Reflecting on our Montessori Journey

We kicked off the school year by welcoming more than 80 parents to the Montessori Journey. The morning took families across our campuses and through each level, from infancy through adolescence. Along the way, they had a chance to see how Montessori education grows with the child, responding to individual pace, strengths, interests and needs at every stage.

At each plane of development, the classroom environment, materials and guidance evolve along with the child. Each stage builds naturally on the one before it. That progression supports each child’s growing capacity to learn, contribute and thrive (See the Journey Handout). Our hope was that moving through the levels in sequence would help families see those connections for themselves and better understand the thought and intention behind a Montessori education.

As the morning unfolded, we watched parents settle onto classroom rugs, gather around tables, pick up materials, read books, ask questions, laugh together and become absorbed in lessons. Some worked quietly with materials on their own. At other moments, small groups gathered around a teacher to see where a lesson might lead. There was a wonderful sense of curiosity throughout the morning.

This was our first time offering the Montessori Journey on this scale, and we learned a few things about timing and keeping the flow moving smoothly. We were also genuinely touched by how fully everyone took part. Parents tried the materials, talked with teachers, lingered over things that caught their attention, and were willing to become students again!

One of our favorite things to watch was what happened as families moved from one level to the next. We could see people stopping to examine something more closely, talking with one another about what they had just experienced and beginning to recognize ideas from earlier classrooms appearing again in new forms. The connections we talk about so often became something they could actually see and touch.

At lunch, we asked everyone to reflect on the morning and share a feeling or impression on a sticky note. We were humbled and encouraged by what was shared:

“You can see and feel how thoughtful the teachers are with their lessons.”

“This was so visual, tactile, and had a great emphasis on critical thinking, compassion, and social justice.”

“Inspired.” “Informative.” “Hopeful.” “Awed.” “Curious.” “Excited!!” “Collaborative.” “Encouraging.”

“This made me hopeful for all children to remain full of light, and continue to love learning.”

“Inspired, ready to implement stuff at home.”

“Appreciative of the building blocks of knowledge.”

“Money well spent.”

“Curious to know more, especially about upper level.”

“There are so many manipulatives which help abstract concepts become concrete.”

“Inspired. Very impressed with all the work the kids are able to do. They are very capable!”

Those notes mean a great deal to our teachers and staff. We hoped the Montessori Journey would help families better understand what their children experience each day. Watching everyone explore, question, laugh and learn together gave the morning a life of its own.

Thank you to everyone who spent a Saturday morning with us and joined in so wholeheartedly. We hope you left seeing your child’s classroom with fresh eyes, with a deeper sense of how each stage connects to the next, and with a greater understanding of the remarkable journey your child is already on.