by Jennifer J. Kendall, Ed.M, Early and Lower School Principal, The Grosse Pointe Academy
Q: I am starting to research pre-school options for my child and came across the Montessori programs. What are the benefits of this type of education?
A: Montessori programs offer children an individualized program in a full classroom setting. The materials are introduced to all of the children by their teacher and the children then self direct themselves to choose work that is of interest to them. Maria Montessori felt that "we should not fill children with facts but rather cultivate their own natural desire to learn." The classrooms have a Practical Life area, where children develop fine motor skills through a care for their environment, Sensorial area, where children learn color, size, texture, and weight through their work, and academic materials in language arts, math, science, and social studies.
Q: What are the differences between a play-based pre-school and Montessori pre-school?
A: Children in Montessori classrooms are introduced to different materials throughout their Montessori years. Each of the materials presented by the teacher has a purpose. As an example, while both play-based and Montessori classrooms have blocks, a Montessori classroom has the Pink Tower of ten varying shaped blocks. The tower is a Montessori material that is used to help develop coordination, set a basis for the number system and increase awareness of dimension.
Q: What are the benefits to having my child in a multi-age classroom?
A: Maria Montessori believed that younger children would benefit from the community formed with the older children. The multi-age classroom allows younger children to learn from the older students and model their behaviors and allows the older students a chance to reinforce their own knowledge by helping the younger students.
Q: How do I know if my child is ready for school?
A: All children develop and reach milestones at different times. Signs that your child is ready for school include an interest in being independent, a desire to play with other children, and following directions. Around 2 1/2 - 3 many children exhibit these characteristics and are ready for school. Touring a pre-school with your child is highly recommended as it will give you a chance to see your child in the school environment and hear more about the school's program and philosophy.
SAVE the DATE:
Jennifer J. Kendall will present additional information on Montessori education at The Grosse Pointe Academy on Wednesday, November 11, at 7:00 p.m. in the Early School Building on the GPA campus. The session is free and open to the public. For more information, call 313-886-1221 x145.
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Montessori Education
