Why does the Montessori Method encourage mixed age group?
If you have siblings at home, you would notice that the younger ones learn quickly from older ones. This is natural. Dr. Maria Montessori observed this behavior and reasoned that this behavior is exhibited because children relate to each other better. Thus the typical Montessori Environment would comprise of children in different age groups. The older children would act as Assistant Teachers and Mentors. The younger children also learn the academic and social behavior much quicker due to this setup. What amount of freedom is a child given? The Montessori Method provides freedom and choices of learning, enabling children to feel, understand experiment and explore. With so much emphasis on freedom and exploration, the children are allowed to explore the environment, talk to other children and teach other children just like an adult. Hence the child feels responsible and respected. The child knows his limits and learns in due course that as long as he/she is not a disturbance and behavior
