“When dealing with children there is a greater need for observing than of probing.”

                                           Maria Montessori

Most people know that Montessori philosophy is based on hands-on learning experiences. Many of the lessons are manipulative materials without the use of paper and pencil. Dr. Montessori believed children learned by actively working with lessons that teach a specific concept or skill.
First year students hardly ever choose lessons that involve writing. But they are still fine tuning their hand-eye coordination and development, through work such as stringing, lacing, hole punching and cutting. It is the process not the product that matters. Parents should not be surprised when new students don’t take home lots of papers. Extensions of the lessons can be reproductions of the work such as booklets for the parts of the apple puzzle, typically completed by second- and third-year students.