Along with the wonderful Montessori teaching philosophy and my own children's ability to learn at their own pace, I can honestly say that another aspect of their Montessori schooling experience that my husband and I value has been the opportunity to learn how to build/maintain and respect relationships among their peers and friends as well as their teachers. It is very important for children to learn how to get along, work out conflict, respect others and see others strengths as they move through life and function in classrooms, on teams, and eventually jobs.
One of the aspects of owning my own school that is a huge part of my passion is building community within in the classroom and students. Because Maria Montessori saw each child as a unique, special child with their own interests, strengths, and personalities, it allowed her to get to know each child as an individual. Not only does the Montessori philosophy allow children to learn at their pace and develop in accordance to their Sensitive Periods, but it also allows the teachers to see the children as individuals. When schools attempt to teach the same thing to a large group of children there can often times be many missed opportunities. In our classroom, we observe everyday children following an inside need to choose certain works that help them learn new skills and perfect themselves. It is rare that we see children wandering around looking for a work~they truly know what they want to do and stay very busy doing it. As the children work, teachers are able to observe and see how they interact with the materials and how they interact and socialize with friends. This allows us to really get to know each child and they all are truly very different! It also helps us know how to maybe connect two children with similar interests or skill levels-if a child is struggling with a work or skill, we're able to invite a child who may be a bit more proficient to help that child which is great for building community as well as encouraging the children to work together.
Learning to get along with one another, respecting differences and seeing one another as individuals is another wonderful aspect of the Montessori classroom. Ultimately, this is a huge life skill that children will need to have as they grow up and function in the world. If they learn and see others as individuals, then they will learn that everyone has something to offer, even if they are very different than themselves. In our classroom, it's a very respectful environment. If there is conflict or frustration, we help the children express with their words and we take the time to help them work through their struggle. These relational skills are something they will carry with them throughout their lives.
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