Perhaps you’ve heard the term Montessori school floating around in your circle of friends. Maybe you’ve even discovered that there’s a Montessori in Walnut, but you don’t really know how it’s different from the mainstream public school system. The main difference between the two is that there are no grade levels and students are not graded on content subjects, but guided through discovery learning in a group of mixed ages and knowledge. This approach hopes to give students opportunities for organic learning through natural curiosity and interest while engendering social interaction across the different ages and knowledge bases of the children in the group. It is a very holistic approach to learning that was developed by Maria Montessori who as an Italian doctor and dedicated proponent of children’s education. She was very keen on giving children the best possible education, which included taking care of a child’s inherent emotional, intellectual, and creative needs. The typical classroom of a Montessori in Walnut will have youth learning by listening to stories, exploring their surroundings, viewing charts and timelines and having easy access to plenty of materials to encourage creativity. The classrooms are beautiful and simple. Children in the classes are mostly autonomous with a teacher trained in the method guiding instructional groups and discussions. Students are expected to pick up on how to engage socially with other children and adults. They learn to be self-starters, responsible citizens, respectful toward others, caring peers, and passionate about life. Essentially, students in Montessori schools are learning according to the theory that each person has a wide variety of abilities and learning styles that they can strengthen and share with other learners. By fostering intelligence and growth through these methods, children should naturally grow to be competent, inquisitive about the world around them, confident in their own abilities, and well rounded.
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