Every person learns differently. Whether you’re in preschool, high school, or even as an adult, our brains just operate in unique ways! Some people learn better in a traditional school setting, while others find a more hands-on, self-paced approach appropriate for exploring new content. If your child is one of the latter, perhaps you should consider a Montessori school, like Waco Montessori School, right here in our backyard!
Montessori Schools are inspired by the research of Italian physician and educator Dr. Maria Montessori. Her work emphasized freedom within limits, independence, and respect for the child, three philosophies not often found in a traditional school setting. Typically speaking, Montessori students learn at their own pace and choose to learn using activities that they choose themselves. A traditional Montessori classroom sees students working independently or in groups, learning how to self-motivate, problem-solve, and work respectfully with others. As they get older, students tend to engage in hands-on learning opportunities like field trips, projects, productions, performances, and more.
You’ll also find that most Montessori classrooms are multi-age, divided into groups that typically span several years. This model has a variety of benefits, including allowing younger students to learn from the leadership of older peers and then model those leadership behaviors as they grow and become the leaders of the classroom.
Basically, Montessori learning appeals to kids because it makes learning engaging and fun, letting them be the leaders of their educational experience! When they get to learn using things that pique their curiosity and interest, at their own pace, and from the coaching of Montessori-certified teachers, students are set up for success.
1920 Columbus Avenue Waco, Texas 76701
Waco Montessori School (WMS) takes pride in educating children in a nurturing, stimulating Montessori environment. In their classrooms, every child is celebrated and appreciated as an individual and given opportunities to develop a lifelong love of learning. WMS is a family-oriented school that engages parents, siblings, grandparents, and plenty of others to create a safe place of learning, play, and, most importantly, community! Their team of skilled, Montessori-certified teachers is also an incredible – and critical – asset to the school’s success.
Waco Montessori School has learning programming for students ages 18 months through 12 years old. Starting with the Toddler Program, little ones 18 months through 3 years old will develop small and large motor skills while exploring their independence in the world. Special stations within the learning environment teach them how to do everyday tasks while learning how to work in groups and independently.
The Early Childhood Program is for children ages three through six and introduces them to concepts like the moveable alphabet, art, geography, and many other subjects while still utilizing Montessori learning concepts. In Kindergarten, 5-year-olds get to start applying all of the skills they learned in earlier programs to a year full of exciting and engaging learning!
In the Lower Elementary program, for 1st through 3rd grades, students begin to learn more academic foundations like language, math, and cultural curriculums. They’ll learn to plan their daily work, developing critical time-management skills that will last a lifetime. Upper Elementary is for 4th and 5th grade and utilizes small group learning for grammar, geometry, geography, and other important subjects.
Montessori learning is a beautiful alternative for kids who thrive with hands-on opportunities to learn at their own pace. If you’re curious to see how a Montessori classroom works, set up a tour to see Waco Montessori School in person!
Want to know what comes after finding the perfect school for your little ones? Family photos! I’m a Waco family photographer who loves working in the outdoors to create beautiful artwork for families. But I also love connecting with families over the great things in this beautiful area. That’s why I write blogs like these and the ones below. So, reach out today to start chatting about your dream session!