{"id":11084,"date":"2020-12-03T14:32:59","date_gmt":"2020-12-03T22:32:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lesliedinaberg.com\/wordpress\/?p=11084"},"modified":"2020-12-03T14:32:59","modified_gmt":"2020-12-03T22:32:59","slug":"montessori-center-school-creates-positive-kids-with-positive-forces","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lesliedinaberg.com\/wordpress\/?p=11084","title":{"rendered":"Montessori Center School Creates Positive Kids with Positive Forces"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Montessori<\/a>

Montessori Center School Creates Positive Kids With Positive Forces, originally published in Santa Barbara Independent on November 19, 2020.<\/p><\/div>\n

Developing Well-Rounded Students with Time-Tested Techniques<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dr. Maria Montessori<\/a> would be 150 years old\u00a0this year, but her teaching methods have managed\u00a0to stay relevant for more than a century.\u00a0Here are a few reasons why Montessori<\/a> continues to\u00a0be prized by so many of today\u2019s parents.<\/p>\n

Development of a Lifelong\u00a0Love of Learning<\/strong>
\n\u201cChildren are encouraged to develop a love of learning\u00a0for their whole lives,\u201d said Melanie Jacobs<\/a>, head\u00a0of school at Montessori Center School<\/a>. \u201cWe try to\u00a0hook into their motivations and interests so that\u00a0their learning is guided by that and they\u2019re wanting to
\nlearn from inside. I think that\u2019s how self-motivation\u00a0is formed. We want it to be a lifelong love of learning,\u00a0so that they\u2019ll be inspired to continue to learn\u00a0throughout their whole lives.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Importance of Independence<\/strong>
\n\u201cWe also focus on independence and self-sufficiency\u00a0and resilience, which this year especially, I think is actually\u00a0very important,\u201d said Jacobs. One of the Montessori
\nsayings is \u201cNever do for a child what they can do for\u00a0themselves.\u201d \u201cWe certainly guide a child that needs help,\u00a0but then we step back and allow them to do as much of\u00a0it as they can so that they become advocates in their own\u00a0learning, especially as they get older. There is a lot of creative\u00a0thinking and thinking out of the box, and there\u2019s also\u00a0a lot of collaboration with their classmates, which I think\u00a0is really important right now because in their future work\u00a0endeavors, collaboration is a big part of how companies\u00a0encourage their employees to work.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Peace Curriculum<\/strong>
\nStrategies vary depending on the level of the children,\u00a0but there\u2019s a peace shelf or a peace corner in every\u00a0Montessori classroom. \u201cIt basically helps children\u00a0to learn conflict resolution skills really early, so\u00a0even in our 3- to 6-year-old classrooms, you might\u00a0see something like a talking stick or a love light,\u201d\u00a0said Jacobs, who has been with the school for 27\u00a0years and is in her fifth year as head of school.\u00a0These tools are used to talk out conflicts and to
\nlearn to listen to what the other person is saying,\u00a0\u201cand then together they try to find some sort of\u00a0compromise to solve their conflict. When they\u2019re\u00a0younger they need more guidance, but then as\u00a0they get older into the elementary grades, a lot of\u00a0the time they\u2019re really able to work out what the\u00a0problem is on their own.\u201d<\/p>\n

Respect and Appreciation\u00a0for Differences<\/strong>
\nA big Montessori theme is to encourage a lot of\u00a0respect for and curiosity about other cultures.\u00a0\u201cIn today\u2019s world, I think that\u2019s very relevant,\u201d Jacobs\u00a0said. \u201cFamilies are encouraged to share their culture\u00a0in our community, and then it allows the children to
\nsort of see the commonalities across all of the races\u00a0and cultures for better understanding and respect.”<\/p>\n

\"SB<\/a>

SB Independent Cover, Schools of Thought, November 19, 2020.<\/p><\/div>\n

Originally published in the Santa Barbara Independent<\/em><\/a> on November 19, 2020. To read the section as it appeared in print, please click here.<\/a><\/p>\n

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