I participated in a skype call with some teachers from Italy
I asked some questions
A) Where is the "modern" Maria Montessori?
b) What schools do you admire?
c) What have you seen in a classroom that you admire?
Here are the answers
Good questions!
Here, in Italy, Montessori's method is in the dumps. There are many reasons for that: public system don't have money to promote and to finance small classes, with a so special relationship between teachers and students. Moreover, there's an impossible conflict to resolve (actually) between traditional approach and alternative approaches.
b) What schools do you admire?
I admire the school where students are the focus of teaching; where students finish their path with success and with a real excellent culture and qualification. For that, I think, it's necessary to create a good working environment and we've got to get student used to agreement, to a healthy contention.
c) What have you seen in a classroom that you admire?
That I seen in my ideal classroom is cooperation and a good greeting.
My school is a private school: so we've more possibilities than public schools. But we've got to respect rules imposed by Ministry of Education: so we have specific programs to follow.
Taking on this new challenge means to conjugate what's better is in "old" school with what's better is in new approach.
Sorry! My lexicon is so moderate!
Our classes are composed by 15 (up to 35) students: it's impossible for us making school with student at time. We guide a full group, very heterogeneous about knowledge and competences.
For us the problem is to be very pragmatic: our students have to take and to pass an important exam at the end of lyceum. So they must be really prepared!
Our programs are so vast! They can't choose what's necessary to study (there's not optional courses: all is core curriculum).
As you observe, our scholastic system is limited.
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I find that there is some strength in sharing information with students. You can say, "This is a procedure that students in a school in the USA use."
Did you see the web page?
Can you put posters in your room to encourage discussion by the students?
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