Colette B. Cross
Dr. Maria Montessori said, “ A child who becomes a master of his acts through repeated exercises of grace and courtesy and who has been encouraged by the pleasant and interesting activities in which he has been engaged is a child filled with health and joy and remarkable for his calmness and discipline.”
At the core of Montessori education is the emphasis on Grace and Courtesy. Children are immersed in this Practical Life curriculum from the moment they enter the classroom. All children are treated with dignity and respect. Lessons in grace and courtesy are role modeled and presented daily. Children who practice and live by these lessons develop critical life skills and healthy societal values that enable them to recognize social cues, respond to, and interact with others appropriately. They learn to understand that they have responsibilities to others and are setting themselves up to develop a social conscience. This graciousness and courteousness paves the way for community development, teamwork, and peaceful living.
Lessons are simple, life lasting, and include, but are not limited to:
- Greeting others by name
- Saying please and thank you
- Introducing a family member or friend
- Waiting one’s turn
- Cleaning up after oneself
- Setting a table
- Listening to the words of others
- Asking to join an activity
- How to decline an invitation graciously
- Showing a younger friend how to do something
- Helping without being asked
- Respecting personal space Using words to problem solve
- Respecting belongings, self, and others
- Being responsible for the environment/taking care of pets and plants
These lessons are easy to role model and implement. Home and school can work hand in hand to develop ethical individuals who will support a graceful and courteous world.
