Repetition in Montessori Materials

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Repetition in Montessori Materials

November 1, 2022

Dear Maria,

My child went to a Montessori preschool and is a new student at Cascadia. This year, I still hear them talking about the bead cabinet. Are they still doing primary work? Why are they always working with the same materials? When will there be anything new?

Sincerely,

Are We Getting Anywhere

Dear Are We Getting Anywhere,

Part of the beauty of the Montessori materials is that they purposefully engage children in repetition. By doing a beloved activity over and over again, children go deeper and make connections they otherwise would miss - and they do this on their own and without having to be drilled. So it is with many concepts presented with the bead cabinet - such as counting and multiples of numbers. But did you know that in Montessori Elementary, the bead cabinet is also used to introduce and learn about squares and cubes of numbers? Read more about this material in another of our blogs (What are bead chains? Are they jewelry?)

Another amazing aspect of Montessori materials is that they have many different purposes and are brought back to use with the children to present multiple concepts throughout their Elementary years. In this way, the students discover the connection between concepts (see this blog on Cosmic Education, Infinity and Questions), and are not just taught isolated concepts. Being aware of the network of connections between concepts helps students gain deeper knowledge of subject matter.

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What are Going Outs?

September 18, 2024

Dear Maria, What are “Going Outs”? How do they help our children learn? Can I help? Sincerely, Cascadia parent Dear Cascadia parent, Going Outs are a key piece of the Montessori elementary experience. A Going Out is a child-led outing from the classroom and can take various forms. Children might go on an errand for the class community or for supplies for a special project (cooking, baking, arts & crafts, special experiment, etc.). They might go and see something in-person that they’ve been researching in class. Going to see a native animal or plant in its natural ecosystem, visiting the zoo to observe an animal, picking up books at the public library or visiting an expert to talk more about a topic or see a special demonstration might all be research-related going outs. The possibilities are endless and limited only to the child’s imagination…and to practicalities, because a vital part of Going Outs is that the children organize everything themselves! They’re responsible for organizing chaperones, transportation, necessary things to bring along, and getting an appointment or tickets if necessary. Going Outs are a huge part of how Elementary children learn about the world and practice independence! Many skills are involved in planning a Going Out, including map reading, learning about money, distance, time management, organizing a group, preparing practical items (using forethought to prepare for weather or unexpected events), and much more! Of course with the youngest children, your child’s guide and assistant will give lessons on Going Outs or assist them with planning their first trips. Young children might be invited to go along with an older and more experienced child and learn the process that way. Guides have established Going Out procedures to aid children in taking on this responsibility for themselves. (Part of these procedures involve notifying Susan in the office and parents & guardians about the going out date, time, and location, so don’t be worried about your child leaving campus without your knowledge.)