Setting and Maintaining Limits in the Montessori Classroom

Chip DeLorenzo joins the podcast to discuss setting and maintaining limits in the Montessori classroom. First Chip distinguishes between setting and maintaining limits, and then share guiding principles for these practices. Chip also describes some roadblocks that teachers encounter when attempting to maintain limits with children, and most importantly, a few effective and respectful tools that help encourage and develop cooperation and follow-through.

One tool that Chip discusses in depth is "the power of silence." So many times, teachers overexplain when maintaining limits. Instead, Chip recommends giving nonverbal prompts (or at least limiting our words) and then stepping back, remaining present, warm, and silent. Chip delves into how and why this technique works so well, and what to do when it doesn't.