Where we live, there is an endless supply of preschools. When we moved to the Flower Mound/Argyle area I felt overwhelmed by all of the choices. Do we go with Christian-based? STEAM-based? Locally-owned? Franchise? Half-day? Full-day? How do I know which would be a good fit for Hudson? Hudson is a free-spirited child and outwardly balks at societal norms. Peer or parent pressure is non-existent to him, he has a HUGE imagination, and he loves to solve problems his own way. It was important to use that he was cultivated in the right way and did not get his free-spirit squashed.
Every time we took the back roads we would pass a sign for a private Montessori school. Intrigued, we followed the signs one day and came across a restored, older building that had been turned into a school. It was nestled between pastures and mature trees, which was becoming less common in the area due to the rapid development. After taking a tour and learning what Montessori was about, we enrolled Hudson for preschool. It has been hands-down one of the best parenting decisions we have ever made. Here is a list of 5 reasons why the Montessori Method was the right fit for our family.
1) Montessori learning focuses on the individual child. Children receive several short one-on-one lessons from the teacher(s) in the classroom that are specific to their personal needs and level, rather than most of the instruction having to be a "one size fits all" solution for the entire class. The Montessori Method creates a child-centered classroom, not a teacher-centered one.
2) The emphasis on hands-on (tactile) learning. You won't find any screens in his classroom because study after study has shown that students learn best through play and tactile education. The works in the classroom are largely wooden or plastic manipulatives, and this keeps Hudson fully engaged. He also gets to spend a lot of time outdoors and involved in a robust nature-intensive education curriculum.
3) The mixed-age Montessori classroom allows children to engage in the teaching-learning process on both sides. Last year, as a 4-year-old, Hudson looked up to the 5-year-old boys in his preschool class. They taught him how to use a zipper and role-modeled how to behave in class. This year, Hudson is the 5-year-old and he is enjoying being a leader and mentor in the classroom to the younger kids, and also the confidence that comes with the consistency of being in the same classroom with the same teachers.
4) All children love to learn, but they learn in different ways at different paces. In the Montessori classroom, the children are not pressured to keep at the same pace as their peers and on the same lesson every single day. This allows the children to learn at their own pace (faster or slower), in their own learning language, and have the freedom to learn about something more deeply. Hudson is 5 and loves his multiplication work. That's right, a 5-year-old who LOVES multiplication work - and he gets to work on it every single day. He is becoming an enthusiastic self-directed critical thinker.
5) The love and respect the children develop for each other. As a child-centered classroom, the children hold each other accountable, regularly work together as groups, and help one another in many aspects. The Montessori Model allows children to develop integrity, leadership, and servant hearts.
Hudson's free-spirited, non-conforming way of learning and doing is not smothered by his education but earnestly tended to through the Montessori Method. Eleanor is attending the same school this year as well for two mornings a week in the toddler classroom. She has been beside herself with joy.
If you are interested in learning more about the Montessori Method, please check out this excellent resource https://amshq.org/About-Montessori/What-Is-Montessori
Yours, because we are His,
Jenna
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