There’s a lot of pressure today to “curate childhood.” Ben Blair, principal of Chicago’s Rogers Park Montessori School and a dad of two, knows this well.
“I talk a lot with parents on the side of the soccer field,” he says. “It can be so competitive. If a child is 8 and starting to think of doing a sport, they’re not going to make the high school team.”
In Montessori, though, there’s less focus on competitive milestones and more on cultivating a child’s sense of purpose and self-direction. From age 2 to 14, students aren’t limited to specific skills; instead, they learn to take responsibility and find their own path.
“What Montessori does, I think, uniquely well is connect children to what drives them,” Blair says. “They have choice and agency in the path that their life takes.”
This “whole-child” approach comes to life in three key ways at RPMS.
1. Freedom to move and make choices
For starters, Montessori students aren’t confined to desks. They’re free to move, which keeps them engaged and focused.
Blair’s younger son, a third grader at RPMS, often needs to burn off energy. “Sometimes, in the classroom, he’s got a lot of wiggle in him,” Blair says. When that happens, he’ll take a few laps in the gym, then come back ready to learn.
For neurodivergent students, this flexibility is especially helpful. “If a child needs to meet with a specialist for extra sensory input — like doing jumping jacks, running an obstacle course or bouncing on a yoga ball — there’s freedom to do that,” Blair says.
“A Montessori environment normalizes this notion that kids who are ages 5-8 don’t belong in desks for more than 5-15 minutes at a time.”
In Montessori’s multisensory environment, movement also plays a role in learning. Kids trace sandpaper letters to connect language to touch, while math concepts are taught with real objects.
Key benefits for kids:
- Freedom of movement keeps kids engaged
- Hands-on learning meets sensory needs
- Kids learn to self-regulate by understanding what they need to stay focused
2. Building social-emotional skills daily
At RPMS, social-emotional growth is central. “We work to support children in understanding how they learn, who they are, and where they’ve come from,” Blair says.
For instance, teachers might ask a young child in a conflict, “What does Sophie’s face tell you? Is she happy with what’s going on, or maybe not?” These prompts help kids recognize social cues and consider their impact. Classrooms display the questions, “Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary?” to reinforce empathy, while a “worry box” lets students share concerns with the counselor.
RPMS also supports students who need extra help. “Our job is to ensure that the environment meets those children’s needs,” Blair explains. The school provides specialists and partners with health professionals for comprehensive support.
And, for tweens and teens, self-regulation is key. Blair likens it to helping “toddlers in giant bodies” recognize signs of emotion. Kids learn tools like cooling down, walking away or mindfulness to manage big feelings at these ages.
What this builds in kids:
- Empathy and self-awareness through real-time guidance
- Tools for managing emotions constructively
- An inclusive, supportive environment that values kids’ unique needs
3. Room to dive deeper into subjects they love
Students at RPMS advance at their own pace. If a fifth-grader is ready for seventh-grade math, they’re encouraged to jump ahead, exploring subjects they’re passionate about.
Blair recalls a third-grader who spent six months on an advanced math project, using the school’s 3D printer to make a complex cube. “It was one of the coolest things. She really dug in and just immersed herself,” he says.
Blair’s seventh-grade son has benefited from this, too. In the school’s “occupations” program, he’s joined students working on real-life projects, such as running a coffee shop or helping with school admissions.
“We have a small flock of chickens; some students take care of the chickens. All of that is purposeful,” Blair says. “They’re seeing a tangible product for their efforts.”
Morning “work cycles” also let students pursue independent studies and take small-group lessons with teachers. “They satisfy curiosity, gain knowledge and have the adults’ support to do something with that knowledge,” Blair says.
What this builds in kids:
- The chance to explore topics beyond their grade level
- Confidence through real-world projects
- A love for learning that goes beyond gathering knowledge
Learn more about whole-child Montessori education
For Blair, whole-child education at RPMS is about nurturing children’s natural curiosity and encouraging meaningful growth.
“Educating the whole child is really about helping children find purpose and connect them to meaningful work and experience,” he says. “And isn’t that what we all want as humans, to make our life meaningful?”
Rogers Park Montessori School is a private school for ages 2-14 in Chicago’s Andersonville neighborhood. To discover more, visit the Rogers Park Montessori School website.
