“My name is Alexandria Hunter and I’m a twenty year old college student studying Theatre Arts and Business Management at Linfield College in McMinnville, Oregon.“
How did you feel about hands on learning?
“Montessori education was my foundation, I didn’t know anything else until I was in 7th grade. Hands on learning was my norm, and it wasn’t until I entered a public school halfway through middle school that I realized how effective hands-on learning had been for me. Using materials like golden beads in the Montessori classroom assisted me in building my math skills, especially because I have a hard time visualizing numbers in my head. I needed to see evidence in front of me in order to make connections. I’m also aware that this method doesn’t work for everyone, but I think as a foundation for young minds, it’s helpful in making those connections between what’s in your head and what’s in your hands, especially since what’s in our hands is our main focus when we’re younger.“
What is your opinion of Montessori now that you’ve had experience in other learning environments since?
“I’ve attended multiple schools, all with different learning styles: Public, Montessori, Project-Based, and Homeschool. I was exposed to many different approaches to education. I think all of these styles hold their own strengths, but none of them can supply a child with as strong of a foundation as Montessori. Montessori solidifies the essential skills and habits that young minds need in order to grow and fall in love with learning.”
