cost
Join separate from Keys of the Universe: $15 - permanent access