"The greatest development is achieved during the first years of life, and therefore is then that the greatest care should be taken.”

DR. MARIA MONTESSORI

The kindergarten year is a pivotal year.  It's the culmination of the past two, sometimes three years, of acquiring and absorbing knowledge and exploring with the materials. No matter the child's birth order at home, they get to play each role in the classroom: youngest, middle and oldest.  This is the year it all comes together; the year they will become a leader and dive into the deep depth of academic work. As the Montessori classroom functions as a community, the younger children are encouraged to seek out guidance and help from those older leaders in the classroom.  These older children reinforce their academic skills by helping other children, a well-documented way to consolidate knowledge.  This is the year they become the go-to person, the car line helper and the resident expert in the classroom. The kindergarteners lead lessons; resolve conflict; aid in problem solving and build the classorom community with their shared kindness and natural abulity to nuture the younger chidlren.  These organic experiences and interactions with one another only aid the child in developing their self-esteem and confidence.  This is something that cannot be taught, but only fostered through experiences. How wonderful that the Montessori environment does this all naturally!