"Big Work" in the Montessori classroom.

I love reading research related to Montessori.  I either learn something new or my mind goes off in interesting and unique directions- especially when there is a fantastic title involved.

Jacqueline M. Cossentino wrote "Big Work:  Goodness, Vocation, and Engagement in the Montessori Method" Copyright 2006 The Ontario Instutue for Studies in Education of the University of Toronto.  Curriculum Inquiry 36:1  (forgive me- full citation is not on printed copy.)

This is a great narrative piece where a formal educator, researcher and the parent of a young child attending a Montessori school examines the concept of "work" in a Montessori classroom as opposed to the traditional concept of "play" for young children.  It takes the alien concept of "work" at the preschool level and explains both it's beauty and value.  "Work and play are framed as either/or endeavors.  Work is associated not with 'desire' but with 'productivity' and 'employments.' Play, by contrast, is 'the purest, most spirtual activity of man at this stage (childhood.)' (Froebel, 1892)"  {all uncited quotes are direct from the article}  This is attitude toward play is still very common of parents today.  Children should PLAY...

Maria Montessori felt  that the work of the child is to develop into an adult.  This work is done through freely chosen activities involving real and meaningful tasks that allows for deep concentration on the part of the child.

Cossentino wanted to know what "work" means in the context of the Montessori classroom.  Through the process of observation she recorded instances of dialogue where "work" was referred to.  This included-

the beginning of the "work cycle"
parent visits for "cooking work"
trays of "work" for the children to use
sensorial "work", math ""work, geography "work"
"work"space, "work" rugs, the symbolic unrolling of rugs to signal the beginning of "work."
reminders to "find work now" or a gentle question, "are you choosing challenging work?"
Older children may remind younger ones, "someone may step on your work there."


"Work" is what is done in the Montessori classroom, and there are rituals to respect and not interrupt a child's work.  As two elementary students clarified for Cossentino, "Play is when you get hot and tired outside; work is when you don't get tired," and "When you play, you get rid of energy.  When you work, you keep your energy."


What a beautiful way to explain to parents why a child might not want a "Play-based" preschool...