The Discovery of the Child, p. 97.
The Importance of Student-Generated Agreements
Early Childhood (Ages 3–6)
The process of creating class agreements in the Montessori early childhood environment must be simple and concrete.
4. Keeping It Simple: Limit agreements to 3–5 main points for this age group.
5. Regular Reminders: Review agreements regularly as needed through songs, gestures, or during circle time discussions.
6. Model Behavior: Consistently demonstrate the agreed-upon behaviors yourself.
Elementary (Ages 6–12)
For elementary Montessori students, the process can be more detailed and involve higher-level thinking:
2. Categorize Ideas: Group similar suggestions together. Common categories include respect, safety, learning environment, and conflict resolution.
3. Debate and Refine: Encourage respectful debate about proposed agreements. Guide students to consider different perspectives and potential consequences.
4. Build Consensus: Aim for agreements that everyone can support, even if they’re not everyone’s first choice. This teaches valuable lessons in compromise.
5. Write It Down: Have students collaboratively write out the final agreements. Invite each student to sign the document as a symbol of their commitment.
6. Review Regularly: Schedule periodic class meetings to review and, if necessary, revise agreements based on the class’s evolving needs.