Welcome back to our blog page here at Lithonia’s best private educational institution: Excellent Montessori School! With summer in full swing, many elementary schools have either closed up shop or they’re slowing things way down to allow everyone a much-needed break. But here at Excellent Montessori, we’re working year-round because even though our elementary school students are enjoying all that the summer months have to offer, we’re still as busy as ever. We’re spending our summer running our Lithonia Montessori daycare center, we’re providing great resources and online educational games for kids, and we’re gearing up for our most exciting summer event: Camp Montessori.
Because we believe that learning needs to happen year round, we’re passionate about providing these summer learning opportunities so that your child is challenged and grows, even when they’re not sitting in a classroom. To learn more about everything that our Lithonia school has to offer, to talk to us about fall enrollment, or to schedule a tour, contact us at Excellent Montessori today!
Even though we’ve seen hundreds of Montessori students excel in high school, thrive in college, and become successful adults through the Montessori Method, we’re constantly amazed at the difference between a Montessori student and a public schooler. There are some real and noticeable differences between “our kids” and those who have not had the privilege of a Montessori Education. Though we feel for these kids who have not had access to the Montessori Method, we simply cannot help but notice these differences and in today’s blog, we’re going to discuss them in detail. Continue reading to learn more about the ways that Montessori kids stand out.
How Are Montessori Students Different?
We’re not tooting our own horn when we rave about the exceptional nature of Montessori kids; we know that we have Maria Montessori and her Montessori Method, along with decades of perfecting the method to thank for the amazing, effective teaching that takes place in our Lithonia Montessori school. That being said, here are some of the biggest differences we notice in our Montessori kids.
Montessori Students Are Respectful
According to Montessori Today, “The Montessori teacher’s specific responsibility is to aid human development through awareness of the children’s needs at each stage of development.” The foundation of each and every Montessori classroom is respect. The teacher respects the students, the students respect each other, and they see their teacher as the one who will help them grow and instruct them on how to live the rest of their lives. Because all classrooms set up a basis of mutual trust, we’ve found that this lends itself to an environment of respect.
Montessori Students Are Responsible
Since our foundational ideals center around independence and taking responsibility for one’s own learning, responsibility is a huge lesson that’s taught in the undertones of everything thing that we do. Each Montessori child has a certain amount of work to be done each day, they know that this work will help them in their future learning, and they are accountable to get it done. Students are given the keys to manage their own time and choose what goals to accomplish at any given time. We’ve found that when students are given the freedom to complete their work at their own pace, they take that trust and responsibility seriously and do what they need to do.
Montessori Students Are Independent
Every parent wants independence for their child eventually. The problem is often that we’re not able to give our kids the chance to make their own choices that can teach them that independence. Helicopter parenting and extreme enabling have led to a generation of needy, lethargic children and teens who are completely dependant on their parents for anything and everything in their lives. We believe that this mentality and style of education leads to inept adults.
Instead, we feel that since independence is fostered by the right to make choices, mistakes, and decisions, it’s crucial that we allow these choices to happen. It’s only when a child is allowed some free will to make their own decisions and even mistakes that they can learn valuable, life-changing lessons.
Montessori Students Are Creative
One thing that every parent wants for their child is the ability to think creatively. Not only will innovative thinking help a child be able to grasp difficult lessons that must be learned, a creative mind will allow a child to excel in life. Maria Montessori said that everything a child does is creative and it is a creative mind that harnesses its power to solve problems and think critically. We don’t believe in educating drones who can’t think for themselves; we’re passionate about helping children think creatively and innovatively to solve problems and learn.
Thinking creatively encourages children to ask questions instead of making assumptions or accepting defeat. Thinking critically will allow children to overcome obstacles and accomplish huge feats because they have the creative mind to see them to fruition.
Montessori Students Are Organized
Montessori students are introduced to the idea of time management at an extremely early age. They’re also taught to maintain their space, as well as their classroom environment. Since taking care of what you have and maintaining it is so heavily emphasized in the Montessori Method, children learn that they must manage their surroundings and time to the best of their ability.
With the freedom to choose how they spend their time, children are able to learn how to accomplish all of their daily goals within the time allotted. With an added emphasis on the organization of their surroundings, children learn that there is a time for making a mess, and there is a time for cleaning it up. We’ve found that these organizational skills are absolutely crucial for the growth and development of children.
Montessori Students Are Collaborators
Because our classrooms emphasize reliance on each other and the working together of students, we’ve been able to set a foundation of collaboration. Montessori classrooms often have different age groups so that the older children feel a sense of leadership and have an opportunity to help the younger ones, and the younger students feel a sense of gratefulness and admiration for the former.
Montessori students work cooperatively and collaborate on a number of tasks each day. They’re able to learn from each other and gain a sense of gratefulness for the help of another strong mind when setting out to accomplish something. Montessori also emphasizes the use of working in pairs, small groups, and as a class to succeed in many endeavors.
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If you haven’t taken the time to check out Excellent Montessori, what are you waiting for? Set your child up for a lifetime of success by enrolling them in a Montessori school today! Want to learn more? Contact us with questions or to schedule a tour of our Lithonia school!