In a Montessori preschool class where children move freely with purpose and have many constructive and learning activities to choose from, the program must allow a long period of uninterrupted time.  This means that a morning session that begins at 9 o’clock is expected to continue with individualized activities for at least two hours.  Such a class session would have no school bells suddenly ringing at any interval of time to announce a change of teacher, subject, class, or of a different program of any kind.  In a Montessori school, the period of individualized work ...

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In a Montessori preschool class, where children move freely with purpose and have many constructive and learning activities to choose from, the program must allow a long period of uninterrupted time. This means that a morning session that begins at 9 o’clock is expected to continue with individualized activities for at least two hours. Such a class session would have no school bells suddenly ringing at any interval of time to announce a change of teacher or subject, or move to another class, or the interruption imposed by a different program of any kind. In a Montessori school, the period of individualized work of the children would be routinely respected and protected from unnecessary interruptions. To provide a mid-morning snack without interrupting the work period requires planning. The Montessori Guide must be able to choose between procedures that foster normalization and procedures that disrupt it. Preparing and serving a snack in a preschool Montessori environment ought to be viewed as nothing more than an event where the children have the opportunity to practice some of the activities that are based on applying the principles of Practical Life.

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