News
News
The Value of the Final Year of Primary

Multi-age classes are one of the most distinctive features of a Montessori education. It's easy to see the benefits for the youngest children – opportunities to observe and learn from older children, exposure to more advanced or complex ideas, and having social mentors. The benefits for older children are less obvious; after all, what do younger students have to teach older ones?
In my opinion, the benefits for older children may be exponentially greater. Older children are not only continuing their own academic journey but also experiencing the role of a teacher or mentor. They have spent multiple years learning the ropes from their peers and the classroom adults; they know where every classroom item belongs, where to get each needed supply, how to do the lessons younger children are just learning, and how to successfully resolve social issues. Because they carry this knowledge within their consciousness, they become teacher apprentices, passing along this collected wisdom to those younger than themselves.
In fact, they are essentially experiencing the same tried-and-true method of learning used in professions like medicine. In a medical residency, the first year is devoted to seeing what other doctors do. First-year medical students watch procedures, take notes on processes, and consider how they might handle a case. The second year is a year of hands-on learning as they explore their own cases with guidance from experienced mentors. The final year is the teaching year. What knowledge have they gained, and how can they effectively pass it along? This see-do-teach method is effective for future doctors as well as young children!
Imagine being a five- or six-year-old in a society that assumes you have nothing to give, share, or teach simply because of your age. Then, imagine a child who is seen and sees himself as a capable, accomplished, and wise resource. This significant shift in perception builds self-confidence and a deep sense of value and purpose.
Lastly, when you can teach someone else, you must know the information, skill, or process well enough to explain it simply and effectively. These teaching or mentoring opportunities allow students to repeatedly revisit concepts, reinforcing knowledge, solidifying skills, and leading to a deep understanding of the information. They become meta-cognitive experiences for the older student. Nowhere is the benefit of Montessori's multi-aged classes more significant than it is for our older Primary students!
3 days ago
4 days ago