Walking the Red Rods

Following taking these pictures, I took a moment to reflect on this Montessori tradition of “Walking the Red Rods.” I couldn’t help but think of the countless Montessori students through the years that have shared the enjoyment of this activity by first assembling the rods in the correct order then walking the “path” between them from the outside to the inside and back. Secondly, as I looked at the younger students taking part in the activity, I was sure I had never given them a lesson on how to lay out the rods from longest to shortest on the rug. Through another unique aspect of a Montessori classroom, these younger children were taught how to do this activity from the older students in our school, right down to removing their shoes, embracing the Montessori philosophy how younger students learn from the older. And, yes, after snapping the photos, I, too, took off my shoes and joined our students in “Walking the Red Rods!”