Boys Need to Move: Providing Opportunities for Movement in the Montessori Classroom

One spring day, a young boy from the Montessori adolescent class came to give me a note that had been stapled shut and was marked 'For your eyes only'. I thanked the boy, who told me his teacher was expecting a reply. I opened the note and was surprised by the message:

I remember thinking, "Here is a teacher who really understands boys." Justin was having a hard time concentrating and keeping still that day. Rather than punish him or try to make him sit and work, the teacher gave Justin the opportunity to move, get a change of scenery, and come back settled and ready to work.

Opportunities for Movement in the Montessori Classroom: Kinesthetic Learning

We use the term ‘kinesthetic learner’ to mean learning through movement. More often than not, kinesthetic learning happens with the hands. Many Montessori materials require this type kinesthetic movement since Dr. Montessori believed that “what the hand does, the brain remembers.” I have learned from my own Montessori classrooms that children, and especially boys, need movement that encompasses more than just the hand. They need whole body movement and the freedom to move throughout the day.

Some Montessori works are whole body, heavy works. Gardening, shoveling snow, raking leaves, vacuuming, washing windows, and pounding nails into a stump are excellent ways to move and refocus energy.

Ninety percent of the world’s Ritalin is prescribed in the United States.

—McDonald, 2009

Barry MacDonald, Canadian educator and registered clinical counselor, offers these suggestions to help find non-distracting ways to help boys (and girls) remain engaged and keep moving in the classroom (McDonald, 2009):

Consider non-distracting ways students can be active while working.

The Montessori classroom has many opportunities for children to be active. For example, children have the option of working on the floor, spreading out and taking more space than if they were confined to a desk. As well, there is a variety of furniture to sit on. Pillows and rocking chairs were always a favorite in my classrooms. Children are free to move about the classroom at will, gathering materials, having snack, or taking a break with friends as they choose.

Allow children to “fidget” or use pocket toys as needed.

At first, I was skeptical of this. But then I recalled my own experiences of when this idea provided a great way for children to refocus negative energy. I know a second grade boy who would regularly get out modeling clay, work with it for 10–15 minutes, put it away, and get back to work. Another boy kept a “Koosh” ball with him and would tussle it gently about while working out math problems.

Give permission to take a break as needed.

All my students knew that if they needed to take a break, they only had to tell me where they were going and had to stay within sight of the classroom. As spring approached, I found more students taking advantage of this. They did not go out to play; they went to work off their physical energy. It was the rare occasion when I had to call them back in. They were all very good at coming back and getting back to work. I also kept a tub of Lego building blocks in a back corner for inclement weather days, when going outside was not an option.

The worst thing you can do to any student is to punish by restricting movement.

Have you ever taken away recess or gym class because a child cannot seem to settle down? This is the child that needs movement the most! Behavior problems are bound to increase if there is no outlet for physical energy.

Michelle Irinyi — NAMC Tutor & Graduate

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 Tuesday, April 30, 2013.