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In this July's Digest, we share an overview of Maria Montessori's Educational Syllabus that she describes in her book From Childhood to Adolescence, an interview with Barbara Rogoff talking about perspectives on learning, a study that investigates children's preference for real activities and a UNESCO report on global and regional trends regarding the adoption of free and compulsory early childhood education. We also share the largest long-term study of brain development and child health in the United States along with our EsF Stories Podcast episode with Hillary Korir, who will talk about his work supporting Montessori education in Kenya. Do not forget to visit our AMI Digital resources page to get free access to various classified cards and language materials.
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Deep Dive on The Educational Syllabus
The context for understanding Montessori's intention with the Educational Syllabus that she describes in Appendix B of From Childhood to Adolescence is the framing of the adolescent's needs in Appendix A - the mindset needed to apply the Educational Syllabus. "The plan aims above all at 'valorisation of the personality in the present social conditions," says Montessori, and she suggests that the adolescent has two central needs: protection during a vulnerable time of development and understanding of the "role they will play in society." Learn more here.
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Dr Barbara Rogoff Talking About Perspectives on Learning
This interview highlights and extends Dr Barbara Rogoff's keynote address at the 2019 annual convention. Specifically, in the interview, Dr Rogoff discusses her framework for learning, Learning by Observing and Pitching In, as well as other aspects of learning, including notions of childhood, age-based social ordering, and conflict as an aspect of learning and community engagement.
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Children's Preference for Real Activities: Even Stronger in the Montessori Children's House
Recent research has shown that when children aged 4 to 6 are given a choice to do the pretend or the real version of 9 different activities, they would prefer the real one. The reasons children gave for preferring real activities often concerned their appreciation of the functionality; when children did prefer to pretend activities, their reasons often cited being afraid of, not allowed to, or unable to do the real activity. In this study, children explained their preferences for pretend and real versions of 9 different activities. Children in Montessori schools preferred real activities even more than children did in other early childhood settings, but all children explained their choices in similar ways. The implications of these results are discussed with regard to play in early childhood classrooms. Read the full article here.
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The Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study
The Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study is the largest long-term study of brain development and child health in the United States. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) funded leading researchers in the fields of adolescent development and neuroscience to conduct this ambitious project. The ABCD Research Consortium consists of a Coordinating Center, a Data Analysis, Informatics & Resource Center, and 21 research sites, which have invited 11,878 children to join the study. Researchers will track their biological and behavioural development through adolescence into young adulthood.
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Right To Pre-Primary (Early Childhood) Education:
A Global Study
Early childhood care and education are increasingly recognised around the world as an essential element in realising a wide range of educational, social and economic rights. International evidence finds that the development of cognitive, language, physical and socio-emotional skills during the early childhood period provides the critical foundations to enable children to develop to their full potential in school and life. The main rationale of this study is to better understand global and regional trends regarding the adoption of free and compulsory early childhood education by filling a gap in monitoring and evaluating the impact of the adoption of legal provisions of free and compulsory early childhood education on a global scale.
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EsF Stories: Hillary Korir
Listen to the first EsF Story by Hillary Korir, who will talk about his work supporting Montessori education in Kenya. Hillary is the former Executive director of Montessori for Kenya and has been involved in Corner of Hope from the starting point in 2010. He has now taken up a new responsibility at the Kenyan government but will stay closely involved with Montessori for Kenya to contribute to the growth of Montessori education, especially for those with limited resources, and to share all the experience and wisdom he has gathered over time.
Listen to the podcast here:
➡️ Apple Podcasts
➡️ Spotify
➡️ Google Podcasts
➡️ SoundCloud
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AMI Digital is an online repository of quality Montessori resources for educators, schools and families. Due to the current situation with COVID-19, AMI is offering free access to some of its materials for use with children aged 3-6, some of which are also suitable for older children. Explore the AMI Digital Free Educational Resources here. It has been undergoing development recently in preparation to re-launch this year for all AMI members to access as part of their membership benefits. AMI members will soon have access to an extensive range of educational resources as well as academic papers and journals. |
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Do you want to support our work? Then become an AMI Member and join the worldwide community dedicated to the rights of the child and support of human development. Membership of AMI is open to all individuals. AMI members are a stronghold in the Montessori community, putting Montessori education in the spotlight and making a difference to the lives of children; by engaging together we can meet the challenges of the future.
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Keep well, keep safe, and keep in touch.
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