| The Montessori private elementary school | | | | Montessori schools put strong emphasis on the |
| system, for anyone who is interested in either | | | | fact that children should be able to come up with |
| putting a child in school or exploring different | | | | their own ideas and theories and then test them |
| school systems, presents the best model for one | | | | out to ensure that they can draw their own |
| of the most acceptable schools out there. The | | | | correlations and connections out of it. They also |
| Montessori school provides a specific learning | | | | strive to keep the children focused for a longer |
| method that was established by a teacher named | | | | period of time and stay attached to what they |
| Maria Montessori, who had her own belief system | | | | are learning. The teachers are generally there to |
| regarding how a school should be run -- a system | | | | watch the learning take place as well as to make |
| that many still follow almost a century afterwards. | | | | sure the students are properly utilizing their time |
| However, not every school can safely say that | | | | and efforts. |
| they are a part of the Montessori program. While | | | | Independent Thinking |
| some proclaim they are, it is important to find out | | | | These elementary schools are created with the |
| what sets the bar for a Montessori elementary | | | | belief that children learn best when they teach |
| school. You should explore the inner workings of | | | | themselves independently instead of having the |
| the school to determine whether or not it is truly | | | | material forced on them, much like in a traditional |
| Montessori. | | | | school. The teacher is there to find out what a |
| Understand the Difference | | | | student's interests are and then use those |
| In a normal, traditional school, you find that | | | | interests to develop activities that would best help |
| children are all placed in a desk and are assigned | | | | the child learn and retain information. You will find |
| work from the teacher that must be completed. | | | | that most of these schools are for children of a |
| The children do not understand what they are | | | | younger age because as they grow older, learned |
| learning because they do not see the importance | | | | habits of study are already imprinted in the mind |
| of this information and therefore, they do not | | | | deep enough where it can be easily applied to a |
| retain it. At a true Montessori school, you will see | | | | traditional school. |
| a child learning information that pertains to their | | | | Younger children have not been given any tools |
| interests. The teacher is not there to actually | | | | to help them learn when they start school and |
| provide material and teach the student, but to | | | | are essentially a clean slate. By allowing them to |
| assist the child while they form their own learning | | | | imprint their own curriculum and standards in their |
| technique that encompasses materials and | | | | minds, children will follow their natural motivations |
| curriculum. This classroom setting provides for a | | | | and desires to learn that a teacher can not |
| stronger will to learn from the students. | | | | provide for them. |
| The Role of the Teachers | | | | |