Today we have a guest post by Kelsey Kamentz from Family Montessori. She is sharing about their homeschool Montessori hybrid program. The opinions she is expressing are entirely her own.
Family Montessori of Lebanon
As homeschoolers, most of us know that one size rarely
fits all. If you’ve ever been to a homeschool conference you’ve seen a
thousand different perspectives on how to educate a child and ensure their
best future.
Ever heard of Classical Conversations? Charlotte
Mason? Un-Schooling?
The reality is Homeschooling is
changing. Today,
families incorporate different methods to suit not only
their children’s learning style, but also their families’ lives as a
whole! Many homeschoolers are part of larger co-op
organizations and even these structures are morphing to fit the needs of each
individual community.
One organization redefining traditional education here
in Ohio is a Homeschool/Montessori hybrid called
Family Montessori.
Family Montessori's structure is a unique balance of
flexible, family-based learning and a Montessori classroom environment
geared to enhance a child's natural development. Unlike traditional
Montessori, parents are trained to volunteer in the classroom with their
children during “class days".
Kate, a FM mom, was surprised at how impactful her
experience volunteering in her daughter’s classroom has been. “It
is so thrilling to watch her uncover a new talent or make a new
discovery. What has surprised me is how much I personally have
benefited from [FM]. Spending time in the classroom has given
me new parenting tools to use at home, and the confidence that I can
support [her] as she develops and discovers the world around
her. Our whole family has benefitted from the FM community; not
just during school hours, but throughout the week.”
This homeschool-hybrid provides a
unique structure for children, but more importantly for families as a
whole. And their dedication to homeschooling allows families to
live as individuals according to their own priorities, passions, talents
and beliefs.
FM was born out of the struggles of these families; who,
like many others, desired to homeschool their children
effectively.
“[Before Family Montessori] I had homeschooled Finn
in addition to his attending a private pre-school. We knew from observing this
pairing that he would benefit from an environment which provided positive peer
to peer experiences. The traditional structure of learning proved a challenge
to his "hands-on" style of discovery.” Says Megan of her 7
year old son “As a family, we wanted for him to be a part of
a community. A place where he could be encouraged by the work modules
and style to grow his passion for learning. We believe Finn's greatest
ally at school is his own self-motivation and for a child, motivation is most
eager when the child feels confident to explore organically. That's why we love
FM. The community, the structure, and the love of learning it fosters in
Finn.”
The reason FM is such a powerful community is exactly that –
It’s a community! A place for families to grow alongside their
children.
As an organization, FM's philosophy centers on three
things:
Child
Education is about social, emotional and academic
development. Each child is uniquely created with his or her own
individual learning style. Family Montessori engages each child, helping them
develop at their own pace.
Family
The biggest advantage any child can have is a
strong family. FM is dedicated to supporting these most important
influences in each child's life, through
discipleship support, potlucks, workshops and
more.
Community
Our goal is for our children to become well-educated,
thoughtful adults who have a strong sense of community. To this
end, FM families participate in many service opportunities.
"Life has become so fragmented” says FM
founder Rachel Sachs "Conventional education centers on the
child, separate from his family. homeschooling focuses on
the family, but even that can sometimes feel isolating - especially for
homeschool moms!"
This is why Family Montessori exists - to be
a support system to families and a place of growth for children. To build
a community of grace and reach out to others.
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