Erdkinder Montessori – introduction
When I first began reading publications on Erdkinder Montessori philosophy and programs, I realized that I was actually raised this way. My parents moved to the country when I was 6 and thanks to that move, they managed to send two hard working daughters – to the University. This came after 12 years of living in a country during the difficult time of communism.
While living in the country, I learned how to care for all animals on our farm and others in the surrounding areas, how to plant and keep a garden, how to complete and manage work orders and how to deal and cooperate with financial institutions and authorities. I also realized how our economic levels depend on climate conditions and weather in general. By watching and helping my parents
with farming, I learned how order and exactness and being on time with everyday obligations is most important for one to achieve harmony in life. There were no trends for ecology at that time, but our family lived using many types of natural, sustainable practices, making repairs rather than throwing valuables away, growing and preserving our own vegetables and meat. My parents sent me to the University (I have chosen to study Law) ready for life as an adult.
Erdkinder, to me, is definitely the answer to adolescence.
I am absolutely fascinated by the philosophy and would like to implement it into our Casa dei Bambini Warsaw Montessori School and Montessori Toddler School Organization. Believing in the Montessori philosophy, I have decided to open Warsaw Montessori Middle School. The program will start this coming September and therefore my school will need a head that is well trained. I have
recently attended NAMTA’s Adolescent Event at the AMI/USA Refresher Course. I was so much inspired by all the lovely speakers, especially by Ms. Jenny Hoglund. I was so happy to learn that she will be hosting the Orientation to Adolescent studies over the summer.
Sweden is definitely more accessible for many Poles (we are neighbors via the Baltic Sea) than Ohio.
We have a lovely, old building that is being renovated for our Montessori adolescent program with its beautiful activity rooms for wood shop, a kitchen and animal sheds. We have more than 10 eligible students who are ready to make the move to middle school. We have secured teachers who are specialists and are keen on starting the early adolescent program with us for the next school year.
Our middle school will be an urban style program with the links and elements of community farming in Warsaw.
As an orientation to micro-economy studies, our 11 and 12 year-old students from our elementary program have already started to run “Fast & Healthy” their small business and have made and sold almost 80 homemade, organic juices and warm
soups during our annual Spring Picnic. This real and mindful activity is not only keeping them learning, but it is also making them responsible for the budget for our Adolescent Library that they are working to complete by fall. They are earning
the money that they will spend on books at the International Book Fair in Warsaw this spring.
We are all so exited to start our work together soon in our new Warsaw Montessori Middle School building.
Malgosia Tarnowska
