When you think about their child’s education, you probably think about grades, academic programs, and faculty qualifications. But from the child’s point of view, an education is made up of individual activities and experiences. Take a quick peek at the most common Montessori activities to understand what your child’s average school day will look like.
The Montessori Work Period
There’s nothing better than the feeling of getting completely absorbed in an activity. A foundational aspect of the Montessori method is that children need time to fully explore and understand new subjects or materials. If students are pushed through activities on a schedule instead of at their own pace, they’ll never feel fully engaged with the learning experience.
Every school day, Montessori students are given uninterrupted “work periods” that last for 2-3 hours. Work periods typically occur in the morning, and older children may have an additional work period later in the afternoon.
During this work period, students can select any activity they want from a room full of interesting and educational options. Your child will be able to engage with the activity for as long as it remains interesting. Then, they’ll clean up the materials and choose another activity until work time is over.
These blocks of work time are supplemented with group activities and structured teacher engagement. Students are always supervised and can ask for guidance or even collaborate with others to get the most out of their individual study time.
Montessori Materials
A Montessori classroom is full of unique learning materials that encourage your child to think and learn. These materials are designed to teach children with a purpose in mind. Each material focuses on a certain aspect such as tracing numerals, pre-reading materials, sensorial materials that focus on the five sense, practical life materials to strengthen hand, wrist and fingers etc. The entire classroom environment is prepared to focus on the whole child. Mentally, physically, and socially.
The materials are aesthetically pleasing and inviting to the children in the classroom. Montessori teachers go out of their way to find unique educational materials; your child will frequently have something new and exciting to tell you about.
Work Time and Play Time
Work periods are fun and engaging, but they also count as real work. That’s why your child’s school day will include plenty of recesses so they can play and talk with their friends. The day will also be broken up with group activities, delicious meals, and teacher-driven lessons.
This varied schedule teaches your child to value their work and look forward to their play. The Montessori experience lets children develop healthy and productive work patterns and prepares them for real-world success.
Montessori schools treat your child like their time is valuable. No matter what they do over the course of the day, students leave school with a sense of accomplishment that follows them home and through the rest of their lives.
