I have been trying very hard to launch this new website / blog for over a year now. Let's start with a brief introduction:
My Job:
I've been teaching elementary school students in 3 countries since 1996 and I LOVE WORKING with children. Some of my beliefs about education are that:
Education is is a partnership between the child and ALL the adults that care for that child. Education works best when all stakeholders are in harmony.
Elementary school is a place for children to make friends, forge relationships, learn what they're GOOD AT, fail early, fail often, and gain confidence in the skills and unique traits that they bring to their life journey.
Rules and boundaries help us maintain a safe and happy work environment.
Montessori is a pedagogy that has been around since 1907 and there's a reason that there are Montessori schools all over the world, on all 6 inhabited continents, and the method has not changed much since that time.
Montessori is about helping children help themselves to learn, making a choice, developing independence, learning in a diverse muli-age environment, using some of the best manipulatives and materials ever invented. Montessori is Education for Life, not just for School.
Work is something freely chosen and useful to help the child develop into their full human capacity.
My Origin Story:
I was born in New York City in 1974. Raised Jewish at a private school where all my teachers were excellent teachers, I was inspired at a young age to become a teacher myself. I've known since about the second grade that I wanted to be a teacher, a writer, a father, and .... Batman. While those goals have evolved over time, not much has completely changed for me since the 70's. I still read comics, play video games, play chess, play sports, and invent imaginary characters. Now, I'm just trying to find a way to get paid for it. I lived for 20 years in NYC, 2 years in Japan, 2 years in Taiwan, and the rest, mostly in Minnesota. I speak 4 languages and enjoy helping young people (mostly ages 5 - 12) becoming the best version of themselves that they can be.
Why I teach Montessori:
I taught for over 2 decades before I learned that Montessori education existed. I'm trained in the method for ages 3-6, and will complete my training for 6-12 year olds by June of 2025. I chose Montessori after searching for MANY years for a method that is child centered, where children can develop independence and self-sufficiency.
Some facts about Montessori:
Montessori schools all over the world, on all 6 inhabited continents, and the method has not changed much since that time.
There are at least 3 Public Montessori Schools in the Saint Paul Public Schools and many free public and charter options throughout the Twin Cities and Minnesota. For more information on schools, please check out https://www.mnmn.org/.
Montessori is about helping children help themselves to learn, making a choice, developing independence, learning in a diverse muli-age environment, using some of the best manipulatives and materials ever invented. Montessori is Education for Life, not just for School.
Work is something freely chosen and useful to help the child develop into their full human capacity.
What you will find here at PeterAvirom.com aka The Axolotl House:
Weekly Newsletters
Photos of student work
Blog posts about Montessori and Education in general.
And more!
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