How Brain Science Supports Montessori Wisdom [Dr. Dee Joy Coulter MMS fall conference 2013]
THE BIG PICTURE
INNER DEVELOPMENT
* ABSORBED MIND
* INNER SPEECH
OUTER DEVELOPMENT
* SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT
* FINDING ORDER
LEARNING RHYTHMS
*SELF PACING
*INNER MOTIVATION
Ages 2.5 to 6
What’s Up
BRAIN
BODY
AGES 2-4
AGES 4-6
Speech centers connect
Sensorimotor Integration time
OUTER DEVELOPMENT
ORDER
same and not same
imitation
order = safety
SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT
can choose stimulation level
discover it pays to wait !!!!
circle time triggers bonding
INNER DEVELOPMENT
ABSORBED in Surroundings
builds focus and concentration
INNER SPEECH
demo words!!
leads to impulse control, reflection, writing
LEARNING RHYTHMS
INNER MOTIVATION
learn to choose
love of repetition
SELF PACED
no brakes – need to be redirected
ok to have “down time”
free choice snacks !! – no scarcity
SNEAK PREVIEWS and RECIPES
HIDDEN TEACHING: beginnings, middles and ends
KEY RECIPE: inner speech + ability to wait = impulse control
TEACHER SKILLS NEEDED
Move in ways they can copy
Sense energy fields
Choose ‘perfect’ new work
Use inner speech for demos
Model activities inwardly
Ages 6 to 9
What’s Up
BRAIN
AGES 6-8
BODY/BRAIN
AGES 8-10
MAJOR BRAIN/SKULL GROWTH
Discover Cause and Effect
Harness impulse control
LANGUAGE CENTERS GROW
Tongue twisters, foreign languages
Explaining things
OUTER DEVELOPMENT
ORDER
Rules reign!!
grammar, sports, classroom rules, manners
SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT
learning to read ages 6-8 (out loud and social)
INNER DEVELOPMENT
ABSORBED in Time
Sequences
Cause and Effect
INNER SPEECH gets stronger
ages 5-8 – controls motor impulses
age 9 – becomes silent
-- begin to feel separate
LEARNING RHYTHMS
INNER MOTIVATION
choosing work
choosing teacher – peers or teacher
SELF PACED -- longer rhythms
beginnings – learn to settle in
middles – learn to stretch endurance
ends – learn to come to completion (NOTE: addictive “learning” won’t satiate)
SNEAK PREVIEWS and RECIPES
Key Recipe:
page 2
Silent Inner Speech + Sense of Separateness = Can take one’s own counsel
TEACHER SKILLS NEEDED
make work “in-spiring” --breathe life into it
move in ways they can copy --awaken their mirror neurons
learn your own style --beginnings, middles or ends*
beginnings
love novelty, great initiative, enthusiasm; lose interest quickly, may not finish things
middles
strong endurance, hard working, reliable; handle complexity, not very playful
ends
love competition, great at finishing things; strong sense of ceremony
Ages 9 to 12
What’s Up
BODY/BRAIN AGE 9-10
BRAIN
AGES 11-12
OUTER DEVELOPMENT
ORDER
logic, persuasion
new turf for reading
SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT
literacy changes brain !!
major brain/skull growth in frontal lobes -- needs protection !!
empathy re-awakens
sense of self/other
INNER DEVELOPMENT
ABSORBED in Stories, Motives, Fairness
INNER SPEECH
ages 8-10 – silent reading !!
ages 11-12 – better working memory (scaffolding improves)
St. Augustine, seeing St. Jerome of Milan read (384 AD)
“When he read, his eyes scanned the page and his heart sought out the meaning,
but his voice was silent and his tongue was still.”
LEARNING RHYTHMS
INNER MOTIVATION
clear interests and thoughts
clear sense of self
SELF PACED
learning to practice
learning to incubate and reflect
SNEAK PREVIEWS and RECIPES
Key recipes:
Clear sense of self + able to think for self = best defense against bullies!
