Individual Attention

Traditional schools involve a “back to basics” approach. For older children, an element of this is sometimes not a bad thing. For the very young children, though, what is this, other than back to an emotionally and academically stultifying experience? Children are “told” things verbally and by written word instead of imagining, discovering and truly learning, all of which can only take place through individual attention.

Individual attention at Queensville Montessori Academy comes in different ways.

The most important individual attention is that of the young child to himself or herself. The learning is accomplished by the child as a result of his or her soaking up information “like a sponge”. The quest for knowledge comes from within.

Another form of individual attention at our school comes from teacher (“directress”) to the child. The directress introduces the child to special Montessori materials and the child is thereby invited into a learning experience. This is called a “presentation”. The role of the directress is subtle but essential. In recognition of the importance of presentations and in order to maximize each child’s opportunity to benefit from presentations, we maintain a low directress/student ratio.

Yet another form of individual attention to each student comes from their fellow students. Older children will sometimes spend time with younger students. The younger students are affected and inspired by the discoveries of their older peers and this is another form of individual attention that can spark the learning process that so easily and naturally occurs in the very young.

The common element to all of this is the supreme importance of individual attention to the nurturing of the child and the prospects of educational achievement.