Groups in Montessori

When Maria Montessori began to develop the method of education that now bears her name, she changed much about what at that time passed as children’s education.

Tables and chairs were shrunk to child-size, children were given real tasks to do, and observation (not testing) became the key to knowing how a child was progressing.

Another change that occurred was that children were grouped in multi-age classrooms, rather than having one age per class.

Generally, Montessori age groupings are as follows:
• Infant: birth – 18 months
• Toddler: 18 months – 3 years
• Preschool: 3-6 years
• Lower Elementary: 6-9 years
• Upper Elementary: 9-12 years
• Middle School: 12-14 years
• High School: 15-18 years

Because traditional schooling generally groups children of just one age together, mixed age groups is a striking difference between Montessori and traditional educational programs. There are pros and cons to the idea of mixed age groups, but we believe that the benefits definitely outweigh any possible negatives.

What Do Mixed Age Groups Bring to Montessori?

1. Interaction: The mixed age group environment creates an atmosphere where children learn to help and be helped by other children, because they interact consistently with children whose age and abilities are varied. Children gain an appreciation of their achievement and the accomplishments of others, and are naturally challenged by the achievements of others.

2. Learning from Each Other: Older children learn to be patient and tolerant, and serve as role models and teachers for the younger children. When an older child teaches a younger one, it reinforces previously learned concepts and is actually an aid in complete mastery of concepts. Younger children learn about courtesy, manners, and conflict resolution by watching the older children in the class

3. Work at Child’s Own Pace: Because teachers do not have to set the instruction pace by a whole group, each child is given the ability to learn at his or her own pace. This is a striking difference from traditional education, where everyone turns to page 33 of the book and stays there until every child understands the concept.

4. Community: :By staying in a class/group for a longer period, children develop a strong sense of community and stability. This community aids the development of students as role models for one another.

5. Familiarity:: Being in the same classroom year after year allows a teacher to truly learn each individual child’s learning abilities, style, and developmental level to better be able to set the learning agenda as well as build on strengths and work on weaknesses.

Is There a Downside?

1. Isolation: One major criticism for the Montessori mixed age group classroom is that children tend to work in isolation at their own tasks, with little social cooperation among students. In any classroom that allows children to work at their own pace, mixed age or not, this could potentially be the case.

2. Overburdened Older Students: Some people feel that a teacher should be the one to help a child when he or she needs help with a particular concept. There is always the possibility that older children are unreliable sources or ineffective teachers who may further confuse a peer. If older students are teaching or helping younger ones, they may be missing out on part of their own education.

3. Harder for Teachers: As well, there is a burden on the teacher to essentially teach three grades (or more) instead of one. This is definitely a challenge. Balancing it out, though, is the fact that the teacher understands clearly what the child needs to master to move to the next level.

Real Questions – and Answers! – About Mixed Age Grouping in the Montessori Classroom

1. I don’t want my younger child going to an older one for help. Only the teacher should help them since I can’t rely on an older child to know the answer.:

In the Montessori classroom, the teacher is not the primary focus of the classroom; the child is. Who better to learn from than your own peers? They have already had the presentations and had individual practice with the material. They are truly the ‘experts’ in the classroom. If the younger child is not satisfied with the answer they receive from a peer, they are always able to ask a teacher for further clarification.

Additionally, it is a delight to watch the joy and appreciation of the older students when their younger peers learn something new. There is a purity of emotion and lack of competition and the younger students have a true sense of accomplishment.

2. Why can’t there be a single age in a classroom? It’s really too intimidating for my child to be around all those big kids.:

Mixed age classrooms actually provide more stability. By staying in the same classroom for longer, the children form solid relationships and a sense of community with both their peers and their teachers. The culture of the room remains calm and stable when majority of the class returns each year. The younger children look up to the older ones as role models and the older children look forward to the opportunity to be mentors.

3. I don’t want my older child to become the babysitter of the younger ones. Why should his/her education suffer? The teacher should be the one teaching:

Yes, older children do take on the role of mentor in the Montessori classroom. At the beginning of the year they act as role models for how the classroom runs as well as a point of contact for basic questions such as “Where’s the bathroom?”, “Where do I put my lunchbox?”, and “When do we eat lunch?”. Older children also assist younger ones with their daily work. They may teach lessons or help check work and correct errors.

This demonstrates a very high level of thinking. Being able to re-teach a skill that has been previously learned enables the one teaching to learn as much as the child receiving the lesson. Re-teaching reinforces the previously-learned concept and moves the child toward complete mastery. It also helps develop independence and autonomy in the older child, something that is often lacking in traditional settings.

4. I don’t want my young child playing on the playground with all those big, rough children. Can’t you have a separate recess for them? :

The mixed age grouping in a Montessori classroom becomes like a family for both the children and their teachers. The older children look out for the younger ones. They teach them how to play new games, how to share, and how to be good sports. They also are the first to rush to their side if someone gets hurt. This mirrors the social order in the child’s daily environment. Think about it – do you separate younger siblings or cousins from playing together.

We are a Montessori family and we look out for one another.