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montessori education

Creating Independent Learners—a Montessori Tradition

Aug 12, 2021 Angie Johnson

What makes a child want to learn? When have you seen your child most excited to learn a new skill? Was it when you asked them to sit very still and listen, or did they jump into an activity that had them working with their hands?
If you're the parent of a young child, you know that they love learning how to do things "all by themselves,” and unlike the rigid rules and procedures of a standard classroom, Montessori schools use those instincts to take learning to a whole new level. What makes Montessori different?

-Student-paced learning
-Teachers who spend more time observing than instructing
-Meticulously designed classrooms to enhance instruction and growth

Montessori classrooms function at a "learn at your own pace" by allowing each child to select activities that strengthen various skills, from using scissors to clean up a mess to basic math or how to read. The child decides how long they work at each "presentation" and how far that skill is developed each day.

Our instructors spend their time watching the students work with the various stations and can step in to guide the student or assist them if help is needed. Their observations allow them to create individualized learning plans for each student that can mold their strengths or interests.

Instructors carefully lay out the various "presentations" each day, selecting materials for review and growth. Students use the materials to experiment and answer their questions through trial and error, fostering self-evaluation in the process. As a result, Montessori education helps grow independent learners, as you can see in this article—https://childrenshouse-montessori.com/2019/09/17/how-do-montessori-schools-teach-independence/.
If you would like to see your child take the lead in their learning path, take a closer look at the Mountain West Montessori Academy. For further reading on how a Montessori education differs from traditional or to enroll your child, please visit our website www.mwmacademy.org.