Quote: Educating the Heart

Montessori Monday: Guiding Principles

So, I hope you don't think this post is a cop-out, but we've been sick at our house lately. Hopefully we're over it just in time for the autumn flu/cold season.

While I have been interested in Montessori education for quite some time, I didn't know much about the basic philosophy. These are some resources that helped me understand the basics, the guiding principles, of Maria Montessori's philosophy.

Montessori Print Shop - Eight Principles of Montessori Education

Simple Homeschool - Montessori At Home: 8 Principles to Know

Montessori Candy - Major Points of the Montessori Method

Maria Montessori - Overview

Music Together Family Classes

When I was pregnant with Little E. I was fascinated that he would start kicking in response to outside sounds, especially to music. After he was born I continued to observe his love of listening to and making music. Music has a powerful effect on our moods and the atmosphere in our homes and I want Little E. to experience the positive influence good music can have.

When I picked up a flyer for Music Together I was curious. We attended a demo class a few months ago and loved it. I have been doing research on the program and am now a big fan. We are so excited to start attending the weekly family group this fall.



The principles of Music Together are:

1. All children are musical.
   
2. Therefore, all children can achieve basic music competence, which we have defined as the ability to sing in tune and move with accurate rhythm.
   
3. The participation and modeling of parents and caregivers, regardless of their musical ability is essential to a child's musical growth.
   
4. This growth is best achieved in a playful, developmentally appropriate, non performance oriented learning environment that is musically rich yet immediately accessible to the chi's participation.

The things I loved most about the class we attended were the various ages of children and the freedom allowed the children. Family classes include newborns to 5 year old children, all learning and sharing and playing together with their grown-ups. I love the idea that children learn best in a family-like environment where they can learn from those older and teach those younger than they. I also love that the children don't have to follow the teacher, but are allowed to respond to the music however they would like.

If there is a Music Together class near you, I highly recommended it!

Check out their website and blog!

Zac Sunderland

This is probably one of the coolest things I have ever heard. I wish I had learned about this earlier.

The following clip is from the official website:

"Zac is 17 years old, and he is growing up in Southern California. A year and a half ago, he had a dream to sail around the world. It would have been easy to dismiss such a far fetched fantasy, but Zac took his own money, earned like most kids from summer jobs, and bought a 36 foot sailboat. He named his boat Intrepid. His parents had hoped he would find something that would create a fire in him, a passion that would direct him away from all the negative and harmful influences that are so prevalent in our society, but even they were stunned by the scope of his dreams and desires.

Though they first questioned his dream, Zac was not to be deterred, and he worked endless 18 hour days preparing his boat.

In this time of war and historic economic upheaval, here is one young man who has set his mind to a fantastical goal, and stands as a reminder that life is about going forward against great odds and winning.
Zac's dream, a dream of adventure, discovery, and challenge, is one of the simple truths of being human. There is no agenda, no political motivation, just the simple desires of a young man to go exploring, to see new places and meet new people.

It is a simple testament to what is important, to working towards your goals. Most of all, with perseverance and faith in God, anything is possible."


http://www.sailzac.com/

http://www.zacsunderland.com/blog/