Cultivating Peace in the Montessori Classroom

One of the beautiful components of a Montessori classroom is the concept of Grace and Courtesy and basic respect. Respect flows through the Montessori environment from adult to adult, adult to child, and child to child. If we learn to treat others with respect and treat them as we would like to be treated, we are laying the groundwork for a peaceful community and hopefully, a peaceful world.  

Peace education is a major component of the Montessori classroom. Adults model peaceful and respectful behaviour, and because Montessori classrooms are composed of mixed age groups, older students serve as role models for younger children. 

When observing a Montessori classroom, harmony, and peace within is evident because it is modeled and lived. 

This month we have been talking about the virtue of peacefulness. During our circle time class discussion earlier this month this is what the children in the Casa 2 classroom discussed: 

“What does peacefulness mean to you?” 

“It means quiet.” 

“It means relax.” 

“It also means that you need to calm down your body.” 

“I usually take a nap and when I wake up, I feel better.” 

“When we lie down with our breathing buddies.” 

Then I asked, “What is a breathing buddy”? 

“It’s a stuffy I lie down with.” 

We continued the conversation and concluded that breathing buddies are used in Yoga Club. We discussed the benefits of yoga and how that helps us maintain peacefulness within ourselves, breathing makes you feel relaxed, and able to feel peace. 

The children who participate in Yoga Club proceeded to show us the yoga poses they practice in Yoga Club and showed the others what they are learning.  

We learned what our bodies look like when practicing peacefulness. Some poses the children showed us were: 

-Sitting in a cross-legged position 

-Savasana 

-Turtle pose