The Magic of a Multi-Age Classroom

Montessori classrooms are made up of children of different ages and stages. What are some of the advantages of this multi-age grouping?

Children:

• have the opportunity to both teach and learn 
• can be inspired to do work that they observe other children doing 
• can be role models for other students
• can develop qualities such as patience, tolerance and empathy as they interact with different age levels

In our classroom we are so proud of our older students who have stepped up as role models and mentors for younger students. Check out some of this learning in action:

Demonstrating moving from a cube to a successive cube whilst other students observe

Older students work along with younger students on the Timeline of Life

Working together on finding Lowest Common Multiples

Before school a student entertains others with her reading

The Hand is the Instrument of the Mind

Recently we have been doing some practical life activities in the classroom. The children have enjoyed baking, gardening, weaving, finger knitting as well as care of the environment. Maria Montessori believed that practical activities help children to develop hand-eye coordination, concentration, independence and self confidence. Although preschool classes have shelves dedicated to practical life activities, in the primary classroom, practical life is usually related to actual activities in day to day life. Here are some pictures of our practical life activities:

Focussed on weaving

Weaving takes lots of concentration when you first start

Baking with friends

Doing a jigsaw puzzle takes concentration, hand-eye coordination and teamwork

Feeling a sense of pride when the jigsaw puzzle is complete

2020 Vision

2020 is the start of a new journey for us as a Montessori classroom. Although the class is small, it has been wonderful to see the children mingling and interacting with each other despite differences in age and interests. We have jumped right back into learning and teaching. Here are some pictures of our first week. 

Language Area

Maths, History and Geography Area

Dining Area

Peace Corner - the pictures were sewn by one of the founding teachers who passed away in 2019

Working with new friends

Sounding out words with the movable alphabet

Measuring angles

Doing double digit division

Engaged with work

Baking banana muffins

Playing with the Animal Riddle Cards

Doing double digit division with a friend