Independence in Montessori

Very now and then, there is a presentation of teachers at our Montessori school about a subject important for the education of our kids. This time it was about independence. Of course Montessori education implies a lot of independence, what why is it so important.

The presentation started with the class of 3-6 year olds, called primary. With examples from the class, we saw how the kids are gently maneuvered to be self sufficient (tying shoes to choosing their own work) and how they are let free to make mistakes and learn from them. (breaking a glass to spelling phonetically.) Especially the spelling was very interested. When a kids is trying to spell a word and asks a teacher how to make the "u" sound to write America, the teacher gives the letter "u" instead of "a". This goes on until the kid is ready to learn the proper spelling of words.

In the lower elementary (6-9), we saw how the children are give a general story about a part of history and tools to dig in whatever is interesting for them. They have freedom to choose their work partners, pursue their interests and work independent from teacher and a curriculum.

In upper elementary (9-12), they are allowed to do research on subjects they are interested in. After doing research at school, they can organize a trip to a museum or a college, where ever they can get more information about the subject. They have to plan all the trip details, get permissions, contact the authorities and people in question, find a parent to drive them to the location and after the trip, send thank you notes.

These were interesting, but the creme de la creme was the presentation from the two secondary level (12-14) teachers. At that level, the independence really finds its use. The children are self sufficient, as individuals and as together as a group. They follow a tough curriculum with the freedom to choose their own pace. Next to the studies they do, they also plan these trips (3 per year.) They literally have all the responsibility, choosing the place, getting the directions, planning cooking, finances, everything. I wouldn't be able manage such a complex process, it's so much work. The trips aren't without purpose. They build, they help, they discover... They use everything they learned from all the way from primary to that day. They are self sufficient, independent and harmonious as a group.

when we started Montessori education with Miss A at the Young Children's Community (18 months to 3 year), we would say with other parents that it would be so nice to be in that classroom. We wished we were at that age and in there. Now I prefer Secondary. The only problem is, even though I would manage Young Children's Community without problem, I am not so sure about the Secondary level. I doubt I have the life skills the kids get from all those years at the Montessori School.