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As I visited classrooms last week, I was struck by the level of independent engagement exhibited by our students.  In each room, I had difficulty finding a single student who looked up from his or her work to see who opened the door.  Though students were often clustered around tables, rarely were they working on the same task.  The individual educational program students enjoy at Springmont is one of the biggest differences between our school and other non-Montessori schools that I have discovered.  This cannot be achieved without a fundamental difference in the approach of the teacher.   In fact, the use of the term “guide” rather than “teacher” in Montessori education speaks to this. Students are guided to learn independently and at their own pace and to follow their own passions while simultaneously learning core academics.
 
This concept of individualized learning was reinforced for me during our Parent Education Evening last Thursday. As I stopped by each presentation, I heard teachers at each level explaining how they carefully observe each student so that they can interpret his or her current learning and modify the environment to meet the needs and interests of each student.  The goal of the teacher/guide is to intervene less and less as the child develops this unique, independent engagement.  What has impressed me most about our faculty is their ability to respect their students’ independence while being supportive and their ability to motivate students without the use of rewards or punishment even as they provide more and more independent work.

As Dr. Montessori said, “The greatest sign of success for a teacher... is to be able to say, 'The children are now working as if I did not exist.’” 

Seeing is believing, so make sure to call the Front Office to schedule your own observation of your child’s classroom as well as one at the next level.  I’m sure you will be as impressed as I have been!