Jam session

We were downstairs in the music and movement area when a jam session broke out spontaneously.  The children had taken out instruments and started playing.  Now, this happens pretty frequently, but what was amazing about this time was that EVERYBODY was participating at the same time, and they were all playing in rhythm with each other!!!  Of course, I joined in and soon there was dancing and singing as well as playing.

This was not just a great example of community cohesiveness and cooperative play; it also demonstrated fairly advanced musical intelligence.  It is common for children of this age to simply beat on their instruments. It'snot so easy to play while listening to others, and to stay in rhythm with each other.  Could this have been the result of the rhythm activities that we have been doing in circle together?

Normalization

Typically, sometime in November, there is a shift in the rhythm of the class.  The children need less direction.  They go choose their work from the shelves without being prompted, as though it were what they have always been doing.  They put their work away when they are done.  This is what Maria Montessori called normalization.  

The choice of word comes from the fact that, when others were marveling at Montessori's results, she insisted that what they were seeing was nothing more than normal for children.  When children are appropriately engaged, they will be well-behaved, because learning is such a delight to them.

 Now,I can't say that there are never any behavioral issues, or that there are no children needing to be redirected at times, but our class does seem to have settled into its rhythm.  They are choosing their work,and putting it away, as though it is the most natural thing in the world.