As we start a new school term, we focus on settling children into their classes, their work and their school routine. At Forestville Montessori School (FMS), routines and schoolwork can look a little different than other schools.
With this in mind, we’d like to share what learning at FMS looks like from a parent’s point of view. Here, an FMS mother of 3 shares her process for choosing a Montessori education for her children, and their experience of learning at FMS since.
From Jollina Lee, September 2024
My Montessori journey began during COVID lockdown. With three young children at home indefinitely, I was lost on how to keep them entertained and maintain my sanity every day.
During this time, I discovered a book called The Montessori Toddler by Simone Davies. This book opened a brand-new world to me in terms of how to raise an independent, curious, responsible and confident child. I also read The Absorbent Mind and The Secret of Childhood, both by Maria Montessori. After reading these books, I just knew I wanted a Montessori education for my children, and so began our journey…
We didn’t choose Montessori education for our children without comparison. My husband and I visited several private and ‘alternative’ schools, and participated in two kindergarten exploration programs before making our decision.
I thought I would be sold on the impressive facilities at the private schools, but this wasn’t the case. After seeing these schools, I thought: we won’t be able to take any of these items with us when we finish. What we will take away is quality education from quality teachers. This is how I felt after visiting Forestville Montessori School (FMS).
At FMS, the children are treated as equals and spoken to with respect. They call the teachers by first name, just like friends. Teachers are guides to our children. They will be with our children for children for three years, not one.
Young children need quality teachers/ guides so that their childhood can be filled with warmth, kindness and laughter. I really wish this was my childhood education. In this environment, children’s curiosity, individuality, creativity and personality are very carefully nurtured, cultivated and developed.
Ethan’s Project (Koorowull, FMS 6-9 class, age 6)
I’d like to use an example of my child’s work to show you why we choose Montessori Education for our three children, and why we love being a part of Forestville Montessori School.
Ethan came home one day and told me he was working on his Egypt project and it was so much fun. I was thinking, ‘what do you mean by project? You can barely read! How is it possible to do a whole project?’ Then he started to ask me if I knew about pyramids and began to name of some mummified Egyptian pharaohs and lots more, until eventually, I couldn’t answer his questions.
I was curious to know how he had learned so much, so I asked my son:
How do you do your project?
Ethan said: “I go to library and find the book about Egypt and I read about it and I copy the information that interests me. I draw picture and write information below the picture.
What if you don’t understand?
He told me he is working with a partner on the project, explaining that his partner is very good at projects. Then I understood the teacher paired each child with an older student in the class group who has more experience researching and working on projects.
I asked him, Why Egypt?
He said lots of children went to visit the Ramses exhibition at The Australian Museum earlier in the year. When they spoke about it at school, their teacher suggested a class project on Egypt, and the whole class agreed.
Presentation
I was delighted later, when the teacher shared images of the children presenting their project to the class. Children between the ages of 6-9 each presented their project to the whole class at the end of the term. What a challenge! Ethan enjoyed every single part of it, and I know he will always remember this work.
Why I think this is beneficial for my children:
For younger children in the classroom
They are learning the skills of learning which is research. They are expanding their vocabularies. They are developing the skills such writing, comprehension, collaboration, social, public speaking, organisation skills. They have a positive role model as inspiration and always someone they can look up to and practice upon.
For older children in the classroom
They get all the benefits that the younger children do and are also reinforcing and improving their research skills. At the same time, the older children are developing skills such as mentorship, leadership, patience and empathy.
To me, this is a better way to test children’s knowledge than a standardised test. It’s fulfilling, motivating and memorable.
What I like most about this way of learning:
- Our children’s curiosity is protected. The teacher is allowing the children to work on a project of interest and dive deeper at their own pace.
- Creativity is encouraged. They draw the pictures and create images from their own imagination.
- It is a multi-dimensional learning environment. It is full of support, patience and guidance.
We will continue the Montessori journey to educate our children, as it educates the children as a whole.
