Clare still goes to her little neighborhood Montessori school, and continues to love it.  Montessori education stresses a lot of order and independence, setting up very specific guidelines for activities but then allowing the children to find creativity and autonomy within the structure and guidelines.  There are downsides to the Montessori method, of course, but I’m a fan.  In my mind one of the biggest benefits of Montessori education is that all of the teachers have additional training and certification.  They are men and women who are committed to early childhood development and education, and this passion and commitment shows in the schools. 

Clare is thriving at the school.  She loves the structure and order (she gets a little uncomfortable when there are lots of kids running around aimlessly) and really, really loves the independence.  She loves to set up her own “work” and take ownership of her activities.  Some of her favorite work is in the Practical Life area of the classroom.  Her school describes this as “consists of “real-life” activities through which children learn to care for themselves, others and their world. Familiar tasks and everyday skills such as pouring, polishing, washing a table, or sewing on a button lead to independence, concentration, a sense of order and coordination of movement.”  She loves to clean things and feel like she’s contributing to an orderly classroom.  At least once a week she’ll ask me if she can scrub the table, chairs, or floor at our house.  Of course, my answer is always “Yes!”

Beyond the classroom activities, which also include building and sensorial activities, language and reading, math, geography and science and art, Clare really loves the social activities.  The way I’m describing it probably sounds like all Clare does is slave away cleaning and studying geography all day at school, but it’s actually a very happy and contented classroom.  There is lots of singing, painting and drawing, and lots of giggling.  Her favorite part of school is her friends, which seem to be every child at the school.  In her last conference her teacher wrote

Yes, I’m very proud that Clare can sew a button, peel and cut a carrot, count beyond 100, can identify her continents, and is beginning to write words (yep, my bragging is getting pretty deep) but I’m proudest that she’s developing such great social skills.