Mixed age groups naturally reflect family, neighborhood, and work-place environments. This interaction fosters independent learning and creates a stimulating classroom atmosphere. Class size is designed to be large enough to foster independence and an optimal learning environment, but small enough to allow for appropriate guidance and supervision 2 teachers for 27-30 children. Children in a Montessori classroom choose their own work within guidelines set by the teacher. This framework offers a great deal of freedom, but each freedom has a corresponding responsibility.
Conflicts arise naturally out of interaction between different people.
The balance of freedom and responsibilities found in the Montessori classroom teaches each child to have respect for self, for others, for the classroom, and for the materials. In addition, with guidance from teachers and staff, children at each level at Arbor are taught conflict resolution skills. In a Montessori classroom, children develop skills needed to work independently, to organize time, and to use resources effectively. In most schools, the only time left for acquiring these skills after a highly structured school day, is time spent at home doing homework. The Montessori philosophy supports the idea that, when the school day is structured differently, work is completed during school hours so that children can spend their afternoon time in activities with family and friends.