At Neshaminy Montessori, we follow the child. Dr. Montessori said it best. “Work chosen by the children, and carried out without interference, has its own laws. It has a beginning and ending like a day, and it must be allowed to come full circle.” (Maria Montessori: Her Life and Work ) One of the best gifts we can give our children is the opportunity to fully develop their concentration and independence, free from unnecessary adult interruptions. A successful, complete work cycle is one of the best ways to accomplish this.
What is a Work Cycle?
A Montessori work cycle is an uninterrupted block of instructional time. During this time children are able to explore the prepared environment and engage with materials of their own choosing. The time is meant to give them opportunities to enjoy the work they love, be introduced to new curriculum areas, and spend time developing their academic skills at their own pacing.
While it looks slightly different at different grade levels, there is always some combination of students working independently while teachers give individual or small group lessons. Children move around the classroom selecting work of their choosing. They may work on a table or the floor, with a special rug laid out beneath them. After selecting a work from the shelves, they bring it carefully to the workspace of their choosing, and use the material as they have previously been taught. Children know they are responsible for putting the materials back neatly and selecting their next work independently. While there is a great emphasis on choice and self-directed learning, your child’s teacher creates individualized lesson plans to ensure your child meets their academic goals throughout the day. The work cycle gives children a chance to develop new skills, make choices, and be a pioneer of their learning process. When children are not told what to do, and when, they learn how to prioritize, become independent thinkers, and responsible citizens.
Freedom Within Limits
A misconception of the work cycle is that the children can do whatever they want. This is furthest from the truth. Freedom within limits is an empowering concept. It embraces the notion of the child as an explorer who is capable of learning and doing for themselves. Montessori encourages freedom within limits through the design of the prepared environment and ground rules. In order to have a successful work cycle, our students are taught they must respect themselves, others, and their environment.
Respect for oneself- Children are free to choose their activities, provided that they have been shown a presentation of the activity, and know how to use the materials respectfully to avoid self-harm.
Respect of others- Children can choose to work independently or in small groups; however, they must be invited to work with another child, and must not interfere with another child’s work.
Respect the environment- Respect for the environment relates to the proper care for everything within the Montessori classroom. This includes the proper use of the Montessori materials, packing away, and taking care of all things living and non-living within the environment.
Benefits of the Work Cycle
It promotes independent learning.
It lets children pursue the activities and topics that they’re most interested in.
It gives children practice setting up an activity and cleaning it up, which encourages an organized mind.
It lets children learn at their own pace.
It gives children practice with prolonged focused attention.
Neshaminy Montessori students are independent and life long learners. The work cycle is essential in creating a self- driven love of learning.
