Find Innovative Learning at Woodrow Wilson Montessori

Source: Dear Polia

Woodrow Wilson Montessori is Houston ISD’s first all-Montessori school as of 2005. It was named for President Woodrow Wilson and opened its doors in 1925 on an equally historic site— the summer farm of Mirabeau B. Lamar, the president of the Republic of Texas, located in what is considered the Montrose area.

While ‘Montessori’ to most people conjures images of pre-kindergarten education, a Montessori school is actually an educational approach laid out in the school’s framework—in this case, for grades pre-K-8^th.

According to the American Montessori Society, the philosophy behind a ‘Montessori’ education was laid out by an Italian physician and teacher named Maria Montessori, which includes a philosophy of ‘freedom within limits,’ to foster a child’s curiosity (and love of learning), self-motivation sense of self and independence.  This independence, while touted as a ‘mission statement’ by many schools, can be limited in traditional educational environments by the rigid and single-form learning environment. By contrast, a Montessori classroom can theoretically provide a child several options for what they want to learn or how they want to learn it. Their students learn by doing and discovering, instead of by instruction alone.

Source: Houston Chronicle, Principal Beth Bonnette poses question to students eager to answer

This sounds easy enough to structure with a classroom full of preschoolers who are learning to color in the lines and tie their shoes (though probably requires quite a bit of skill to implement—so extra kudos are in order for Montessori trained teachers who must do the juggling). However, mixed-age classrooms so children can learn from each other are integral and being able to continue to engage children up to the 8^th grade in this type of learning environment is a stunning feat.

Not sure if this learning program can help produce successful leaders in our community? Woodrow Wilson Montessori School has some remarkable alumni to show for its innovative approach to learning! GreatSchools.org tells us that although this previous year was the first class that was able to attend Woodrow Wilson from kindergarten all the way to 8^th grade graduation, famous alumni include the likes of Walter Cronkite and Mark White, the one-time Governor of Texas. Obviously they’re doing something right over there: providing a progressive education using creative education theory; the rave reviews from parents speak for themselves!