Warmest Greetings, Keepers of Tiny Treasures,
Last week, I shared my success story: How Montessori Transformed Me. Today, you will read the success story of one of my students, one very close to my heart. The Montessori method of teaching transformed him as well.
Emir's First Step: A Journey Begins
Emir’s beautiful dark eyes widened upon stepping into our grade-three classroom. The inviting shelves drew him towards the colorful Montessori materials. Taller than the average 8-year-old child, Emir lumbered in awkward strides, wandering around the room like a kid in a candy store.
I offered my hand to introduce myself. English was Emir’s second language, so I spoke slowly and clearly. His reluctant handshake, sweaty palm, and downward gaze revealed his shyness.
Or was it fear?
Understanding Emir: Challenges and Background
Emir’s mother, a former schoolteacher in her homeland, brought him to our school in her desperate attempt to save her child’s self-esteem. She said his former teacher called him stupid and he was bullied by his classmates.
Emir’s father recently had a heart attack and was confined to the hospital for a month. He was terrified his father might die, yet he refused to visit him. The hospital scene amplified his fear.
Embracing Montessori Principles: Individual Paced Learning
According to my assessments, Emir couldn’t count till 100 nor read grade-one books. I assured Emir we would start our lessons from where he felt comfortable. In our Montessori class, we all learned on our own pace.
Despite his attraction to the materials, Emir spent most of his days sitting on his chair, like the entire world rested on his lap. He refused to roam around. Instead, he observed his classmates.
Observation and Patience: Encouraging Self-led Exploration
Emir declined most of the learning tools I offered. This didn’t stop me from demonstrating how to use them, though. He was free to work with them or stand up and return them to the shelf. This was one way to make him get up and move.
I read him a book of his choice during our Silent Reading sessions. Emir enjoyed our one-on-one bonding time. A glimmer of excitement shone in his eyes as I read.
Unlocking Potential: The Checkerboard Breakthrough
A group of bright and boisterous boys caught Emir’s attention. They were working on the Checkerboard, a multiplication material using color-coded beads for 4-6-digit computations. Their discussions were exciting, sometimes explosive when they discovered the sum.
One exasperating morning, I asked Emir, “What do you want to learn? Anything you want and we’ll do it.”
He pointed to the Checkerboard. I was taken aback. That material was reserved for advance learners, above the grade three level. Knowing Emir couldn’t add, much less multiply, I felt this was too challenging for him.
But I conceded.
“Sure, if this is what you want, let’s do it.” Hope sprung in my heart, happy he wanted to work.
We started with the basics: how to unroll the mat and carry the materials from the shelf, how to lay out the beads, how to count each bead and correlate them with the colors. From then on, Emir strode in the classroom with a spring in his steps. He looked forward to our big lesson.
Soon, Emir was counting till one hundred. Later, he learned to add, then multiply -which is simply adding the same number a few times. His classmates noticed his interest and offered to work with him, initiating new friendships.
Emir may not have reached the full extent the material offered, but it sparked his love for learning.
Now, isn’t that a happy ending? Well actually, it’s not the end of the story.
Next week, we shall find out more about the Montessori classroom and how it was so successful in eradicating many learning challenges Emir faced.
Yours in the Journey,
Susie
Lovely.