Every parent wants their child to do well inside the classroom. But, ultimately, the goal of education is for your child to learn skills that are valuable and applicable outside of the classroom. Success in life can be significantly impacted by the skills and habits your child develops while in school. The Montessori classroom is designed to help students build important habits that will contribute to their future success. One of those habits is studying. The approach to learning in the Montessori classroom will inform what your child believes about studying and learning outside of school.
Study habit 1: Approach studying in a variety of formats and situations
In the Montessori classroom, students learn in a variety of formats and situations. Sitting for hours on end listening to lectures and completing worksheets is not the design in the Montessori classroom. Instead, students learn by doing. When it comes time for students to study outside of the classroom, they will know how to approach the task in a variety of formats and situations because of their classroom experience.
Study habit 2: Take responsibility for learning
Parents and teachers work together diligently to ensure that each student in the Montessori classroom gets the best possible education. But, from the very beginning, Montessori students are taught to take responsibility for their learning. When students internalize the fact that they are ultimately responsible for what they learn, it changes the way they approach studying. There is no one to wait on or blame when the student takes responsibility for learning. When studying, this belief helps Montessori students stay driven and focused.
Study habit 3: Take steps to find the necessary resources
The Montessori classroom helps students develop into independent and self-directed learners. The goal is for students to be able to take the necessary steps to find the resources they need to master a concept. This habit of taking the steps needed to find resources serves Montessori students well when it is time to study. They do not need to be micromanaged by a teacher or parent because they know how to find relevant resources.
Study habit 4: Study in a way that leads to true mastery
One of the overarching goals for students in the Montessori classroom is for them to develop mastery in their areas of study. Mastery of an area means that learning is more than memorizing facts to pass a test. Instead, students are allowed the time and freedom to explore topics and concepts deeply. This freedom impacts the way that Montessori students study because they are focused on the long-term goal of learning instead of the short-term goal of getting a certain grade.
The lessons that your student learns in the Montessori classroom will help turn studying from being a necessary but unwelcomed task into a wonderful opportunity for continued learning. The approach to learning in the Montessori classroom will significantly impact how your student approaches studying.