& 5 of her famous graduates
Maria Montessori stands in many ways as the mother of alternative education. The Italian physician and teacher invented a new kind of school, one with self-directed learning, classrooms with mixed age groups, and no grades.

Since the MSBG first opened its doors in 1980, we have educated thousands of children.  The number one statement that MSBG Alumni consistently report is that they LOVE LEARNING. If that alone isn't profound, here are some famous Montessori graduates:
 

In 2004, ABC's Barbara Walters asked Larry Page and Sergey Brin about the secret to their success. Both Mr. Page and Mr. Brin had college professors for parents. She wondered if that familial connection to learning played into their success. They said no. Their parents helped, but really their Montessori education was the key. Brin and Page specifically pointed to the curriculum of self-directed learning – where students follow their interests and decide for themselves what they want to learn. 
 

2. Will Wright

Video game pioneer Will Wright created The Sims, SimCity, and Spore. Each of his widely successful games share a certain spirit. For one thing, they rarely ever say "The End." Instead, his games let you tinker toward perfection, but let you define that perfection. Whether mapping out a digital city or directing the lives of a pixelated family, players follow whatever path interests them.

“Montessori taught me the joy of discovery," Mr. Wright told The Wall Street Journal. "It showed you can become interested in pretty complex theories, like Pythagorean theory, say, by playing with blocks. It’s all about learning on your terms, rather than a teacher explaining stuff to you. SimCity comes right out of Montessori."
 

If you want to learn more about Montessori – the woman or the teaching philosophy – you can always turn to Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia run by Montessori graduate Jimmy Wales. 

"As a child, Wales was a keen reader with an acute intellectual curiosity and, in what he credits to the influence of the Montessori method on the school’s philosophy of education, 'spent lots of hours pouring [sic] over the Britannicas and World Book Encyclopedias,' " says Mr. Wales' own Wikipedia entry. "There were only four other children in Wales’ grade, so the school grouped together the first through fourth grade students and the fifth through eighth grade students. As an adult, Wales was sharply critical of the government’s treatment of the school, citing the 'constant interference and bureaucracy and very sort of snobby inspectors from the state' as a formative influence on his political philosophy."
 

The Colombian author of "Love in the Time of Cholera" and "One Hundred Years of Solitude" attended a Montessori school as a child. 

Many Montessori websites quote the Nobel prize winner as saying, “I do not believe there is a method better than Montessori for making children sensitive to the beauties of the world and awakening their curiosity regarding the secrets of life.”
 

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos stands as a key member of the "Montessori Mafia."

"Mr. Bezos often compares Amazon’s strategy of developing ideas in new markets to 'planting seeds' or 'going down blind alleys,' " writes The Wall Street Journal. "Amazon’s executives learn and uncover opportunities as they go. Many efforts turn out to be dead ends, Mr. Bezos has said, 'But every once in a while, you go down an alley and it opens up into this huge, broad avenue.' "
 

To read about more famous Montessorians and the full article, click on this link: Christian Science Monitor.

Monday, January 6

We're excited to see you Monday!
The MSBG faculty is ready and excited to see everyone this week. This semester will bring new events, a new planting season for our Land  Lab, fantastic learning and unmatched education. 


Welcome Miss Cholena!

Cholena Hostutler is the new education aide in Early Childhood East. She holds a bachelors in human development and family studies. She has considerable experience working with early childhood children. She is service-focused, having worked with organizations such as Children's Miracle Network and Ronald McDonald House of Toledo. 

Pizza and Subs
Spring Semester