Montessori for Adolescents
By SJMS Middle School Teacher, Jenn Jordan

Adolescence is a period of tremendous personal growth and change. The Montessori prepared environment for this age group is designed to respond to the sensitivities of this age: personal dignity, social justice, and belonging. The positive sense of belonging is nurtured through weekly community meetings run by the students. The mixed-age class supports students in applying themselves in a unique way to a group experience creating opportunities for all students to take on leadership roles. By working side-by-side with an increased number of adults our adolescent students engage in the immediate needs of the community: cleaning chores, weeding the garden, doing volunteer work in their community.

Academics are not taught in isolation, but through work that has a clear purpose. Shorter periods of direct instruction and longer blocks of independent work time each day allow enough time for each student to follow personal threads of interest without interrupting developing focus. Integration of subject areas in the classroom means less repetition in their work.

Students continue to be agents of their own learning. They develop confidence through responsibilities that adequately match the capabilities of the adolescent. Students develop a high level of independence and self-direction in the classroom. They learn to be comfortable with collaborative work and have a love of learning for learning’s sake. They treat each other with respect and are comfortable with the knowledge that each person has different strengths and challenges. By delivering a strong academic program while meeting the physical, social and emotional needs of the adolescent, the Montessori approach to Middle School prepares students to be active, confident members of whatever community they move into next