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For a long time I have felt frustrated about how much it costs to be a Montessori teacher. Some of us are very lucky and have schools that cover our costs, while others of us bear much of the expense of teaching. I think that is the real reason that I have this blog and do what I do.
There is a principle involved here that I have never been able to think or learn away. It is this... Maria began her work with the poorest in her country. These children had not had much experience with beauty, grace, or loveliness in their lives. They were poised to become a miracle in the eyes of the world BECAUSE of what they had lacked. So many of us teach the children of well-to-do families, and we love what we do, but it is, in my experience, the children of those who struggle financially that dive into the works with abandon, who really have an inner appreciation and love for the beauty on our shelves and in our environments.
The reason for bringing it up at all is that I love what I do and want to serve children globally, if possible. If it is my goal to lift up and free the potential of the disadvantaged child, I need a better way to do it. If one has to outlay so much money just to get the printed materials downloaded, before printing costs, what are they not able to provide in the classroom. This is an ethical question for me and prompts me to action since I have it within my power to change this situation.
My blog doesn't have a huge following, but I get emails and comments every week, at least, telling me how much it means to someone in a developing country, or a small school or homeschool on a tight budget to have access to these files for free. I am sure some Montessori minds out there dislike that there is not a tighter control on what people have access to, and may frown on my blog. I would simply ask if they really feel they are watching out for the needs and interests of the children of our planet.
--I actually have a reason for this post besides getting my thoughts down. I can not find a nice and free Parts of the World Coloring Sheet. I was sitting through my Geography part of the course this summer, saw what we were given to use as our masters and knew that I could make one in just about 1 hour that I would love to have in my geography area. The other master would have, and has worked for others, just fine, but I really like clean lines. The new one I have made is beautiful to me. I believe it will be enticing to the children.
This coloring sheet is done after the children have had work with the Parts of the World Puzzle Map for a while. This one is unlabeled so it can be used for oceans as well as continents.
There is a principle involved here that I have never been able to think or learn away. It is this... Maria began her work with the poorest in her country. These children had not had much experience with beauty, grace, or loveliness in their lives. They were poised to become a miracle in the eyes of the world BECAUSE of what they had lacked. So many of us teach the children of well-to-do families, and we love what we do, but it is, in my experience, the children of those who struggle financially that dive into the works with abandon, who really have an inner appreciation and love for the beauty on our shelves and in our environments.
The reason for bringing it up at all is that I love what I do and want to serve children globally, if possible. If it is my goal to lift up and free the potential of the disadvantaged child, I need a better way to do it. If one has to outlay so much money just to get the printed materials downloaded, before printing costs, what are they not able to provide in the classroom. This is an ethical question for me and prompts me to action since I have it within my power to change this situation.
My blog doesn't have a huge following, but I get emails and comments every week, at least, telling me how much it means to someone in a developing country, or a small school or homeschool on a tight budget to have access to these files for free. I am sure some Montessori minds out there dislike that there is not a tighter control on what people have access to, and may frown on my blog. I would simply ask if they really feel they are watching out for the needs and interests of the children of our planet.
--I actually have a reason for this post besides getting my thoughts down. I can not find a nice and free Parts of the World Coloring Sheet. I was sitting through my Geography part of the course this summer, saw what we were given to use as our masters and knew that I could make one in just about 1 hour that I would love to have in my geography area. The other master would have, and has worked for others, just fine, but I really like clean lines. The new one I have made is beautiful to me. I believe it will be enticing to the children.
This coloring sheet is done after the children have had work with the Parts of the World Puzzle Map for a while. This one is unlabeled so it can be used for oceans as well as continents.
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| Parts of the World Coloring Sheet click on picture to link to file |
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