How A Mixed Age Preschool Classroom Can Benefit Your Child

Unlike other preschools, Montessori preschools have mixed age classrooms combining ages 3 through 6. Instead of dividing by age, Montessori integrates children at different stages of development into common classes so that children have the ability to interact with one another regardless of age. This classroom setup encourages social development and observational education as children learn from one another and help each other with various tasks. The Montessori method has repeatedly shown that children working together learn valuable skills about interaction, responsibility, and understanding through observing and teaching one another while they develop at their own pace.

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The Main Benefits Of Mixed Age Classrooms

Observation
Younger children learn by watching older children and adults. When students are in a mixed-age classroom, the younger children can see the older children performing more complex lessons and tasks. This shows the younger students what is possible and encourages interest and excitement. The younger children want to be included and to copy the older children. Observation can also help children learn how to socialize, as they can watch how the older kids talk with each other and the teachers. Understanding concepts such as respect and patience are hard to learn in the abstract, but seeing how older kids operate can help the younger children know how they are supposed to act. This can be as simple as realizing when to say please and thank you, but it can encapsulate larger concepts such as how to treat others and be confident.

Practice
When children are put into a group they can stay with for longer periods, they are able to develop at their own pace instead of moving up every single year as is mandatory in later years of schooling. Staying with one teacher who understands them and in whom they trust for two or three years can help children stay in a routine, practice their skills, and advance at the rate right for them. Children who advance quickly won’t have to wait for the end of the school year to start learning new concepts, which prevents the child from becoming bored with lessons while allowing them to advance and learn more. Conversely, children who take longer to learn some lessons will not feel ashamed of being behind their peers, as they have the freedom to learn at their own pace and to focus on developing themself instead of reaching for a goal that puts pressure on them.

Teaching
Older children in a classroom are seen as role models for the younger children, which encourages responsibility and leadership skills. The older children often help the younger children with their lessons and with basic life skills (such as zipping up jackets) and even help to teach the younger children. This in turn teaches the younger children to continue teaching others as they age and new young children come in. This cycle fosters an environment where children are encouraged to utilize their patience and empathy to help one another the way that they were helped. Peer assistance not only helps the little ones to learn, but it also encourages the older children to work on their communication skills and to see the real-world applications of the skills and tasks they have been taught.

Register Your Child At Grey Matter Montessori In Calgary

At Grey Matter preschool, we focus on child education through holistic learning in an accepting and challenging environment. We engage our preschool students and get them interested in learning while encouraging them to care for and support their fellow classmates. Our mixed age classrooms focus on individualized learning that gives children the opportunity to take as much or as little time they need to understand concepts without judgment or pressure. If you would like your child to develop their academic and social skills in an encouraging environment, you can register with Grey Matter Montessori by calling 1-587-707-4739 or filling out the online contact form.

FAQ

Q: Does Montessori learning offer both full-time and part-time programs?
A: Yes. At Grey Matter Montessori, we offer both full-time and part-time programs to fit your schedule and child's needs.

Q: Is Montessori School Right For My Child?
A: common saying is ‘Montessori is right for every child, but not every family is right for Montessori’. Montessori education is a flexible, adaptable style of teaching and learning that is beneficial for all children. The caveat is that there are certain foundations and principles that guide a Montessori approach to learning that must be incorporated into other aspects of the child’s life by their caregivers. Principles such as: