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

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.

Holiday Baking With Your Toddler

It's beginning to look a lot like winter - with first frosts and early dark, but also bright twinkling lights and seasonal decorations wherever you look. Is it any wonder that we populate the long, cold nights of December with candle light, evergreens and the smells of a myriad festive treats? So many delicious flavours belong firmly at the close of the year - hot chocolate and sweet tea, spiced pies, delicate cookies and savoury roasts, all keeping us cozy and warm as well as full.

Mones

Sorry, this article is only in Czech.

Communicating with the Toddler Child

As teachers, we are often asked what special tips or tricks we use to get children to cooperate. Most often parents ask questions like “How can I get my child more interested in dressing and eating by themselves?”or “How can we make the mornings run more smoothly?” It can feel challenging when our patience is tested, but we must remember that children are learning to develop their own will and sense of obedience which is a natural process lasting until around six years of age.

Toddler & Me Parent Interview Aria & Evangelia

We are pleased to introduce Evangelia and her daughter, Aria who started with IMSP after attending our Toddler & Me course. How did they like it, what have they learned, and what benefit does it bring to their daily life?