November 10-14

 

On Monday, we introduced the theories and concepts behind Montessori Education. We watched a video on the major goals of Montessori education as well as the different tools and ways of teaching that are used at these schools. We then talked about these things to prepare for our observation of Five Oaks Academy on Tuesday. Among the most prominent and defining characteristics of these schools are that the teacher does less teaching and more "directing" as the students learn by themselves. The Montessori school provides students with materials that encourage them to learn on their own and at their own pace.

On Tuesday, we went to Five Oaks Academy, which is a Montessori school in our area. There we got a tour by a very informative (!) director of the school, who essentially reiterated the things we had learned in class the day before. Then we got to see some of the classrooms. The classroom for the middle aged students was almost eerily quiet, as manners are stressed by the school. We got to see them in a rare, structured "circle time" of sorts as they talked about some of the new materials they got in the room and how to use them. The younger classrooms were taking part in activities that are more typically associated with Montessori education. The younger kids were playing independently with toys that promote learning and what Maria Montessori would call "work." The kids at the middle school ages were learning math by counting blocks and beans to work out algebra. As we were leaving we also got a chance to check out the labyrinth that the students go to in order to work out issues or calm a temper.

On Wednesday and Thursday, we did our observations of elementary education. We all either observed a classroom with very young children (Pre-K or kindergarten) or older ones (around the 4th and 5th grade levels). This gave us as idea of the adaptability teachers in elementary education have to have to be able to teach children that require help with personal and academic growth, and who are often on many different academic levels.

On Friday, we got to take a field trip to Anderson University and meet other teacher cadets from all over the state. The day started off with an informational session about the teaching program at the school and about some of the clubs for teaching available there, such as Call Me Sir. We then went on a tour of the school based on the majors we were interested in, and we got to see a dorm room, dining halls, and several of the academic buildings. After the tour we got to meet with a panel of students that go to the school and ask them questions about the program and the college. The day ended with a brief wrap up of everything we had learned as well as a talk about the application process to the school.

 

"Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all." -Aristotle