Ms. Cristina Wager-Weisman on how play-based learning has been an intrinsic part of our school since its very inception.

I find it fascinating that when I read an article about education, the author often explains something "new" in school pedagogy and that something "new" is something we have been doing since the start at Waterfront Montessori.

In the article, In Elementary Classrooms, Demand Grows For Play-Based Learning, Mara Krechevsky, senior researcher at Harvard's Graduate School of Education, describes what play-based learning looks like. "Students should be able to help lead their own learning, explore the unknown, and find joy. Under this framework, playtime doesn't have to be the reward for completing work and learning. Play can actually be work."

Sound familiar?

At Waterfront Montessori we have always understood this principle. Our classrooms are set up for children to explore, discover and play. You will not necessarily hear the word "play" used at Waterfront Montessori. We like to use the word “work” because a child's play, in the prepared environment, should be as respected as any adult's real-life work.

As a parent, when we are searching for the right school, we usually think about nurturing teachers, safety, and basic academic skills. But at Waterfront Montessori, we are so much more. Each shelf is placed meticulously at a child's eye level so that they are fascinated and attracted to a piece of "work." The classrooms are arranged so that students can move and spread about if they have a large piece of "work." The "work" is also three-dimensional so that a child can feel and touch it. Hands-on learning is an institution around here, not some concept the Principal learned about at a convention or read in an article. 

As our students move into our Upper Elementary and Middle School programs, peer-driven collaboration thrives in our classrooms. And, our graduates become young adults ready to make an impact on society and the world. So, while many schools are becoming "progressive;" we have been there and done that. We are beyond progressive.

To coin a term I heard recently, we are forward-thinking and preparing our students not just for high school or college but for what's beyond. I guess maybe we should consider changing our name to Waterfront Montessori Preparatory for Life!