“The education of even a small child, therefore, does not aim at preparing him for school, but for life.”

– Dr. Maria Montessori

Thank you to all of the parents who attended a truly special parent evening on Nov. 11th. MBTS: 20 years of Learning for Life enjoyed a solid turn-out, with over twenty attendees gaining keen insight into how the Montessori environment prepares children for life.

The evening began with a very timely and relevant presentation from MBTS staff on resilience (the ability to bounce back from setbacks, keep trying in the face of difficulty, challenge or error, and learn from mistakes), which continues to dominate the spotlight in education, especially in the context of the uncertain and unusual that has been 2020. Staff introduced the 7Cs of Resilience, based on the research of Dr. Kenneth Ginsburg, Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. These 7Cs mirror the attributes that we strive to cultivate at MBTS:

1. Competence
2. Confidence
3. Connection
4. Character
5. Contribution  
6. Coping
7. Control   

(Please scroll to the bottom for videos and resources about resilience and the 7Cs.)

Ms. Michelle, Ms. Andrea, Ms. Sarah H. and Mr. Chad then represented their respective Toddler, Casa, Lower Elementary and Upper Elementary teams, and shared how these progressive Montessori programs at MBTS establish, hone and build upon the 7Cs in each stage of development. The Montessori environment’s unique emphasis on life skills and executive functioning was highlighted, and how the physical classroom, curriculum and methodology of each Montessori program challenge the child to rise to the occasion, not only academically or cognitively, but socially, emotionally and morally.

After the teacher panel, Montessori By The Sea welcomed two wonderful alumni: Hannah and Sabrina, who graduated from MBTS in 2011 and have since gone on their individual journeys as young adults. Hannah and Sabrina shared their honest testimony on their experience at MBTS, and the triumphs – and challenges – that they encountered as they embarked upon higher education and their chosen paths beyond school. Hannah was joined by her parents Jacki and Philip, and Sabrina was joined by her father, Eduardo, who shared their perspectives as parents who chose to have their children complete a Montessori foundation at MBTS. The audience was enlightened and entertained in equal measure by the alumni panel, as they shared their fond memories and high regard for MBTS, and gave truly thoughtful, honest answers to questions raised by the audience.

Very special thanks go to Hannah, Sabrina, Jacki, Philip and Eduardo, who were all so brilliant and so generous with their time and testimony. Their insights deeply affirmed and gave clear evidence on how a Montessori foundation sets up a child to succeed and thrive in the world beyond school. Special thanks also go to Ms. Michelle, Ms. Andrea, Ms. Sarah and Mr. Chad for sharing their Montessori expertise, and to Ms. Caoimhe and Ms. Liz for providing childcare during the evening.

Videos and Resources

If you missed this compelling and educational evening, we encourage you to view some video clips from the evening, and also explore the resources on resilience below.

MBTS: 20 Years of Learning for Life – They Will Adapt MBTS alumni parent Philip speaks with pride on how both Hannah and Sabrina adapted and thrived in their new environments, and talks about how a Montessori fo… youtu.be

MBTS: 20 Years of Learning for Life – Evaluation MBTS alumni student Sabrina shares her thoughts on the Montessori focus on independent work in relation to the external evaluation and comparison in a tradit… youtu.be

MBTS: 20 Years of Learning for Life – Coping with Change MBTS alumni student Hannah discusses the challenges she encountered in making the transition from MBTS to a more traditional learning environment. youtu.be

https://youtu.be/uqT7Vm79rkM

MBTS: 20 Years of Learning for Life – The Joy of Learning MBTS alumni parents Eduardo and Philip talk about whether their children genuinely enjoyed learning throughout their Montessori years, how the Montessori met… youtu.be

 

MBTS: 20 Years of Learning for Life – Independent Work MBTS alumna Hannah shares her thoughts on the value of independent work and the multi-sensory opportunities to learn in a Montessori setting. youtu.be

 

Dominic Randolph – Developing Character and the “Fragile Thoroughbred”

“WORDS THAT MATTER” RESILIENCE MONTESSORI WEBINAR  – Although we continue to enjoy more freedom compared to our counterparts around the globe, it cannot be denied that our children, families and community have been deeply impacted by COVID-19; its effects continue to reveal themselves and take clearer shape as time goes on. In a time of such uncertainty, resilience continues to be an essential factor in our children’s ability to grow, succeed and thrive. We invite all families to view the recording of “Words That Matter,” a live online webinar that had been hosted by Lead Montessori and presented by Dr. Eddie Brummelman, Assistant Professor at the Research Institute of Child Development and Education, University of Amsterdam; the webinar focuses on resilience and self-esteem, and the misconceptions that can hinder us as educators and parents in helping cultivate them in our children (note: Dr. Brummelman’s presentation starts at around the 6:50 mark). Included in the presentation are research-based strategies that both parents and teachers can use to help children feel worthy, embrace challenges, and persist in the face of setbacks. This webinar is a great complement to the MBTS: 20 Years of Learning for Life parent evening.