Today, Wyatt Tolles from Education of the Cosmic Kind is out guest in this series.

Wyatt opens up about the essentials that bring life and learning into his Montessori classroom. He shares about comforting things that instill a sense of community and responsibility among the students, and names immersive science and language materials that encourage exploration. Wyatt highlights the importance of music for creating an engaging atmosphere and the unique touch of incorporating his personal hobbies into his classroom activities, fostering a sense of tradition and find memories.

I like that the things he shares also tell us about his personal journey as an educator.

Wyatt is an elementary teacher and it is pretty interesting to see similarities and differences with the choices of primary guides.

He works at Acorn Montessori School. As a Montessori guide, he has spent three years in a Primary classroom and now in his ninth year of Elementary. The school is located in Lebanon, New Jersey, USA. It is a nonprofit, private school celebrating its 40th anniversary. They enroll students from toddlers through 12 years old and are opening an Adolescent Program next fall.

1. Class pet

Our current class pet, Go, is a bearded dragon that my classroom has been caring for since 2022. She is a sweet, loving animal that is cared for entirely by the children (and the obvious love of the adults). She is our first stop of the “Welcome Committee” to help children feel more at ease. Over the years, my classes have had a rabbit, three different turtles, guinea pigs, and fish. I believe that class pets are a necessity in the classroom for practical life skills, development of independence, but most importantly the love and community they bring to the children’s lives.

2. Chest of drawers with objects

While this material no longer is a part of my classroom, it is still used in the Lower Elementary classroom where I first used it. This is a chest of drawers with objects to be used with the Moveable Alphabet.

I first began making this material when I was completing my EC credential. It brought me great joy to know I could still use it in the Elementary level! Whenever I see the materials, it reminds me of my earliest works and all that has come in between.

3. Atom Builder materials

When I began in a Montessori classroom, I also taught an afterschool Science Club. As an EC guide, I was not ready for the depth and quantity of questions children would have – particularly in chemistry. This led me down pathways and rabbit holes that I hadn’t visited since college Chemistry. I eventually created this felt Atom Builder materials and a 6-9 Chemistry curriculum to offer materials to help the children learn these concepts.

4. Sentence Analysis materials

A true blue Montessori material that I don’t think I could teach without. In my first years, I saw this as a tool to analyze sentence structure. Over time, I realized how beneficial it can be to help children write. It allows children to understand complete and incomplete sentences. The chart allows children to add details and ideas they may not have previously considered. I absolutely love the multiplicity of the Sentence Analysis materials.

5. JBL speaker

My classroom JBL speaker is only about a year old. I chose this to represent my love of music and using it in the classroom. I play music regularly in the classroom ranging from US Country music, classical, lo-fi, and modern pop.

While I love that I can introduce music I grew up listening to, I especially love hearing the suggestions that students make to add to our classroom playlists. It also provides a great “sound barrier” to help children realize if the chatter of the class is too loud!

6. Wooden arrow

The wooden arrow hangs in our classroom as a “scorecard” for our Archery classes that year. I first started teaching archery working with a Montessori school’s summer camp. I wanted to bring this to my school and classroom when I joined Elementary. The wooden arrow was a tradition started by the long-term counselor. Seeing it in the classroom brings back many fond memories.

7. Volumetric Geometric Solids

The Volumetric Geometric Solids are fantastic materials to teach the concepts of surface area and volume. As a math fanatic, I love the concrete way to demonstrate such complex areas. It also allows children to derive the formulas and develop a deeper understanding and love for geometry.

8. Betrayal at House on the Hill board game

It is an all-time favorite board game of mine! It dawned me one day that the natural storytelling element of the game would be so much fun to incorporate into the writing curriculum. My Upper Elementary children absolutely loved the game. They took painstaking details about each turn – room locations, items, characters nearby – and eventually crafted gorgeous narratives about the game. It’s still a fan favorite to this day!

Wyatt has AMS credentiales in EC and ELI-II (3-12) and is currently enrolled at Sarasota University in their Master’s Degree in Montessori Leadership program. He is also a TEP course instructor for ELI and ELII at West Side Montessori School TEP.

Check out Wyatt’s Blog.

2 thoughts on “8 Things Wyatt Tolles Can’t Live Without in His Montessori Classroom”

Theresa Robinson says:

April 21, 2024 at 6:06 pm

I love that you are sharing your personal journey through the Montessori curriculum.

Peggy Krug says:

April 21, 2024 at 6:41 pm

This was great! I enjoyed reading about the diverse ideas. It will make me look deeper into sentence analysis work! Thank you for sharing your ideas, my thought process about the classroom and needed items has been expanded.