(FOR YOUR INFORMATION ONLY) Montessori Greeting Cards and Large Prints: A New Way of Teaching Public about the Montessori Philosophy. It was only a suggestion, but one that started me thinking how I might provide a service to the Montessori community? One day during lunch with my coworkers I was discussing ways to use my talents in photography in combination with my profession as a Montessori teacher. One co-worker suggested photographic greeting cards might be something to consider and almost immediately I envisioned Montessori Greeting Cards. It is a wonder that no one else had thought of this. Like many other Montessori educators, I stumbled across the Montessori Philosophy while looking for a preschool for my son who was just 3 years old at the time. I wanted a system of education that did not encourage competition and comparison among children and one that valued each child for their individuality and unique qualities regardless of their peers. It was during a story time at a public library that I first learned about the Montessori from another Mom. While observing a classroom in my local Montessori preschool, I was astounded by all the materials that were available for children. I immediately enrolled my son in the program and began working and training at the same school myself. I was amazed by the Montessori Philosophy and how everything just “made sense.” Since then I have been very involved in the Montessori Education and my son remains a Montessori student as he moves on to the Upper Elementary at
When I began working as a teacher, I soon realized how misinformed many of my student’s parents are when it comes to the Montessori Philosophy. This was reinforced while I was attending a national conference. In conversation with a preschool teacher from a traditional school she said, “I just recently have become interested in the Montessori Philosophy. I was told in a Montessori school they make children sit in their own booths and make them concentrate on what they are doing. They cannot talk to other children around them and have to learn to discipline themselves that way. Recently I have heard otherwise and I would like to know more about this way of education.” That was when I realized that Montessori Greeting Cards were something I truly needed to pursue. Something that would allow others to understand the wonderful benefits a Montessori education offers. Using images of children, Montessori Materials, and Dr. Montessori’s quotes I began designing greeting cards and large prints. These items provide me a means to convey to others how Dr. Montessori’s teaching is used on a daily basis in our classrooms. Rather than pose or stage the children, I take my camera with me once or twice a month and simply wait for the moments to happen. When the children are in their work cycle the camera quietly comes out of hiding. The children have grown used to me moving around them taking pictures and usually they are so involved that they are oblivious to my presence. Rarely do I need to ask them to move to get the right lighting, but if I do they usually get up and move without a word. Parents of current and prospective students will come to observe our classroom during the school year. I always wonder if they see even a small part of all the amazing learning that happens each day during such limited time. Visitors in general have two kinds of impressions. They first often say, “The classroom was in disarray. Children were moving all the time from here to there speaking to each other. Some children were too serious and did not appear happy in what they were doing.” The other group believes the classroom is too structured. “There were too many rules for the children to follow all the time. There were not enough materials so they had to wait until they could get a turn. They were limited to the small space provided by rugs they had to use. Is it not limiting the child?” And they all agree that “The teachers were just standing, and looking or sitting down with one or two children. That was all they did!” That is when I am happy using images of children accompanied with a quote of Dr. Montessori next to better explain the Montessori’s Philosophy and what it is really about. For example we know the meaning behind the concentrating faces observers see as “serious” are in reality moments when a child is immensely happy! In the materials I make available for the children in the classroom; I have a special concern about the peace education and cultural diversity. We start the school year with a whole unit about “The Children around the World” and continue the concept through out the school year. I even have a card category entitled “Peace Cards.” I believe the future of the peace is in the hands of our children and what they are being thought by us, the teachers. As Dr. Montessori says, “Establishing lasting peace is the work of education.” While I may not have a diverse community in my own classroom, my goal is that the children learn and cherish the beauties that different cultures offer. Today, I begin a new journey teaching the public the astonishing aspects of Montessori philosophy through the images taken directly of my classroom, a carefully prepared environment as we call it; Images of real Montessori students working and learning in that prepared environment. In an era where pictures are all around us, combining professional quality images taken in a Montessori Prepared Environment with Dr. Montessori’s Quotes are a wonderful way to convey what we have known for some time and would like others to know. We are not simply another system of education, but one that truly prepares children for the life ahead of them. Frida Azari Montessori Educator Freelance Photographer Valley