When you enroll your children in a Montessori school, it will quickly become apparent that such a school offers more for your kids than most institutions of learning. For example, the American Montessori Society requires that all students who are at the early childhood level or older experience an uninterrupted work period that lasts for at least two hours four days each week.
All accredited Montessori schools offer this uninterrupted work period. Some parents may be confused about what this entails. That can be especially true if your children were previously enrolled in other schools where every activity throughout the day was structured. However, here are strong reasons why the uninterrupted work period can empower your little ones.
It Allows Kids to Explore Their Own Strengths in the Learning Process
When students are allowed to do what they want to do during the uninterrupted work period, they may rejoice. What the children may not realize is that they are likely to naturally build on the strengths they already have.
By working on what they enjoy, the children are strengthening skills that they’ve already shown a capacity for mastering. It’s perceived more as fun than work, and allows children to move on to more challenging materials in an area of interest.
It Teaches Freedom of Choice
Because children can start and stop projects during the uninterrupted work hour, they can explore the freedoms and limitations of their own choices. Once they start a certain project, they only have to commit to working on it for as long as they want, but they may soon learn how impractical it is to start and stop a lot of projects that require lots of clean-up.
Although the students experience a lot of freedom during this time period, they also have to take on additional responsibility. They may learn that choosing to spend an hour and a half on one project means that they did not plan enough time for a more pressing project they wanted to complete. Juggling choices is something students will explore as a natural part of this process.
It Allows Children to Work at Their Own Pace
Throughout the uninterrupted work period, students are allowed to work at their own pace. That can make a huge difference for students who may not learn in the same time frame as everybody else. Some kids may choose to work on a project for an hour, while others take three hours for the same thing. As long as it is completed, the time frame it takes doesn’t matter.
It’s the education that matters, and children won’t be pressured to complete an assignment based on how quickly the teacher wants them to do it or how swiftly their peers can complete it. When students work at their own pace, they may be motivated by their peers, but they aren’t likely to be as pressured by expectations.
It Teaches Kids to Take Responsibility for Themselves
In a lot of traditional classrooms, students aren’t responsible for picking up after themselves after a particularly involved or messy activity. However, during the uninterrupted work period, children will need to pick up after themselves after each activity they choose to do. They need to clean up their area and also return the project to a designated shelf.
When kids know that they have the responsibility for themselves and their own projects, it can build self-esteem. They may also be less likely to make a mess that they would just have to clean up, and they may even make different choices. That can be a helpful lesson as they progress through different classes and experiences in school.
It Allows Kids to Get Individual Care and Attention
Most students crave special attention from a teacher, and that is exactly what Montessori students receive during the uninterrupted work period. Teachers will monitor and observe the individual work that’s being done. They may offer constructive help to best support the needs of the student and what the project requires. Teachers may offer one-on-one instruction, too.
When students are working with groups or a small group of students are all working on the same type of project, the teacher may also offer instructions to a small group of students. Teachers will also monitor the work that’s being done for the safety of the students. Students can also ask teachers questions that they have and express their need when they could use assistance.
Finally, keep in mind that Montessori schools strive to offer the best education possible. The uninterrupted work period can help your children learn how to better concentrate and embrace their independence, among its many benefits. At the Miniapple International Montessori School, the highest standards are in place to provide children with a fantastic education.