Children (and, let’s face it, adults) are often easily fooled into thinking that someone else is in charge of them, especially when it comes to education. When we allow ourselves a reflective moment, however, we are the only ones who can decide to learn. Each of us, individually, is responsible for our own learning, or lack of it. That is one of the great “secrets” of Montessori education. 

When our students truly own their education, beautiful things happen. 

Last month, several of our distance learning students, from computers in several locations, sparked a spate of impressive, creative learning among our entire elementary community. These three young women curated a list of Black Americans who have changed our country and our lives. 

Once they had their list, the students took the class lists for all of elementary and assigned an Upper Elementary student and a Lower Elementary student to each name. They asked students to research their assigned person. Upper Elementary students were assigned a written piece in response to their research, and Lower Elementary students were asked to create a piece of art in response. 

At the end of the month, students shared their work. I should no longer be surprised by the variety of work created by Montessori students. But, I was. 

They created poems, research papers, essays. 



They created drawings, sculptures, needlework, collage, and paintings.