Recently, an engaged community member wrote down her thoughts on why Crescent, and Montessori Education in general, works so well. Here are her thoughts:
ON ACADEMICS
Typical classrooms teach to the middle. Some kids fall behind, while others may not reach their full potential. The traditional educational experience is mostly passive listening and solitary effort.
Montessori’s multi-year classrooms and hands-on methods help children learn at their own pace, learn by doing, and learn from each other. On an average day, Montessori teachers present multiple lessons to individuals and small groups, because they understand each child’s individual pace and progress. Montessori lessons are specifically designed to introduce new ideas while reinforcing fundamentals, and to allow a child to learn from mistakes and persist to proficiency. In the Montessori classroom, problems are solved as a team and older students gain confidence through leadership and helping others. There’s a strong sense of community, and all kids have opportunities to pursue individual interests.
Montessori education is interactive and collaborative – just like real life.
ON SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT
In traditional schools, kids form cliques because they can. Children only learn how to interact with people their exact same age, and there’s less tolerance of differences. Inevitably, some kids get needlessly excluded and then all children miss out on important social development.
At Crescent, kids learn to get along with everyone and respect each other’s individual differences. Children learn to interact with all ages, not just their peer group. Further, children learn how to behave in a community that relies on them to contribute their skills, do good work, and be a respectful and caring member.
Crescent’s school social structure is integrative and collaborative – just like real life.
These two primary differences make Montessori students capable, independent, self-confident and respectful adults.
