Concentration and Normalization from Montessori at Home!

The terms “concentration” and “normalization” are essential in Montessori education. But “normalization,” especially, can sound more confusing than it is. John Bowman gives a simple, clear explanation of both terms in his Montessori at Home! eBook.

John Bowman’s Montessori at Home eBook (available exclusively as part of the Montessori at Home eBook and Materials Bundle in the Living Montessori Now shop) is filled with amazing ideas for families. John Bowman has gives a clear explanation of Montessori principles for families in the beginning of the book.

Here’s an excerpt from John’s book with some of his introductory advice. (Note: Because my blog dimensions are different, the layout won’t be the same as in the Montessori at Home eBook.)

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

“The first essential for the child’s development is concentration.”

Photos: Counting Coconuts

At left above is a very nice Montessori Practical Life (page 111) material. It is self-contained on its own tray and includes a work mat, clean up sponge, and everything else a child needs to squeeze juice. Materials like this attract children by their design and the promise of new, fun things to do. Mastering the activity requires concentration, seen in the photo of the child at right. Concentration is the key to learning.

Using a cylinder block at Discovery Days and Montessori Moments

When Montessori gave children the materials she designed for them, she made a major discovery. Two year olds used the materials with extended concentration. This focused attention was previously considered impossible for a young child. Montessori realized that when given materials and experiences that feed their need to develop their brains and bodies, young children are capable of great attention and concentration. Blog post on Concentration & Normalization.

As she watched children develop their powers of concentration, Montessori made another major observation. These children gradually became calmer, happier, and more confident. Whatever behavior issues they may have had started to recede as calmer, more secure children emerged. As children worked in the Prepared Environment, using materials and learning how to interact with and respect each other, Montessori saw them developing certain characteristics. These included:

Concentration         Love of work          Sociability          Self-discipline

Montessori believed that young children who have opportunities to develop these characteristics will, as adults, more easily find their natural areas of work and interest. Montessori called this transformation in the children Normalization.

The ability to concentrate allows a child to learn anything more easily. This is one reason children in Montessori schools often learn to read, write, use numbers, and understand science concepts before they enter kindergarten or elementary school.

Photo: Spice Grinding at Tot School

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Excerpt used with permission of John Bowman.

The book continues with ideas for using Montessori principles at home before sharing activities in each of the Montessori curriculum areas plus 76 pages of printables.

The Montessori at Home! eBook and Materials Bundle Available Exclusively on Living Montessori Now!

You can get a free download of 51 sample pages from Montessori at Home eBook by clicking here! (This includes information on John’s simplified Montessori reading sequence.)

Here’s the direct link to the purchase page for the Montessori at Home! Materials Bundle,which includes the Montessori at Home eBook AND over $60 worth of Montessori Print Shop materials to go with the book (now only $14.95)!

Excerpts and Activities from the Montessori at Home eBook

you can read all the excerpts from the book that I’ve shared here at Living Montessori Now:

Activities with Marbles and Golf Tees from Montessori at Home!

Building a Flashlight and Pipe Building from Montessori at Home!

1000-10,000 Activity from Montessori at Home!

Make Fossils from Montessori at Home! Cutting with a Knife from Montessori at Home!

Free Play Tubs (Sensory Bins) from Montessori at Home!

Create an Attractive Home Environment from Montessori at Home!

 Concentration and Normalization from Montessori at Home

How to Prepare a Montessori Jar for Meaningful Preschool Activities at Home (an activity prepared using one of the book’s printables)

Allow Time for Repetition and Concentration from Montessori at Home!

Activities Using Some of the Montessori Print Shop Materials from the Montessori at Home eBook and Materials Bundle

Here are activities I published using just 4 of the 21 Montessori Print Shop materials from the Montessori at Home eBook and Materials Bundle:

Montessori-Inspired Phases of the Moon Playdough Tray

Easy-to-Prepare Montessori Animals of the Continents Activity

Extending Montessori Animals of the Continents Work

Hands-on Fun with Montessori-Inspired Human Skeleton Activities

Seashell Color Matching {Easy-to-Prepare Variation of Montessori Color Box 3}

Again, John Bowman’s Montessori at Home eBook is available exclusively as part of the Montessori at Home eBook and Materials Bundle in the Living Montessori Now shop!

Learn more about my eBook Montessori at Home or School: How to. Teach Grace and Courtesy!

If this is your first time visiting Living Montessori Now, welcome! If you haven’t already, please join us on our Living Montessori Now Facebook page where you’ll find a Free Printable of the Day and lots of inspiration and ideas for parenting and teaching! And please follow me on Pinterest (lots of Montessori-, holiday-, and theme-related boards), Instagram, and YouTube. You can find me on bloglovin’ and Twitter, too.

And don’t forget one of the best ways to follow me by signing up for my weekly newsletter. You’ll receive some awesome freebies in the process!