The one-size-fits-all approach to education has been proven ineffective. Students learn in a variety of ways. Ignoring that some students need to be approached differently will create a situation where students fall through the cracks. Advanced students and students with learning difficulties have unique needs in the classroom. Students who can be considered average need to have instruction that is tailored to their needs. In the Montessori classroom, meeting the individual needs of each student is a core value. The teacher in the Montessori classroom will approach each student individually to account for learning differences.

Advanced students

In the traditional classroom, advanced students are often left to their own devices. If they finish work more quickly than others or master a concept right away, they are tasked with finding a way to occupy their minds while everyone else catches up. This design is a recipe for disaster. Many advanced students end up having behavioral problems because they are so bored in the traditional classroom. It is too much to ask a child – no matter how gifted – to sit all day quietly even though he or she is completely bored. In the Montessori classroom, the teacher approaches advanced students with their unique needs in mind. Advanced students are provided with work that is challenging based on where they are academically – not on the progress of others in the class. When a gifted student in the Montessori classroom masters a concept, he or she will be provided with the resources to move on to the next concept. This design provides advanced students with the stimulation and challenge they need to remain engaged in the learning process.

Students with learning difficulties

Students with learning difficulties are welcomed in the Montessori classroom. The teacher approaches each of these students individually. There is no pressure for students who are struggling to move on from a concept before they have attained mastery. Students with learning difficulties are provided with the resources and time they need to make progress in the Montessori classroom.

Average students

Average students in the Montessori classroom are approached in the exact same way as advanced students and those with learning difficulties – individually. In the Montessori classroom, there really is not any such thing as an average student. Each child is looked at individually and taught individually. The teacher designs individual learning plans based on the needs of each student.

A Montessori classroom is a place where every student gets the type of instruction they need. The individualized approach of the Montessori Method allows for a wide variety of students to thrive. If you are considering Montessori education for your child, you can rest assured that he or she will not get lost in the shuffle. You can see how the Montessori Method can work for all types of children by scheduling a time to observe a class.