Does Montessori Prepare Students for the
Real World?
Adapted from an article by Catherine Weaver
Wilmington Montessori School (Wlimington,
DE)
Information provided
by: www.montessori.org
Every day, as part of my work at Wilmington Montessori School,
I spend time with parents who are thinking about enrolling
their child in a Montessori program As we walk through the
building, observing classrooms and admiring facilities, we
talk about the needs and interests of their child.
How will my child benefit from this?
How will the teachers work with my child?
Will her strengths be nurtured?
Will his special needs be addressed?
Parents, from the first visit, need to know how we plan to
work with their child. It is easy for parents to observe in
our school. As we visit toddler, preschool, and elementary
classrooms, parents see for themselves the hands-on interactive
style of learning. They watch children pouring sand and water
in practical life. They see them practice number and counting
skills with the golden bead material. They hear children engaged
in conversation and witness growing social skills. Parents
sense the focus and independence that are common when children
in Montessori classrooms love their work! One of the best
parts of my job is watching parents decide for themselves
that this is the educational experience they want for their
child. Inevitably though parents also want to know:
What happens after this?
Where do your children go from here?
What will happen to my child when he gets to the "real"
world?
How can she survive after the loving and nurturing environment
here?"
Even though the benefits of process-oriented, non-competitive
education and a nurturing environment are evident in the daily
Montessori experience of each child, parents still tend to
be goal oriented when it comes to their children. They need
to know that their child will be ready for "the next
step," whatever that may be.
These are important questions that I find myself trying to
answer as both a parent and an educator. My oldest daughter
is approaching the time when she will need to leave the wonderful
world of Wilmington Montessori School for the seventh grade.
Where will she go from here? Does she have the preparation
she really needs? How can schools help parents to feel comfortable
with the answers to these questions?
My first response is a personal one. I can't help but comment
on the self-confidence that I see in my daughter and a willingness
on her part to try just about anything when it comes to learning.
She is just as comfortable working out a complicated mathematical
problem as she is reciting lines from Shakespeare on stage.
I know that gentle guidance from our talented teachers, in
hands-on Montessori classrooms, is responsible for the development
of these qualities. All of my children love learning and coming
to school. And the motivation for learning is internal rather
than external. It's what they want to do! I believe that these
skills will serve my children well, whatever comes next for
them.
I also know that my children will leave Wilmington Montessori
School with certain values. They have a deep respect for the
needs and capabilities of other people and an appreciation
for diversity in all forms. They are concerned for the environment
and are becoming advocates for social justice. This might
have happened in other school environments, but I am proud
and grateful that it has happened for my children in a Montessori.
Wilmington Montessori School also has much anecdotal evidence
to support the preparation that Montessori education provides
for each child. Here are some examples from recent graduates.
Lauren McNamee, a tenth-grade student at a local independent
school writes:
"My Montessori education helped me build a good foundation
for learning. I developed strong writing skills for reports
and essays at Montessori. In mathematics, I learned basic
properties as well as skills needed for algebra, geometry,
and other high-school math courses. Montessori also helped
teach me how to interact with people in a positive and friendly
way."
Kanika Gupta, an eighth grader in public school, reports
that Montessori: "... helped me to plan and organize
my work. I learned to express my creativity on projects, posters,
and dioramas. I also feel more confident about sharing ideas
with other people. I learned so much about myself!"
And parents (past and present) are often as expressive in
their analysis of the Montessori advantage. Michele Hess,
a former WMS parent whose daughters now attend another private
school, says:
"... my girls were well prepared across the curriculum.
They are doing well in all areas of study and managing a course
load with advanced language and math. Reports from guidance
counselors mention their confidence and problem-solving skills
as real strengths. Montessori had a lot to do with developing
these skills."
Lois Kaylor, Great Books teacher at our school, has a unique
perspective. For many years she served as a reading specialist
at other schools. She notices certain trends in the preparation
of Montessori students:
"These children have a great respect for one another
and are not afraid to speak up for themselves. Their self-esteem
is as remarkable as their ability to recognize and appreciate
the strengths of their peers. These children dare to take
risks in their work in a cooperative learning environment."
Lois also cites the involvement of parents in the educational
process as an important factor in the differences she sees
in Montessori children. "In Montessori, parents are an
integral part of the educational process. Their involvement
is critical to the success of each child and the school."
There are a wide variety of options available to Montessori
children in their life choices, careers, and education. We
believe that Montessori is really an educational decision
that has an impact for life!
The answer to the question, "What's next for my child?"
is inevitably a personal one for each and every child served.
And that's just as it should be. Providing the educational
challenge and personal concern needed by each child in our
program is the pledge we make to our families and the mission
we set for ourselves.
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