Are You Ready to Teach Montessori Art?
When was the last time you thought about how to present Montessori art lessons in your classroom?
Maybe you’ve tried leading an art project once, and chaos ensued, leaving a huge mess behind. Or maybe you started pulling ideas together only to get overwhelmed at how much you thought you actually had to do. Or maybe you’ve completely shied away from teaching your students art altogether because you have no idea where to start.
First of all, I want to commend you for even thinking about adding art to your Montessori lessons! It’s a big deal, and you’ve already taken the first step!
I’ve been teaching and working in visual art for almost three decades, specifically focusing on helping Montessori teachers bring art programming into their classrooms over the last 10 years or so, and I’ve developed a truly unique method for teaching students.
I dive deeper into how my art teaching method was developed and how it works in this blog post, but today, I want to share the one thing you really need—even without any prior knowledge—to bring art into your classroom.
Where to Start
Sticking with the basis of the Montessori, you want any art lesson in your classroom to allow your students to work independently and explore the joys of art on their own. That’s why you always want to make sure you’re providing your students with independent projects that engage their imaginations.
Instruction should be minimal. While you want to give material presentations and demonstrations, beyond that, students should have the freedom to explore.
It helps to have an art shelf or inspiration gallery in your classroom, as well as a space that’s been designated specifically for art projects. You can look at these as tools to help students find ways to create art even without specific lessons or guidelines.
Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography | aquarium.ucsd.edu
One Step Further
Of course, you want to add some level of structure or reason to the art projects your students create. Ideally, I’d recommend finding ways to connect the Montessori art projects you teach to the Great Lessons.
Using art as a tool to supplement other things you’re teaching—such as the The Story of the Universe—helps instill the concepts in their minds. Creating art can offer a different perspective and larger context on different subjects, such as history, science, and communication. And the more you introduce art into their world the stronger their art literacy grows, helping them become curious, courageous artists and learners.
One reason I encourage tying art back to Montessori Great Lessons is because they offer so much inspiration! They tend to excite students and spark their curiosities, imaginations, and creativity. Take a look at the books that are in your classroom—the art within those pages can lead to project ideas. Check out this blog post for more ideas on incorporating the Great Lessons into your art lessons.
A Short Cut Just for You
Early Childhood Art Guide
Visual Arts Teaching Guide
for 13 Months – 6 Years Old
This book includes:
✅ My proprietary art teaching method
✅ The proper and complete list of art materials
✅ A guide for staging and setting up a successful art environment
✅ Tips and art lesson ideas for early childhood
✅ A convenient three-ring binder presentation