2024-2025 MAM Memo #3 

Outcomes

By Caroline Robbins, Assistant Principal

This month, our students in 3rd- 8th grades are participating in the Wisconsin Forward exam.  While we emphasize a well-rounded education in our Montessori setting and do not teach to the test, we do equip students with the skills and tools to succeed academically, and our students tend to do well.  Parents and caregivers often ask what outcomes can be expected from a Montessori education.  You may be impressed by how your child cleans at home, uses sophisticated language, or comes home with deep questions.  Yet you may wonder how students can fare on tests – and in life – when instruction is individualized and students are allowed to pursue their own interests.  Like many aspects of Montessori pedagogy, it’s about balance: students can choose their work within a framework of acceptable choices, and teachers operate with a balance between freedom and responsibility in supporting students.

That said, what are some of the tangible – and intangible – benefits of a Montessori education? As inspired by Monica MacDonald of Nature’s Way Montessori, here are some anticipated outcomes along intellectual, behavioral, and social-emotional levels.

Intellectual outcomes for Montessori students include high academic achievement.  At Maryland Avenue Montessori School, our students consistently perform well on district and state assessments.  Nationwide, students in high-quality Montessori programs like ours generally outperform their peers in traditional settings.  You can see some of the research here: https://www.public-montessori.org/montessori/outcomes-studies-findings/. Beyond test scores, though, students develop intrinsic motivation, practice deep concentration, sharpen critical thinking and problem-solving skills, a rich vocabulary, and foster a lifelong love of learning.

Behavioral outcomes in Montessori settings include executive functioning skill development, an ability to delay gratification and pursue long-term goals, an ability to set schedules and plan, an ability to take turns and engage in cooperative and collaborative learning, and progressive levels of independence at each level.  For example, at the Primary level, students are developing functional independence – abilities to dress and care for themselves, clean up after themselves, express themselves, follow sequences of work, and engage in concentrated work.  At the Elementary level, students develop greater forms of intellectual independence – learning to think critically and analyze aspects of a problem – as well as to engage in friendships and navigate social interactions.  At the Adolescent level, students are developing social independence – exploring their identities and how they fit into the larger society, as well as experimenting with different occupations and looking at choices for productive contributions in the world.

Social-emotional outcomes in Montessori environments are numerous.  They include a development of empathy and emotional intelligence, in recognizing that each member of a classroom community brings unique strengths.  In addition, Montessori students tend to cultivate gratitude and an appreciation for learning, from unique Montessori materials like the Fundamental Needs of Humans, for Lower Elementary, and opportunities to choose research projects of interest.  From Primary to Elementary to Adolescent, the multi-age classrooms also foster leadership skills, as older students act as mentors and models for younger students.  And with independent or small-group work with engaging materials, students can enjoy the satisfaction of focused work and flow.  As the materials are challenging and offer built-in feedback, students simultaneously build perseverance and an ability to self-monitor and set personal goals.

Sold?  Pat yourself on the back: you’ve made an excellent decision in offering a Montessori education to your child.  If you’d like more information on anticipated outcomes, please attend our upcoming Montessori Morning on Friday, April 25, likely in B9. We’ll share some concrete examples that reinforce the meaningful, supportive, and developmental learning that takes place each day at MAM!