Issue 103:Montessori International 8/3/12 14:38 Page 1 Issue 103 April – June 2012 £5.00 MONTESSORI INTERNATIONALpublished by the Montessori St Nicholas Charity www.montessori.org.uk MONTESSORI Issue 103:Montessori International 8/3/12 14:38 Page 2 Issue 103:Montessori International 8/3/12 14:38 Page 3 MONTESSORI Issue 103 April – June 2012 INTERNATIONAL published quarterly by Montessori St Nicholas, London Acting Editor: Philip Davies Editorial enquiries Tel: +44 207 493 8300 welcome e-mail: [email protected] from Marketing and Display Advertising enquiries Catherine Tubbs on +44 207 493 8300 e-mail: [email protected] the editor Job advertising enquiries Stephanie Ilo, e-mail: [email protected] his issue of Montessori International focuses on Subscription enquiries to the second prime area of the EYFS, physical Stephanie Ilo on +44 207 493 8300 Annual subscription rates, incl. p&p (4 issues): Tdevelopment, and the key articles on this UK £19.95; Europe £29.95 / €45.00; subject are from Jeremy Clarke and Kristin Hulaas Rest of World £33.00 / US$65.00 Sunde. Jeremy’s article considers Maria Montessori’s Students (incl. p&p): UK £15.95; Europe £23.00 / €36.00; Rest of dictum that “the hand is the instrument of man’s World £28.00 / US$56.00 E-magazine (4 issues): UK and overseas £14.95 intelligence” in relation to the importance of The views expressed in Montessori International are not necessarily those of movement from the earliest age, be it babies holding the publisher and editorial team, nor are advertisements endorsed by them. their heads up when lying on their stomachs or getting the knack of Address: Montessori International, holding a spoon so that they can feed themselves. Kristin on the other 18 Balderton Street, London W1K 6TG hand suggests some ways for parents of toddlers and older children to see Fax: +44 207 493 9936 exercise as a way of having fun together, whether it’s indoors, in the Montessori International is designed by Stuart O’Neil, Design for Print (UK) Ltd, 01442 871144 garden, or another outdoor space like the local park. Printed by Stones the Printers, Banbury, Oxon In other sections of the magazine we have contributions from Keith ISSN 1354-1498 Whitescarver on the role of Montessori education in breaking the cycle of poverty in Kensington, Maryland, and Aric Sigman on recent WANTED research into the connections between physical and mental development. Additionally there are the regular sections like Bright Ideas, Reviews and Star Products that will, hopefully, inspire and inform. Overall, my welcome to this issue is much as it usually is – I hope you find reading the 10 NEW magazine both a pleasure to read and of benefit to you and your practice. Finally, a few words about being something of a tyro in the business of ASSESSORS magazine editing, which has involved me in a number of learning processes over the last few months. I’m beginning to learn to cope with the increasingly frequent panic attacks as we get nearer to the copy FOR MEAB deadline, and I have to say that those “I’m never going to have everything ready in time” moments are generally calmed by the efforts of Would you like to contribute to the work of the the many excellent and dependable contributors we are fortunate enough Montessori Evaluation and to have writing for and creating this magazine. Accreditation Board by Best wishes, becoming an assessor? Please see our website for M•E•A•B details on how to apply and send your application, by email, to Philip Davies by no later than Tuesday 10 April, 2012. Philip Davies, Acting Editor Interviews will be conducted in London on Wednesday 18 April Website: www.montessori.org.uk APRIL – JUNE 2012 Montessori International 1 Issue 103:Montessori International 8/3/12 15:42 Page 4 contents 13 43 20 36 Feature articles Regular departments 10 “The hand is the instrument 27 Introducing our new book for 3 News of man’s intelligence” parents 4 Hot Topics Jeremy Clarke uses this well-known Extracts from Learning Together: what 5 MSA news Montessori principle as a springboard for Montessori can offer your family to give his discussion of the importance of you the flavour of this important new 22 Bright Ideas movement from the earliest age publication 28 Reviews 35 Why dot2dot? 31 Ask the Expert Q&A 13 Serious fun Catherine Tubbs answers a question 32 Education, special needs Kristin Hulaas Sunde provides some tips we’re often asked about choosing & disabilities update dot2dot as the Charity’s own insurer and for parents and their children on how to 33 Research Watch get some exercise and have fun at the partner 39 Company profile same time 36 We haven’t moved on 45 Star products Aric