3. Debby Riordan of Montessori 360

Debby Riordan, the founding director of Montessori 360, knows how innovation doesn’t necessarily mean having to create something new for Montessori. People recognize the Montessori name, but know little about how the method truly works. Joanne and Debby talk about practical life exercises, soft skills, hard skills and emotional intelligence in relationship to what Montessori does for children and their future. And how to present Montessori to parents with a traditional education.

Children who are educated utilizing the Montessori method learn the fundamentals of reading and math, and are prepared for traditional school. However, this is not the most important aspect of a Montessori education. Prominent students of the Montessori include Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin, Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, renowned chef Julia Child, and Prince William and Harry.

Montessori helps children develop the soft skills working toward the hard skills. Practical life exercises such as washing windows may seem impractical to parents with backgrounds in traditional education. However, these exercises teach children independence, responsibility, and step by step processes that develop the mathematical mind.

This interplay extends to elementary school students planning their own field trips and coordinating with their peers utilizing skills that are perceived as far beyond their grade level. These skills aid in shaping how these children will become future leaders of our world.

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