Parents are always looking for the latest and greatest new ideas to educate their children. But, this year, something more than 100 years old is new again. Thomasville Christian School officials are excited about opening the first Montessori program in the area.

Montessori classrooms are known around the world as exemplary models of integrated education that also allow children to have individual needs met through extended curriculum choices.

“Children ages 3 years to 5 years old learn in one classroom in a way that feels more like a community,” said Rhea Brashear, the Montessori teacher for this class. “Each age has unique developmental focus that comes together in a way that supports each student. The open classroom style neither limits a child’s learning nor forces them to comply with artificial curriculum structure.”

Brashear has been teaching in the Montessori method for decades and has seen many children who do not fit a traditional program flourish in these types of classroom environments. 

The core of any Montessori program is the unique level of respect for the intellect of the young child coupled with a prepared classroom environment that takes learning seriously. If you observe in a classroom you will see a 4-year-old child working independently on puzzle maps of the countries in Europe next to a 5-year-old figuring out the math facts for the squaring of numbers from one to 10.

“Each child is allowed to pursue their desires for learning in a way that does not hold them back just because the curriculum guide says the class has to cover a letter or number of the week,” she added. 

This may sound interesting but does it work? Well, here a few people who had Montessori educations: Larry Page and Sergey Brin — founders of Google, Jeff Bezos — founder of Amazon.com and Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis — former first lady. Source: http://www.dailymontessori.com/montessori-questions-answers/famous-montessori-educated-people/

It’s an amazing method that continues to thrive in every nation and culture of the world, school officials added. The method was founded by Dr. Maria Montessori in Italy in 1906. It is worth noting that she was the first woman to earn a medical degree from the University of Rome in 1896.

Thomasville Christian School is at its core a school that prepares children to have a Christ–centered world view and a strong foundation in the Biblical teaching. The school welcomes children in preschool through sixth grade. Registration is open for the fall term which starts Aug. 7. Visit www.tcschool.org or call (229) 226-1515 for more information.