Sigman unveils some of the recent 16 Montessori, Maslow and research into the connections between Classified Advertising Self-Actualization physical and mental development 46 Teaching opportunities David Weinberg, in an article reprinted 40 Dyspraxia: what it is and 48 Teacher Training from Montessori Life, explores how how to help children’s physical and psychological are met as they work on “self construction” Wendy Fidler explores a common but still poorly understood disability 20 Using Montessori to break 43 An arrow flying in Cambodia the cycle of poverty In a fascinating article that combines Keith Whitescarver reports on an elements of ‘Montessori and me’ and excellent program in Washington, D.C. ‘Global links’ Mary Lester tells us about that is helping people out of poverty and her experiences in a Montessori school in Cover Photo: homelessness Phnom Penh Mia photographed by Jeremy Clarke 2 Montessori International APRIL – JUNE 2012 Issue 103:Montessori International 8/3/12 14:39 Page 5 news Montessori accreditation: News from the Montessori St Nicholas Charity a parent’s point of view In recent months the I believe that a lot of parents have a very positive view of Charity trustees have Montessori education, although many don’t really understand confirmed their support what it is all about. I have a number of friends who have chosen for continued funding of a nursery based on the fact that it claims to be Montessori, but the MEAB school are not able to identify a true Montessori setting. accreditation scheme I am in the fortunate position to The difference between the two is with a 2012 grant of have had invaluable experience of very marked: the quality of care that £85,000. With 122 Montessori having trained as a my son receives in the day nursery is schools now fully Montessori teacher a number of generally very good but the accredited under the ISI years ago, although I have never standards in the accredited and BAC endorsed used my qualification professionally. Montessori nursery are always scheme, the trustees Having seen the real value of the excellent. wish to give more good Montessori method first-hand it was Obviously I have been satisfied with Montessori schools the incredibly important to me that my the standard of care my son has opportunity of joining received at the day care otherwise I children were able to attend a ‘true’ the scheme while still would not have continued to keep Montessori school for their early at a subsidised cost. years education. My experience also him there. But he is not receiving a The accreditation in helped me to recognise a quality Montessori education from them. I total costs over £2,000 Montessori setting. do think that by calling themselves a ‘Montessori nursery’ when they are per school but currently schools can join the scheme for only £190. However, in order to accommodate not actually using any Montessori At some point in 2013 however this subsidy will end for all new my working hours, I have also had to practice is very misleading. schools who will then have to fund the full cost. Existing MEAB use additional day care settings. Currently, my eldest son is at school Parents will automatically assume a schools will still have the subsidy in place for the three-yearly but my youngest, aged 3, is still in higher quality of care and education reaccreditation visits. and I do believe that is why the day nursery education and attends two Also receiving ongoing funding at over £70,000 is the MSA. With ten care uses the Montessori name. nurseries. One is a Montessori active regions, over 4,000 members and ten £1,500 annual I believe it would be fairer to parents school accredited by the Montessori honorariums for Regional Chairman, the MSA has grown and Evaluation and Accreditation Board. if all nurseries claiming to be therefore the costs of postage to members and administration has The other is a day care provider that Montessori had to be monitored and also grown. Trustees recognise this and despite funding pressures we also claims to be a Montessori receive accreditation. It would also nursery, although they do not have a mean that the settings that are have been able to fully fund for 2012. qualified Montessori teacher on site. providing a good Montessori We have also maintained our support for those wishing to train as They do have a room set up with education will be recognised for their Montessori teachers but unable to find the funds and just over achievements. Montessori materials and equipment £30,000 was awarded to grants applicants under the Birts Awards and occasionally you do see some Written by a parent with a child scheme. We wish we could do more.