MONTESSORI EDUCATION: Is it the Right Choice for Your Child? by leslie castillo joyce roberts Donna Bernier was a junior in college when she discovered that her parents had enrolled her brother in a Montessori school. She was majoring in elementary education but had never heard of this method. Intrigued, she visited his class during spring break and her observations changed her life. "I was surprised by what I saw. The children were happy, busy, and interacting with peers and adults. I immediately fell in love with this approach and wanted to know more," she said. She went on to take a Montessori teachertraining course before her senior year and upon graduation, worked for 15 years at the Concord Montessori School, where her sons were students. Six years ago, she opened the Nashoba Montessori School. By the end of the first year, it was full and a second classroom was added. Today, the number of Montessori schools in Massachusetts continues to grow. In fact, there are more than 100 of them. Could this education be the right match for your child? History of the Montessori School In 1907, Dr. Maria Montessori was hired to teach a group of young children from a poor neighborhood in Italy. Since neither preschool nor daycare were options for these families, these children ages 3-6 were left at home while their parents were at work. Montessori had previously produced positive results, when working with another group of students. The hope was that this new assignment would be equally successful - and it was. Through a combination of employing her practiced teaching techniques and creating a classroom rich in materials that would pique the children's curiosity, Montessori's students flourished. Young children began to read, older children mentored their younger peers, and all were utilizing the puzzles, games, and tools in the classroom to explore their own interests. Montessori found that by acting as a guide for students from the sidelines, they were able to teach themselves by using the materials in their environment. Her first "Children's House" sparked a methodology that remains strong almost 100 years later. The Montessori Classroom The best way to see how a Montessori School works is to visit a classroom. Sue Gibson, whose daughter is enrolled in the Pre-1 class at the Eliot Montessori School in Natick, was immediately impressed by what she saw. "My husband and I visited the school and were struck by the peaceful but purposeful environment felt in each classroom we visited. The children were fully engaged in a variety of learning activities, both in small groups and independently. Although each classroom was a 'very busy place,' each was quiet and in control," she said. In a Montessori classroom, one might find some students working independently while others are involved in group efforts. One might notice shelves, tables or bookcases lowered to the students' level and a vast array of books, materials, and manipulatives that children use freely. While these may look like toys, each item was carefully chosen as learning tools. Katherine Worden, 4, a student at the Nashoba Montessori School, knows what she enjoys at school. "My favorite part of school," said Katherine, "is using the pink stacking cube. I like to pour water out of the small pitcher and to learn to read with the Bobs books." Katherine is able to immerse herself into the learning process by using the things that interest her. Dover Montessori School Director Heather Brooks stressed how important the use of the classroom space and materials are at her school. "The teacher's role is to create an environment that will meet the needs of the children utilizing the space. The environment is then changed and added to based on the needs of the children. These needs are assessed by the teacher observing the children within the environment," she said. At Dover Montessori School, which enrolls students ages 3-6, the list of classroom materials and curriculum is more than 30 pages long. Difference Between Montessori & Public Education Good teaching happens in both public and independent Montessori schools, but many differences exist between the two. Dana Getschow shared some thoughts on her school experience at the Harborlight Montessori School in Beverly. "I really liked Montessori school. I was there from pre-school to 5th grade. It's very different from public school because at Montessori you could get up and walk around whenever you wanted and you could pick up what you wanted to do whenever you wanted to do it," she said. Being able to choose how a student spends his time working in the classroom is only one difference between public schools and Montessori schools. Another difference is the grade levels taught. Many Montessori schools are geared to a specific age group. In a Montessori school, children of various ages may be grouped together, where in the public setting grades levels are not usually combined. In terms of curriculum, public school students are required to master the information for the school year before progressing, whereas at a Montessori school the class did not work at one set pace. "A student could move ahead of his peers if he was ready or stay behind if he wasn't," said Dana's mother Kim. This aspect of the Montessori experience has been a wonderful experience for Kim Drapkin, whose two children are thriving in the Montessori setting. Speaking about her daughter Kaitlin, Draper said, "She loves reading and researching topics and has been exposed to so much more than she would have been in a traditional classroom. She is the type of kid who would do fine sitting at a desk in a class of 25 but she has been able to learn so much more." Photos taken at Nashoba Montessori School As part of the interview process at Summit Montessori School in Framingham, Head of School Lisa Giallorardo said when an older student visits the school he is immersed into the school community. The student applicant attends lunch and recess and is even given some work to do. She finds that this is a good opportunity for the child to experience the setting and to see if he is comfortable there. It is important for any parent, who may be considering a transition from one of these school types to the other, to research the individual school to ensure that it is a good match for his or her child. Thriving in the Montessori Setting Karen Roeber, director of the Sunrise Montessori School in Franklin, said the success of her school is due to two important factors: one, the small class sizes help to meet the individual needs of the students, and two because the students, staff, and parents are a team. "We spend time together at many outings such as picnics and potluck dinners. The children feel like they are part of a tight knit community community," she said. Other parents also can see a change in their children after entering Montessori schools. "Changes in our daughter were evident in the first week of school. ... She has a greater sense of belonging to the school and demonstrates how proud she is to be at Eliot," said Leslie Burke. Perhaps, the most rewarding feeling of all, for both parent and child, is knowing that the school they have found is a perfect match. For Nell Moore, the transition to Eliot Montessori in Natick was just that. The 9-year old student summed it up eloquently with these words, "I can read better, I can spell better, and I can do math better - I feel like I can do more now." And, as Dr. Montessori would agree, this sense of pride and confidence in one's abilities is what it is all about. Leslie Castillo is a freelance writer from Wayland. Montessori Facts  A Montessori School may be called a Children's House  Dr. Maria Montessori worked in an asylum before opening her first school.  Thomas Edison was a supporter of the Montessori Method  The founders of Google both received Montessori education  There are close to 100 Montessori schools in Massachusetts  American Montessori Society has a wealth of information. (www.amshq.org)  Montesssori Connections lists more than 4,600 schools in the United States (www.montessoriconnections.com/schools directory.shtml) 10 Montessori Schools to Consider Dover Montessori, Dover eBridge Montessori School, Westborough Eliot Montessori, Natick Keystone Montessori, North Chelmsford Lexington Montessori, Lexington Nashoba Montessori, Lancaster Pincushion Hill Montessori, Ashland Summit Montessori, Framingham Sunrise Montessori, Franklin Woodside Montessori Academy, Millis