Why don’t Montessori schools give homework?

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Why don’t Montessori schools give homework?

November 5, 2021

While homework in a traditional sense is not an integral part of Montessori education, home work (work at home) is. By “work” we mean activities that help children grow in their capacity for independence and enable them to fulfill their potential as human beings. There are so many opportunities for this kind of in your home environment.

It’s important for children’s social, emotional and physical growth that they take time after school for other important aspects of life, apart from schoolwork. Spending time with the immediate family, visiting neighbors and extended family and taking part in social activities are beneficial for your child. Children can take part in group activities, such as scouts, children’s choir, sports teams, or orchestra. They can pursue an activity they don’t do at school, such as pottery, instrument lessons or woodworking. Your child can participate actively in family life, pitching in to take care of the family pets, housework, and cooking.

In addition, families can support children’s academic learning from home by involving them in practical activities with math and numbers, such as baking, cooking, budgeting, earning their own money, or having a bank account. Board games and card games also support numeracy and literacy! Reading each evening with your child is a great way to connect, and expands their experience with language. If done regularly, the read aloud ritual can continue throughout middle school.

Especially during the pandemic, as schools have been unable to offer Going Outs, day trips and outings with your Elementary child are important! Families could visit museums, interesting geological sites, places with native plants and animals, the public library, see live performances, or anything else which enables your child to have real experiences of the world. Even the simplest outdoor activities (going on a walk, visiting a new park, going to look at a pond, river or stream) can add a lot to a child’s understanding of the world around them.

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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.)