Just as the Montessori Method promotes total child development in early education, it also benefits them in many ways during the middle school years. This is the time when kids are starting to really think about things outside themselves, and putting concepts they were taught in early education to work. Things such as grace and courtesy, elements at the foundation of Montessori's Method, are ready to be put into practice, helping children develop into caring, intelligent adults with the skills necessary for becoming tomorrow's leaders.
Learning Self-Responsibility
In the Montessori classroom, middle school students are already practicing the skills of leaders. Instead of being assigned a specific curriculum, Montessori students make contracts concerning their educational goals and choices. Freedom of choice is an important part of Montessori, but learning to be responsible for their own goals and behaviors is priceless for children entering their third stage of development.
Practicing Empathy
Children first begin to relate to the feelings of others during their second stage of development, or the years between ages 3 and 6. In middle school, they will fine-tune their ability to put themselves in someone else's shoes. Working with other students, taking part in community activities, and playing a more active role at home are all instances where practicing empathy-- and humility-- help children become future leaders.
Developing Critical Thinking
In the simplest terms, critical thinking is the ability to solve problems by considering the options available. Learning to think critically also encourages children to take leading roles because solving a problem requires action to implement. Opportunities to apply critical thinking are found everywhere and develop necessary skills for those who will be taking leading roles in the community and workplace in a few short years.
Self-Esteem and Montessori
When children perform an action successfully-- even abstract lessons gained from empathy, responsibility, and critical thinking-- it makes them feel better about themselves and their abilities. Montessori is intended to benefit all aspects of childhood development, including developing the social skills necessary for future leaders to be able to fill those leading roles.
Middle school is when the concepts learned in the early years can be put into practice. Children are already saying polite things and helping each other by this time, but the social constructs they are using before middle school are only an outline of the behaviors that will mold them into success stories during middle school and beyond.
