Kids these days are exposed to more
than ever before. Young children are on the Internet, using smart phones, and
watching a wide variety of movies. So where are children learning their values?
Their parents? Their schools? One school, Montessori Children’s House (www.mchfw.com) is taking that mission on.
From
the very beginning, the students at Montessori are taught etiquette,
independence, and conflict management – just to name a few. The students learn
time management and how to become self-starters with the free-range style of
curriculum.
When I went to visit the school, I was surprised that the façade of
the school is literally a house. Once you enter the campus, you see that the
classrooms are spacious and kid friendly with low shelves and tables. In the
middle of their grouping of buildings is a large recess area for the children
to spend their breaks. I loved hearing that the teachers try to have the kids
spend as much time outdoors as possible. The teachers are wholly involved with
the students are care for their personal well being as well as their
intellectual growth.
At Montessori it is not all about grades since they don’t
exist. Parents receive narrative reports on their child’s work that includes
where they excel and where they need extra help. Fast learners are able to
learn as much as they like and slower students are given the time they need.
Montessori fosters an environment that encourages learning in your own way, not
in the teacher’s way.
As a college student, the most
common remarks I hear from other students are about time management and
procrastination. How much better could our college experience be if we had
these skills ingrained within us at such a young age?
--Avery Ruxer
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