Homework in Montessori?

[bobandjess99]

I can't seem to find the answer to this...what is the role/place of homework at a Montessori school?

[wrzos]

I'm only familiar with primary and I assume you are speaking about the elementary program, right? He did have a 'homework' assignment this year in primary, and it was to make homemade valentines for his classmates, as well as a box to receive them in.

[MattBronsil]

Traditionally, homework is not a part of Montessori. However, it is also true that many schools in the elementary years do give some different homework assignments (see wrzos's post). Others do give more traditional homework.

I remember getting more traditional style homework in the elementary years. I also remember how minimal it was compared to my friends. I am not sure how long I spent on homework every night, but I remember that in my Montessori years, it was never anything I had a big concern about.

Matt

[Lingmom]

I think it's dependent on the teacher and school. Our elementary program does have homework... including homework over the summer (journal, reading log, math worksheets). I think, for our teacher, it's a way of getting in the less interesting work that the kids don't do at school -- the rote practice sort of stuff. So my daughter might have some addition problems one night and some handwriting practice the next night and every week they've got 10 spelling words to learn. I don't really mind it too much.

[BCFD]

My DD is only 3.5, but sometimes if she doesn't complete a tracing or coloring activity her guide will remind her that it needs to be completed. She can do it at her own pace at home. This week they were talking about land forms and she was coloring an island and a lake, but didn't color the lake, so the teacher asked her to complete it at home. The teacher has told me that she will never force a child to complete something in the classroom, but they practice follow through with a project. I have no problem with the follow through part if something is completed in the classroom. It will be interesting to see what it will be like when she starts primary since it's a charter school. I'm expecting there to be some homework, but would only have an issue if it's excessive.

[bobandjess99]

okay, thanks. Dd's school is a public Montessori, through the local public school system..the 3's and 4's do not get homework, and only go a half day, but starting at age 5 (which is technically considered "kindergarten") and in the 6-9 rooms, they are required to follow the schools policy of homework nightly. I wasn't sure what to make of this....but I know there are going to be compromises since it is a public program, and it soiunds like even more traditional Montessori's have homework, so that's nice to know.

[rumsmyname]

We have had very little up to this point

I have two entering their third year of lower elementary and one entering her first year of lower el. Spelling consists of a pretest Monday with activitie throughout the week to help with any problem words such that on Fridays test the words are spelled correctly. Fact tests are 3x's a week with it up to us to work on them (or not) with them. Occasionally a trip to the library to supplement materials for an individual project is needed. Everything else that comes home has been because a child didn't finish it at school. Projects do spillover to home because one child in particular is quite dedicated to the whole process.

My understanding is that regular homework does tend to start in third year and continues through later years. Part of this is due to recognition that many kids will leave the Montessori environment with increasing frequency. Having the skills to integrate in an easier fashion to a moretraditional school is part of the changing expectations.

My just finished kindergartener never had any. Her new classroom will be similar to that of her brother's and sister's lower el classroom.

Ours is a private Montessori school.

[PaxMamma]

the only homework our private lower el has is what they choose not to finish in class. therefore, the student has "chosen" to have homework.

[nkm1968]

The only homework at our private Montessori has been "30 minutes or more of productive work towards improvement of the self or family". We've been doing violin practice as our homework. Next year, for elementary, don't know yet, hopefully the same!