Season 2 Ep. 7: Elementary Reentry Conversation

Season Two, Episode 7 of Montessori in Action Podcast hosts a conversation with two Montessori educators working in Elementary classrooms in public Montessori schools. They had not met or spoken prior to this conversation. The topic for discussion is how children are reentering school this year following the disruptions of the pandemic and what educators are doing to support them.

If, after listening to this episode, you are curious about elementary student conferences check out this tool to support regular meetings.

This conversation raised some Ideas to support 6-12 year olds:

  • Grace & Courtesy lessons focused on resolving or preventing social issues

  • Supported choice, Limited choice

  • Stopping and redirecting as needed to keep the joy high

  • Daily community meetings to focus on talking things through, emotional literacy

  • Adult modeling- adults as control of error

  • Fostering independence

  • Presenting two group lessons a day to bring them together, Fill gaps in knowledge and encourage independence

  • Always connect to the stories- tell stories to captivate them

  • Having Assistant support with reading and math facts

  • Focusing on the unmet needs - always asking “what do they need” to help them to be available for the learning

  • Talking about what’s going on in their life, their day 

  • Allowing them to create things to express themselves

  • Greater flexibility

  • Using Primary/lower elementary materials as needed

  • Keeping them engaged

  • Finding balance

  • Tell them “Each lesson is a gift” What do you want to do with this present?

  • OBSERVING

  • Children collaborating and teaching each other

  • Problems: Stop, think, find a solution

  • Friendliness with error- finding solutions each day

  • Creating strong connections with families by communicating consistently 

  • Student conferencing to stay on top of where children are in order to support

  • More intentional teaching of history with creative elements (dressing up as someone from history)

  • Emphasis on qualities shown through history (resilience of the native American people)

Guests on this episode (in alphabetical order)

Elizabeth Clay teaches a lower elementary class at Oglesby Elementary School in Chicago, IL. She was first introduced to Montessori when she began working at The Montessori School of Englewood in Chicago and went on to get her Primary Montessori training. She is currently in the process of her Elementary training.

Margarita Diaz currently teaches at Breakthrough Montessori Public Charter School in Washington, DC. Prior to that, she was the first Spanish elementary teacher at LAMB-PCS, a bilingual Montessori public charter school in Washington, DC, where she designed the 1st-5th grade bilingual curriculum. Later, she assumed the role of Montessori Coach and Director of the Elementary program at LAMB-PCS. Margarita also instructs at the Institute for Advanced Montessori Studies at Barrie School.