Standard #7. Educators engage in career-long learning.

On a non-instructional day, I visited Montessori classes in Richmond to learn Montessori teaching practices. I first went to a Grade 5-7 classroom. At first, I did not notice a big difference from a regular classroom. However, it was not long after I noticed something ‘weird’ in the classroom; students who seemed to be chatting were actually working on their assignment. Each student had his or her own weekly agenda and he or she was responsible of daily work-done, but the students had freedom in what fashion and order the work was going to get done.

It was an organized chaos, a minimum level of noise with students’ freely moving around but all being engaged in sort of learning.

More energetic it was in a Grade 2-4 classroom, but the independent learning practices were still in place as it was in a Grade 5-7 classroom. Students engaged in independent learning in a subject they chose according their needs and interests.

I loved how students used a small mat on the carpet. It created an independent working space for studnets on the carpet and seemed to help students focus on what they were working on.

Montessori beads were fascinating! What an awesome way to help students learn addition, subtraction, and so much more in Math!

It was an eye-opening experience in Montessori classes, thought it was only a glimpse of Montessori practices I observed on the day. Learning new teaching practices and materials inspire me and keep me passionate about teaching. I definitely want to apply a part of Montessori methods in my future classroom.