What is Montessori Education?
Dr. Maria Montessori created a scientific
method of education based on her observations of children. She was the first female doctor in Italy, but
left medicine to study how children learn. She made incredible
discoveries about children’s mental, emotional, physical
and spiritual development, as well as their natural tendencies,
needs and characteristics.
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The foundation of
Montessori’s philosophy and methodology
includes these key points:
• Students are
independent and free to explore an environment
where wonder, interest, and curiosity lead to
learning
• A three year age range
in the classroom creates opportunities for peer
teaching
• Trained adults guide
children through each developmental period
• The role of the adult
is to help children help themselves
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People go through four planes of
development, each six years long (0-6, 6-12, 12-18, and 18-24)
At each plane, students exhibit specific needs and
characteristics. The prepared environment and activities
available are designed to meet these needs and nourish these
characteristics.
Montessori for the Adolescent
Following the Montessori tradition, Great
River will focus on supporting the internal development of the
personality of young adults. Adolescents
have an intense need to feel valuable, useful and capable of
being a productive member of society. It is important that the
work in which they are involved is relevant, meaningful, and
appreciated by others. These needs of the emerging adult and of
the human spirit are critical to the culture of the learning
environment.
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Adolescent’s Needs
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Adolescent’s
Characteristics
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Purposeful and challenging
work
An intimate connection with
the land
Opportunities for
self-expression
A connection to the community
Practice in economic
independence
Experience with leadership,
service, and peace
Empowerment to make a
difference
Practice finding and creating
a meaningful place in the larger society
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Boundless energy
Thoughtful and critical
Interested in justice and
morality
Creative, emotional, and
expressive
Socially conscious
Powerfully humanistic
Intense and rapid growth and
development
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Informed discussions, reflections, service work, and rotating internships provide a stimulating, academically challenging, and developmentally appropriate learning environment. This atmosphere allows young adults to explore their passions, and serve the community, students are able to explore their potential vocation by assuming meaningful and practical roles in society. Experience in the community is the key to forming the character and conscience of the young adult.
Prepared Environment
Great River School’s learning
environment consists of two learning spaces - the inner and the
outer.
The inner space consists of the school
building itself, adapted into a dynamic Montessori learning
environment. The social and academic life of Great River School
revolves around the Town Commons - a space for gathering and
studying, for meeting and conversation, a café, and a
space to discuss great issues. The inner environment will also
include a garage space for experimenting, designing,
constructing, and general tinkering with a variety of media.
The outer space consists of ever wider and
broader spaces – an urban garden, the Land School (160
acre farm and nature center in western Wisconsin), downtown St.
Paul and Minneapolis, our state, regional and national
communities. These outer environments provide opportunities for
extended field studies, as well as international community
exchanges. Great River students will connect deeply with their
state and nation, but they will also be internationally aware
– citizens of the world. The metaphor for adolescent
learning is an odyssey adventure – both the odyssey to
distant places and the odyssey of the mind.
Independence, Freedom, and Choice Balanced
with Responsibility and Collaboration
As a Montessori school, Great River has
open spaces for students to work and open times during which
students construct their own schedule. Within a structure of a
core curriculum, students have choices with regard to their
classes. They work with teachers and mentors to design some of
their assignments and projects. For the Great River community
to function well, students should be motivated, responsible
young adults with the ability to collaborate.
Self Expression
Great River recognizes the intense need
adolescents have for self expression. Students have formal
classes in music, studio arts, creative writing, and physical
education. They are encouraged and expected to integrate self
expression into other classes.
Advisory/Mentorship
Each student meets with a mentor throughout
the year to plan a course of study, get help with assignments,
and keep track of credits. Students work with an advisor of
their choice throughout their career in the junior high or high
school.