At a recent National Association of Independent Schools conference, the topic of college readiness was examined. Feedback received from residential colleges, stating that students were coming to them ill-prepared for the day-to-day tasks required of their students. These included prioritizing time, living in a community, independence, speaking up for themselves, and personal responsibility.
A representative for Montessori Teacher’s Institute for Professional Studies, Wendy Calise, who was present at the conference, wrote about how Montessori schools specially prepare children for these challenges.
“Mixed age PreK/K Montessori Classes create an ideal environment for children to engage in academic pursuits as well as learn the critical skills of collaboration, problem solving, and creative thinking. Because they are encouraged to work independently, they build a strong sense of themselves and their enormous capabilities.”
“Toddlers in a Montessori Toddler Community become responsible by participating in tasks that make a real contribution to the class community. They become resourceful by learning how to play together, how to gather in a group, how to get a turn, how to give a turn. Teachers carefully balance modeling and offering help with allowing toddlers to make their own choices and experience the results.”
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