Inside Our Classrooms

Peace Education

Establishing lasting peace is the work of education.

Maria Montessori

Peace education in Montessori emphasizes the development of a child’s inner sense of harmony, respect, and understanding of others. Maria Montessori believed that true peace begins within the individual, and she designed her method to nurture this inner peace by fostering emotional intelligence, empathy, and a sense of responsibility. In a Montessori classroom, children are encouraged to practice peaceful conflict resolution, collaboration, and mutual respect. The environment is intentionally structured to promote cooperation rather than competition, where children learn to value diversity, work together, and communicate respectfully. Peace is not merely taught as an abstract concept, but as a living practice woven into the daily interactions, curriculum, and activities of the classroom.

Montessori peace education also extends beyond the individual to the larger community and the world. Children are exposed to lessons on global cultures, geography, and social justice, helping them develop a sense of interconnectedness and global citizenship. Through practical activities like caring for the environment, engaging in service projects, or learning about historical figures who advocated for peace, students begin to understand their role in creating a peaceful world. Montessori’s focus on respect for both people and the planet instills a deep sense of responsibility, empowering children to act as agents of peace in their local communities and, eventually, on a global scale.

Montessori Assessment

Assessment is a constant and ongoing process in our Montessori classrooms. A crucial assessment component to our classrooms is observation. Through trained observation, guides are able to ascertain if a child has mastered a concept. This includes factors such as knowledge, perseverance, concentration, motivation, self-confidence, and interest. A guides ability to assess each student as an individual contributes to the authentic relationship and experience that promotes the successful academic and social/emotional development of our students.

In Montessori we categorize each lesson as either Presented, Working, Mastered, or Ongoing. Presented: the child has received a lesson on the activity or topic. Working: the child is practicing the skill or practicing using the knowledge. Mastered/Ongoing: the student has demonstrated their understanding of the information and is ready for the next lesson.

Most parents are familiar with a grading system, like A, B, C, D, F that indicates how well a student is preforming in school. In Montessori we only document the work of the child. Montessori students move on when they have demonstrated they comprehend a lesson. The next lesson often builds on previous knowledge. A Montessori curriculum is designed to be integrated and cumulative. As students work their way through the curriculum they continue to practice and use the knowledge they gained from previous lessons.

Control of Error is another type of assessment in our classroom. Control of Error is a term used in Montessori that refers to a material or work that allows the child to self-correct. This type of self-assessment promotes internal motivation and increased ownership of their work. It solidifies for them the importance of ongoing practice and effort over perfection and external praise, rewards or grades.

Great Books and Language

Classen is a Great Books school. Our students read high-quality literature that inspires curiosity, imagination, and love for reading and writing. We truly believe that children are great readers – that they respond to the nuances, complexity, beauty, and artful use of language that is found in great books. Classen Montessori School has always been a school where children have been exposed to great writing at all levels – in our Primary classes, the teachers read good books aloud, later the children read to themselves, for their own reflection, use in their academic work, and for group discussions.

We use age-appropriate materials, and as of Kindergarten, we include materials from the Great Books Foundation, in particular as the students start the Elementary program. The following is inserted from the Great Books Foundation’s website:

Source: http://www.greatbooks.org/about/history/

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