Montessori Insights and Reflections of a Preschool Student’s First Year

Introducing a New Blog Series on the Montessori Preschool Environment

NAMC is very pleased to begin a new, ongoing series for our web blog titled, Montessori Insights and Reflections of a Preschool Student’s First Year. This new series will provide our readers with valuable information about the Montessori 3-6 environment – looking at a year in the life of a Montessori preschool child, both through the eyes of the child and the teacher.
 

We welcome the new contributions of long-time NAMC tutor and Montessori teacher, Bree Van Nes. Many of you may already know Bree as your tutor. Bree’s lifelong passion for teaching Montessori 3-6 inspires those who are acquainted with her, and we are delighted that Bree is joining NAMC tutor and elementary teacher Michelle Irinyi and NAMC alumni Elissa Pugh as a contributor to our blog.

Our hope is that you will find Bree’s personal insights and reflections of her Montessori teaching experience a valuable learning tool, and an inspiration for your own Montessori journey.


An Introductory Note from Bree Van Nes

My name is Bree Van Nes and I have been a part of the North American Montessori Center (NAMC) since its inception. I was involved in creating the very first diploma program curriculum in the mid-1990's and along with my involvement in the expansion of the program offerings, I continue to tutor and support NAMC students all over the world. I am very excited about this opportunity to stay in touch with our NAMC alumni and other Montessorians through this blog series on my Montessori teaching experiences.

I love what I do and feel so privileged to work with Montessorians worldwide who share my passion for children and my love for Montessori! I have three wonderful children, ages 10, 8 and 3 and I have been teaching in a Montessori Preschool/Kindergarten environment for the past 18 years.

For me, the Montessori Method isn't just a philosophy -- it is a way of life that I have embraced both at home as well as in the classroom. I wake up each morning excited to get to school and inspired to learn something new from the children. I find it so rewarding to work with children in an environment where they are free to learn, discover, grow and thrive -- it is such a gift and one that keeps giving day after day!

For the past year, I have been documenting some of my most precious experiences and observations and would like to share them through this NAMC blog series. You will notice that many of the entries refer to a student named Jordan, who began his Montessori journey last year at age 3 and will soon be starting his second year in the Montessori 3-6 classroom. It has been so rewarding to follow Jordan’s progression, celebrate his discoveries and see him grow and change throughout the year.

I hope that sharing my continuing practice and education in the Montessori classroom will help you with your own personal Montessori experience. It is my wish that you enjoy reading the blog series as much as I am enjoying writing them.

As much as possible, NAMC’s web blog reflects the Montessori curriculum as provided in its teacher training programs. We realize and respect that Montessori schools are unique and may vary their schedules and offerings in accordance with the needs of their individual communities. We hope that our readers will find our articles useful and inspiring as a contribution to the global Montessori community.
© North American Montessori Center - originally posted in its entirety at Montessori Teacher Training on Friday, August 13, 2010.