Once again our Head of School, Jeff Waxman, shares his wisdom as he muses about how Montessori students are different and, in my opinion, lucky to learn in our rich and unique environment. ~ Suzanne Lawson, Assistant Head of School.
Children’s House students reading together.
Montessori school graduates stand out. Whenever we hear from public or private schools where our students go after their time with us, Heads of School and teachers alike say they can pick out their Montessori students immediately. One dead giveaway is the enthusiasm they show for having their own desks, their own cubbies or even a locker with a door that closes! (In a Montessori classroom, we share everything – it’s OUR pencils, OUR rugs, OUR work.) Montessori students are simply overjoyed to have a private locker, an assigned desk space and (gasp) their own stash of school supplies - sometimes for the first time in their school career. But more importantly, teachers notice that their Montessori students’ hands shoot up – always wanting to share what they know, rarely satisfied with the “what” of learning; they want to know“why” and “how” … they’ve developed a true love of learning.
We’re told that our students tend to be more independent and quite capable of doing their own work with minimal guidance and support. Montessori grads are more apt to have a deeper understanding of complex concepts. Test scores often confirm their advanced learning, often well above grade level. You may know that Jeff Bezos attended a Montessori school as a child. He’s spoken about how the freedom to explore ideas independently and persist through challenges helped him to cultivate the innovative mindset it took to create Amazon. Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin attribute much of their creativity and problem-solving abilities to their Montessori education, where questioning and experimentation was encouraged instead of squelched.
Elementary I students (6 to 9 year-olds) using the dictionary.
George Clooney attended a Montessori school where he developed self-expression and confidence—traits that probably helped him win his Academy Awards. Many lesser-known individuals in the science and tech fields have emerged from Montessori backgrounds, often excelling in research environments that require innovation, initiative and critical thinking.
What they all had in common was being immersed in a pedagogy that prioritizes the whole child. Bridgeview Montessori School’s classrooms foster a child’s independence by allowing them to choose their work. We help our students develop concentration through uninterrupted activity, and build their social skills and emotional intelligence as they navigate the landscape of a mixed-age classroom. Our “prepared environments” help our students to grow into self-directed individuals who are comfortable navigating complexity and uncertainty.
Only time will tell if your child will become a successful entrepreneur, a famous star of stage and screen, or the leader of a multinational technology company. One thing is certain, though: the Montessori education that your child is receiving will nurture qualities like: focus, persistence, passion, emotional intelligence, and a love of learning that will surely last a lifetime.
A Sixth Year Elementary II student works the square of the binomial.