Finding Ground

Résumé du livre

The word 'education' comes from two Latin roots. The Latin word educare means "to train; to mold" and the Latin word educere means "to draw out; to lead out." Is education the act of transferring knowledge to fill up an empty vessel, or the act of creating the conditions in which learners can construct their own knowledge? Montessori elementary education, the focus of this book, is more aligned with the second. Anyone who works with elementary age children knows it takes a fine balance of leading, modeling, guiding, and setting limits to support learning and development. Education is both a science and an art, requiring scientific knowledge to undergird the educator's practice, as well as the art of knowing each individual child to ensure their needs are being met. For educators who are newer to their practice, finding the balance between the science and the art can feel out of reach. The focus of this book is on practical implementation in Montessori elementary classrooms. The title is "Finding Ground," because the aim is to help elementary educators and caregivers find their "ground to walk on," or in other words, to feel confident to create Montessori learning environments and experiences. Throughout this book, we interject illustrative stories of elementary educators and classrooms, with real anecdotal details. To begin, here is a story of an elementary educator who had a moment of finding ground.