What Makes Nahunta Hall Different?

We nurture your child’s curiosity through discovery and creative expression

	NAHUNTA HALL’S MONTESSORI PROGRAM		TRADITIONAL MODEL
	Child who is intrinsically motivated to learn because he is allowed to follow his passion and choose activities that complement his learning style		Teacher who chooses when and what the child will study and attempts to motivate high performance by punishing or rewarding the child
	Extended learning sessions where children select multi-sensory materials and hands-on activities that foster their individual interests and needs		Teacher who schedules when and for how long a child will study each concept
	Inquiry based experiments and research projects that provide practical applications to real-life with cross-curricular activities that reinforce student-led discovery of new ideas		Teacher driven, whole class lectures followed by drill and practice worksheets that bore students and waste paper with additional busywork sent as daily homework
	Teacher who plays an unobtrusive role in the classroom and who stays with the same students for multiple years serving as a long-term , trusted learning guide		Teacher as ultimate controller of knowledge in the classroom with white board and teacher desk as the focal point of the learning experience
	Active education where students learn by doing, moving frequently to stretch both the body and the mind—choosing their own location for work		Rows of assigned desks facing the white board, filled with students sitting silently all day long
	Mixed age classrooms where students mentor one another and learn to show compassion for those who are different		Students segregated by age and ability
	Grace and courtesy lessons which teach children to respect adults and other students		Competition and bullying
	Outside activities as central part of the educational experience developing a sense of respect and caring for the natural world		Limited recess, sometimes taken away as punishment for poor behavior
	Beautiful, comfortable classrooms with attractive decorations that support learning by soothing the soul and enriching the mind		Cluttered walls and counters that distract from learning and create an atmosphere of disorder
	Hands-on materials stored in reach of students with responsibility to repair broken items given to the children		Manipulatives stored and controlled by the teacher and generally reserved as rewards for compliant behavior