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Oak Farm Montessori

February 2023

“I have found that in his development, the child passes through certain phases, each of which has its own particular needs. The characteristics of each are so different that the passages from one phase to another have been described by certain psychologists as ‘rebirths’.” Maria Montessori

Maria Montessori observed thousands of children during the course of her work. What she discovered was that learning was not linear, but rather a series of phases with distinct peaks and valleys. She called these phases, Planes of Development. If parenting sometimes feels like a roller coaster ride, this visual of ‘rebirths’, as Montessori called them, is an apropos depiction.

Early physicians and philosophers believed that college bound students were the most capable of learning knowledge. Montessori turned those beliefs on their head when she declared that the age from birth to six was the most important. Consider all that is learned at this time: movement, language, discrimination and communication; just to name a few. As children near the end of this plane, they are firmly grounded in the concrete world around them and are ready to expand into the abstract.

Enter the world of childhood. While there are not many visible physical changes, internally they are examining everything around them. Why is this happening? How does it affect me? When will I get to do that? The internal questioning of justice and morality takes rise in this confident elementary student and their dive into culture and humanities through the Great Lessons is beneficial.

Much like the intense growth in the first plane, adolescence can feel like a toddler has replaced your teenager. Hormones, clumsiness, sexuality and physical changes can cause frustration for both the child and the adults in their life. The third plane of development, while tumultuous, prepares your child for maturity; the fourth plane of development.

While identifying a final stage, Montessori did not imply that the adult was done developing; rather, becoming who they were meant to be. No longer dependent on others, this mature being contributes to the world around them. Becoming more the teacher than the student.

Serving children six weeks through high school allows us to see all four planes of development at OFMS. While the first steps in the infant room lead to running around the gaga pit and then proudly walking across the stage at graduation, enjoy each moment of this journey with your child knowing that the roller coaster ride will culminate in independence.

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