Proven Benefits to a Montessori Education

When you have the opportunity as a parent to send your child to a private rather than public school you are then faced with choosing which private school is best. There have been several studies done that show the benefits that Montessori learning offers children who attend Montessori schools. These have looked at not just academic performance but also areas such as social skills, behaviour and the psychology of children between the ages of 5 and 12. If you are thinking about sending your child to a Montessori school, Perth, you might be interested to see the results of one such study published by a Dr. Lillard at the University of Virginia.

Core Principles of the Montessori Teaching Method 
Begun by Maria Montessori at the start of the 20th century and developed since then, the core principles of true Montessori schools are the same and include;

• Child-led learning while teachers offer support and guidance and act as observer and facilitator
• Students have a stimulating and safe environment to learn in
• Children follow their instincts and learn what they want to learn
• Classrooms have a mix of age groups in them and principles of co-operation, sharing and inter-age socialising is encouraged
• Classes downplay competition which causes unnecessary stress, for that reason, there is no grading or testing, at least not in the form it takes in traditional schools
• Hands-on learning at a Montessori Rockingham independent school especially with young children is encouraged
• Smaller class sizes
  
  

How do five year olds compare in Montessori schools against traditional schools?
When looking at five years olds from a Montessori school and those from a traditional private school, it was found that those attending Montessori schools had better reading and math skills, and performed better in testing too. They had better spelling, punctuation use and grammar than their counterparts. Problem-solving skills were also better as were their socialisation skills. Sending your child to a Montessori school Perth is could then give them a much better start in their education and development.

How do twelve year olds compare in Montessori schools against traditional schools?
When comparing the twelve year olds from Montessori schooling with those attending traditional private schools the difference is less noticeable. Reading and math ability has evened out more but those from Montessori schools continue to be more creative, be better problem solvers and have more sophisticated writing ability. It is also true that this methodology means 12 year old children from Montessori schools are more confident and do better socially and in terms of behaviour.

Conclusion
When looking at what a Montessori Rockingham independent school could offer your child these are some important facts to consider. Montessori teaching is not for everyone, but it seems especially effective for younger children and is something to consider whether you do it just for the primary years, or choose to take it further.