Willing to practice + good working memory = good with scaffolded subjects
TEACHER SKILLS NEEDED
listen to their thoughts
encourage rigor, practicing
support caring for others
delay adolescence
Ages 12 to 15
What’s Up
BODY
That’s about it, FOLKS!!
OUTER DEVELOPMENT
ORDER
multi-step group projects
practice until it becomes a practice
SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT
tech virtual friends/enemies
need more face time
INNER DEVELOPMENT
ABSORBED in SELF
explore body based study skills*
review and mastery time
INNER SPEECH
high risk of depression!
use affirmations, drop negative self talk
*Body Based Study Skills
The role of posture, breath, water and sleep
The impact of
different foods (kinds, when to eat, how much, allergies)
Exercise, study breaks, time of day
Brain zones and how to tap them
Focus, concentration
Creativity
Endurance
How friends and family work best
LEARNING RHYTHMS
INNER MOTIVATION
inspiration beats pressure
mastery of skills
SELF PACED
work on beginnings, middles, ends
build timelines, stretch working memory
SNEAK PREVIEWS and RECIPES
Two populations
--brain spurt at 11-12
--adolescence at 11-12
Another brain turn at 15-16!!
TEACHER SKILLS NEEDED
keep inspiring them
call on their higher nature
protect from bullying, depression, and giving up on learning
have incredible sense of humor
learn to bless!
Ages 15 to 18
What’s Up
BRAIN
Frontal lobes regain control
Good judgment returns
True scholarship possible
OUTER DEVELOPMENT
ORDER
Explore how to make a difference
Think globally, act locally
SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT
Care for school’s social climate
Care for each other
Honor milestones with ceremonies
INNER DEVELOPMENT
ABSORBED in their future
Sustain desire to know
Explore metacognitive skills*
page 3
INNER SPEECH
Enhances writing skills**
Launches THETA-GAMMA thinking**
* When Mind studies Mind
How do you learn best?
Learning style? (beginnings, middles, ends)
Learning Channels? (visual, auditory, kinesthetic)
Brain cycles – daily highs and lows
Which zones can you access?
Focus and concentration
Scaffolded learning –math, science, languages
Incubation and new ideas
LEARNING RHYTHMS
INNER MOTIVATION
Study biographies
Create personal vision, goals
SELF PACED
Need strong organizational skills
Protect from outer pressures
TEACHER SKILLS NEEDED
Become a cognitive coach
Champion the best in each student
Resist using test scores as motivators
Keep your own inner scholar alive
GIFTS TO THE TEACHER
Anti-depression practice
Be here now (outer world, present moment)
Heart opening-- mirror neurons build empathy
Nurtures healthy aging
Allows you to be of real service to the world!
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page 4
Yes, but…..
If only it were that simple!!!
What about all the stressors?
On our children On our parents On ourselves???
What STRESS looks like:
Eyes under stress: Squint Look to sides, can’t focus easily
Ears under stress: Eyebrows up Twig snap mode
Can’t track words well
What STRESS looks like:
Muscles under stress: Restless, can’t sit still Startle easily, can’t get absorbed Looks like ADD/ADHD
Health under stress: Digestion problems Sleep and breathing problems –asthma/allergies Weak immune system
Key STRESS issues:
Chronic Scarcity
 Doesn’t pay to wait Poor impulse control Can’t take turns
 Competition doesn’t motivate Scarce rewards Too much pressure
Key STRESS issues:
Uncertainty Can’t predict events Wants more control
Novelty seems too risky Avoids new learning Loses ability to think creatively
How Stressed Kids May Look
 Short attention span
Don’t get absorbed
 Won’t wait for turns May startle and lash out
 May withdraw and seem to ‘freeze’
 Low curiosity; highly repetitive
The really good news!
Montessori offers healthy patterns
It supports healthy roots and remedies
 Roots for 0-3
 Remedies for 3-6
These core gifts serve for a lifetime
We can teach parents:
 To understand these qualities
 To value them for their children