Uncovering the Hidden Potential

As I was reading the news this past weekend, I came across this opinion piece by Adam Grant, an organizational psychologist at the University of Pennsylvania. He shares his concerns about the American educational system and outlines some of the practices in other countries that may lead to better educational outcomes.

I, like many of the people who commented on it, couldn’t help but see the connections to Montessori education. One of the findings that he identifies is the benefits of a child having the same teacher over multiple years. This is quite familiar to us at WMS as our students remain in the same classroom with the same teachers for two or three years. Grant stated, “Every child has hidden potential. It’s easy to spot the ones who are already sparkling, but many students are uncut gems. When teachers stay with their students longer, they can see beyond the surface and recognize the brilliance beneath.” 

A truer statement cannot be found. One of my first experiences at a Montessori school was learning that the teachers were instructed to identify a child who was an “uncut gem” and to focus on building a relationship with that child. Teachers were asked to take the time to get to know them, to learn who they are, to find out what they care about and to make a connection. This is what makes a difference in a child’s educational experience - relationship.

As I observed morning meetings at several levels over the past week, I noted the way in which the students and adults interact. They laugh, they ask questions, they extend a helping hand to those who may be a bit lost, and they care for one another. The teachers and students have created a culture where everyone has the opportunity to learn, to be themselves and to be respected and honored for who they are. Being with the same group and teacher for multiple years not only allows this to happen, it furthers the goal of identifying students’ capabilities, challenging them and allowing them to flourish as learners.

As a longtime teacher in the Upper Elementary (9-12) Program, one of the things I noted time and time again was that those three precious years with a student allowed me to know them, to understand them as learners and as individuals. It allowed us to be in a relationship that taught us each so much. Even if the beginning was a bit rocky, it smoothed out as we got to know one another better and adapt as was needed.

Nothing replaces knowing a student. And as Adam Grant shares, knowing the many dimensions of a student is going to benefit their learning. “Great education systems create cultures of opportunity for all. They don’t settle for no child left behind; they strive to help every child get ahead.” That is our goal each day at WMS.