Mentorship in our classrooms: Why Mixed Ages Work

Have you ever noticed the mixed-age classrooms in a Montessori school and wondered why? This is a specific design that allows younger children to benefit from having older peers as role models and mentors and enables older children to step into leadership roles. This model mirrors real-world experiences where people of different ages work together and learn from each other.

In our IMSP classrooms, older students relish and value the opportunity to be leaders, sometimes stepping into a teaching role. Mentoring their younger friends increases the independence and competence of the older students. This model is also beneficial to the younger children as they look to older students to be role models and helpers. They know that they can count on them for help and, because of this, they can accomplish tasks they may not be able to do independently yet.

As a whole, children can cooperate rather than compete, creating an environment of learners who support and care for each other. Check out this video to see Montessori mentorship in action!

Want to learn more? Read our next article:

STARTING PRESCHOOL: HOW TO HANDLE SAYING GOODBYES?

Comments

Další články

Cooking With Children can be fun

It is often said that “the family that eats together, stays together”. We would like to suggest taking it a step further – and encourage every family to cook together, too. In Montessori, we know that kitchen work provides a host of benefits to children, all the way from toddlers to adolescents; it is a part of the Practical Life curriculum as soon as children can walk! However, its advantages are in no way tied to the classroom and can be just as easily – if not more so – applied at home.

Toilet Training: A Key How to Succeed

How to handle toilet training? It’s often considered one of the first big parenting “tasks,” and can bring a lot of anxiety and frustration. But it doesn’t have to! In Montessori Infant and Toddler classrooms, we use a time-tested and practical approach to toilet training that is (dare I say it) easy on both parents and children.

Positive Language: How to turn a ‘no’ into a ‘yes’

“Life can become much easier, simply by changing the words that we use” - Alicia Eaton, AMI Montessori Teacher and Child behavioral specialist

Make homemade soap with your toddler!

All you will need is 100g of soap, rubber molds, turmeric powder, lemon or orange essential oils, fresh lemon or orange, and a grater or zester.

IMSP 20th Anniversary

We're excited to celebrate 20 years since IMSP first opened its doors to the Prague community. Two decades spent working with parents, teachers, and staff that share our same passion for holistic education is something we’re proud of. The Montessori method is community-driven, and as we look back on our achievements so far, we want to take time to thank the people that made it all possible.