"There is a great sense of community within the Montessori classroom, where children of differing ages work together in an atmosphere of cooperation rather than competitiveness. There is respect for the environment and for the individuals within it, which comes through experience of freedom within the community."

DR. MARIA MONTESSORI

You are fresh out of college looking for a job.  Your resume looks stellar; your education is great, you have plenty of volunteer time and you've even worked throughout your time attending college.  But what are employers looking for that isn't on paper?  You might have the best resume but if you don't work well with others you might not be that hire able.

In Montessori classrooms, children are placed together with children of other ages. The children are encouraged to use each other as resources versus continually going to an adult for guidance. Therein lends tremendous value for the children's development.  The younger children learn from the older children and find role models.  They have opportunities to strengthen their communication and observation skills. In turn, the oldest children obtain valuable character traits such as affirmation of knowledge and the building of self-esteem and confidence.  Often the collaboration blossoms in simply working on a material or project together. This collaboration occurs naturally in the environment and  lends to the harmony of the classroom.  Later in life, Montessori children take this naturally practiced skill and continue to enhance the attributes of collaboration on school projects, work teams, university studies and finally professional cohorts.