Spotlight The Education of Ours

Spotlights

Jessie Beerman is the mind behind The Education of Ours, a blog full of interesting ideas and reflections from a Montessori Parent and Classroom Guide. We’ve enjoyed following her on her blog, and getting to know a bit more about her in this interview. We think you will, too.

Q: Can you tell us a little bit about yourself? Your background, your interests, your dreams?

I grew up in a small town and went to a small teaching college where I met my husband. I knew I wanted to be a teacher young (2nd grade), and built my life on this profession. After undergraduate studies, I started my Montessori training while working at a brand new Montessori School in Massachusetts. Within weeks of graduation with my Masters Degree for Early Childhood Education, I became a Mother. Within two years, we had three daughters who filled our lives with joy. When the oldest was ready for preschool, I went back to Montessori with her. This is my 12th year with Montessori.

I find myself lost in books, I always want to go to the beach, and create crazy art projects with my daughters. I have so many dreams and plans: to travel, to watch my children grow, to teach at the undergraduate level, to become a student once more, to teach until I’m too old to sit on the floor.

Q: Now that the hardest question is out of the way: What’s your favorite color?
Purple! There’s no ugly shade of purple in my eyes… lilac, lavender, violet, amethyst, iris, aubergine; It’s all lovely. We actually named one of our daughters Iris.

Q: Do you have a favorite book? How about a film?
My favorite book is “Let My Children Work” by John Blessington. It’s a Montessori book, but it spoke to me in a very positive way regarding freedom and choice within the classroom. I really enjoy slapstick comedy, there are too many to chose just one!

Q: When you close your eyes late at night, and imagine waking up and starting a new adventure: what is that adventure?
Each day is a new adventure. With three children of our own, and a booming classroom full of learners, each day is a mini-adventure. No day is ever the same, so I imagine newness as my adventure. It’s pretty exciting!

Q: What first appealed to you about Montessori?
Initially, it was about getting away from standardized testing. I never wanted to be the type of person to teach to a test, or because of a test, or be tested myself. I wished to help children perform by proving what they know through purposeful activity, and came across Montessori.

Q: What advice do you have for new Montessori adults?
Observe. Observe. Observe. Visit several schools, all have their own flavor of the method. Read any books you can find about Montessori, they are all great. If the will to teach should catch you, be sure to find a MACTE, AMI or AMS accredited training program near you.

Q: Did you have a “Montessori Moment?”
My first moment that took my breath away was the first time I realized my very first class was normalized. I felt so accomplished, but it really was a team effort by all teachers and students. Montessori classrooms are a community, and when the community is functioning at its full potential, it’s normalized.

Q: What’s your favorite Montessori quote?
“If salvation and help are to come, it is through the child; for the child is the constructor of man.”
― Maria Montessori, The Absorbent Mind
This one makes me pause every time I hear it. The world is a harsh place right now, but I’m comforted by knowing I’m teaching peace 20 children at a time.

Q: What inspired you to share your Montessori story on your blog?
I saw that there’s a lot of Montessori-Inspired ideas on the internet. Felt like there should be more presence online from credentialed teachers, to give a more clear view of what the method really consists of. Plus, my own children are Montessorians and what a fun thing to share!

Q: What advice do you have for new parents trying to incorporate Montessori at home?
I wrote my thesis on this exact subject, but it can be simplified by pondering these things:
how can I make my child an independent member of this family?
how can we prepare the child’s environment for daily use? stools for helping, low shelves for toys, low bed for independent nights, etc.
make time for down time. reading, playing, walking, napping, exploring outdoors

Q: What do you think is the best introduction to Montessori?
Two things, as close together as possible: Read The Absorbent Mind. Visit an AMI or AMS Montessori School, and observe for at least 90 minutes.

Q: What continues to inspire you about Montessori?
I feel so grateful to guide students at their own level, within their own needs, in their own environment. Ideas on educational level such as ‘ahead’ or ‘behind’ don’t ever cross my mind. I focus on the child for whothey are, and what potential they may reach in their 3 years with me. Something about the individual being celebrated with this method makes it feel like home for me as a teacher.

Q: In what ways do you envision the future of education?
My hope is that schools will learn to focus on the skills that students need, instead of data collected abstractly. Perseverance, grit, collaboration, concentration, kindness, resourcefulness, natural interest. Without those, our scores and measurements get us nowhere. I know we all wish that children leave their early schooling years with skills for lifelong learning, so it’s time to have discussions across all pedagogies to make it happen.

“Perseverance, grit, collaboration, concentration, kindness, resourcefulness, natural interest. Without those, our scores and measurements get us nowhere.”

Q: Where do you see Montessori in the next 100 years?
I imagine that all traditional education systems will begin to borrow Montessori’s core concepts, just as mixed-age groups, choice, intrinsic motivation, and peace education. As the pendulum of high-stakes testing swings back towards playing, exploring, and other tokens of a healthy childhood, Montessori will be a term used in all types of schools. I know right now, many free public and charter schools are using Montessori. I hope in a 100 years, students have access to these schools from all walks of life. It seems that every new study that comes out is in favor of our philosophy, so parents are seeking Montessori for their children more than ever.