Montessori Classes Encompass a Three-Year Age Span
Montessori classes are organized to encompass a two or three year age span, which allows younger students to experience the daily stimulation of older role models, who in turn blossom in the responsibilities of leadership. Students not only learn “with” each other, but “from” each other. We find that most often the best tutor is a fellow student who is just a bit older.
Some parents worry that having younger children in the same class as older ones will leave one group or the other short changed. They fear that the younger children will absorb the teachers’ time and attention, or that the importance of covering the Kindergarten curriculum for the five year olds will prevent teachers from giving the three and four year olds the emotional support and stimulation that they need. Both concerns are misguided.
Working in one class for two or three years allows students to develop s strong sense of community with their classmates and teachers. The age range also allows especially gifted children the stimulation of intellectual peers, without requiring that they skip a grade and feel emotionally out of place.