What is the Ungraded Classroom?
The greatest possibility for flexibility in permitting individual lessons and progress, while still retaining groups sessions, at no-expense to the individual child exists in the Montessori enrvironment. The use of individual materials permits a varied pace that accomodates many levels of ability in the classroom. If the classroom equipment is to be challenging enough to provoke a learning response, it must be properly matched to the sensitivities of each child. The most satisfying choice can usually be made only by the children themselves. The Montessori classroom offers children the opportunity to choose from a wide variety of graded materials. The child can grow as their interests lead from one level of complexity to another. They work in a group composed of individuals of various ages, abilities, cultures and interests and are not required to follow anyone else’s program…it permits the younger children a graded series of models for imitation, and the older ones an opportunity to
