News

Last week, Director of Admission Andrea Restifo shared some of the many reasons it makes sense to keep your children enrolled at Springmont through 8th grade. Simultaneously, I came across “Why Moving From Achievement to Exploring is a Better Formula for Student Success,” an article written by Rebecca Winthrop and Jenny Anderson in the National Association of Independent Schools’ quarterly magazine. As someone with a son just starting college this year, I read with great interest about how the push for academic achievement has had a negative impact on the success young adults are experiencing as they enter college and the workforce.  

While doing research for their book, The Disengaged Teen: Helping Kids Learn Better, Feel Better, and Live Better, the authors conducted numerous studies to determine why so many young people disengage from their learning. They identified four ways students show up in learning: Resister, Passenger, Achiever, and Explorer. Those in Explorer mode have the best outcomes. These students are driven by curiosity, build resilience through persistence, and build self-awareness and decision-making skills through agency.  

Montessori is never explicitly mentioned in the article. Still, as the authors go on to explain the type of learning that encourages exploration mode, it’s evident that, once again, Maria Montessori had it right all along. By allowing students the chance to pursue passions, make choices about their learning and time management, and practice skills through authentic experiences, they develop the skills and habits that serve them well in our ever-changing world. The authors’ research also showed that nationwide, only 4% of students experience exploration education, giving Springmont students a distinct advantage as they move forward through life! Click here to read the full article.