[quote=Rhett]Did it work? Yes. Within a few minutes, the girl got back to business. Textbook Montessori? There are plenty of books/pamphlets that explain the Montessori philosophy and how they go about doing things – probably can find some online as well.[/quote]
Oh, you’re talking about the span of minutes. I thought you’re talking about hours or days. I am aware of the Montessori philosophy and their teaching methodologies, where they let the kids work at their own pace and are there to guild them through certain materials (not forcing planned materials down their throat, even if the kids doesn’t want to do that material at that time). I thought you’re talking about hours or days, which would concern me. If the teacher let the student to just do nothing for hours or days, then there something wrong there.
I think even as adult, we don’t work at 100% all day long. So, I don’t expect kids to do so. There are time where I’m lazy and just check some email or surf the net for a little bit. I think the peer pressure (seeing all your classmates working) will get you to do so. I know it works as an adult too. I work in a lab environment and when all of your coworker are busy working all around you, you tend to want to do the same. It’s even more effective when you do extreme programming as a software engineer. Which is what these kids are doing. They pair up and teach each other. If it works for adults, I believe it works for kids as well.
