The Montessori Goldmine The Montessori Great Lesson Page My name is Barbara Dubinsky. I have been involved in the Montessori community for 30 years, through my own children, as an assistant, administrator, Lower Elementary teacher and now as a trainer. Fourteen years ago, I joined the movement of Montessori into the public schools - a most exciting expansion. I teach at a magnet school in Charlotte, NC. It is both challenging and ever so rewarding at the same time. Our school is given much freedom to do what we need to do as Montessorians; we have fought fiercely to have this freedom and have proven that what we do is the best system for children. For many years, as a member of the Montessori Educational Listserv ( listserv@aol.com - write Subscribe Montessori-L in the body of the message) I saw many questions about the Great Lessons themselves and how to keep the work of the Great Lessons active in the class. This year I have finally pulled together all my work into four albums.
Montessori AMI Primary Guide: Discover Practical, Sensorial, Language and Mathematic Exercises Aid to Life Montessori - Practical Life - Introduction Practical: means basic, useful, purposeful Life: means the way of living. Practical life Exercises are just that, they are Exercises so the child can learn how to do living activities in a purposeful way. The purpose and aim of Practical Life is to help the child gain control in the coordination of his movement, and help the child to gain independence and adapt to his society. It is therefore important to “Teach teaching, not correcting” (Montessori) in order to allow the child to be a fully functionional member in hios own society. Practical Life Exercises can be categorized into four different groups: Preliminary Applications, Applied Applications, Grace and Courtesy, and Control of Moment. In the Preliminary Exercises, the child learns the basic movements of all societies such as pouring, folding, and carrying. In the Applied Exercises, the child learns about the care and maintenance that helps every day life. Children are naturally interested in activities they have witnessed.