is also based on the idea that math comes naturally to most people. Montessori teaches
young children basic math principles by experimenting with tangible objects that they
are naturally attracted to. For example, students
learning addition and subtraction are taught these
concepts through what is called the Golden Bead
method. Students use the golden beads to understand
addition, subtraction, and the decimal system. For
Montessori students, math begins at the concrete level.
Once they show a deep understanding of the concept,
they can then begin to use it in more advanced math
and the learning builds on itself. When new, complex
concepts are introduced, even at advanced levels,
Montessori encourages teachers to use manipulatives first until students are
comfortable displaying their understanding on a symbolic level. Like in the other
methods of teaching, the teacher’s job is to guide the student to the concept, rather than
forcing the mathematical idea on them. Like the Jump program, the Montessori style of
teaching is rooted in the Socratic philosophy that learning is fueled by curiosity; if a
student has a desire to learn, then he or she will learn by experience.
The way that math is generally taught in the United States is effective for only a
small proportion of students. There are many paths to mathematical success in addition
to topic-specific math and students should be exposed to different styles of learning.
Ultimately, the educational experience belongs to students and they have the right to
discover for themselves what methods of learning work best for them.
Giving the Gift of Language: The Necessity of
Foreign Language Education
by Delaney Deskin
The world today is increasingly becoming more globalized as we hurtle into the
new reality of a modern Tower of Babel. In the European Union, two-thirds of all adults
are proficient in at least one foreign language; the number
is higher at 77% of millennials; and for an even larger
percentage of the population, compulsory instruction in
at least foreign language begins early in Kindergarten. Yet
in America, monolingualism is not only the norm, it’s a
source of pride for many. A measly 5% all AP tests taken
in 2014 were for any foreign language and only 7% of
American university students are enrolled in any