The Benefits of
Individualized Learning
Julia Brown Shares 50 Years of Insight
A programs, students at the Julia Brown
there was no place for individual
Schools develop concentration, order,
attention. This experience was not
coordination and independence to
meeting the goals I was seeking for
on, self-directed learning. And it
help them succeed throughout their
the children. Mr. Charles Brown,
was this child-focused approach that
lives. my husband, discovered and began
inspired teacher Julia Brown to bring
In an interview with the school’s
researching the Montessori method
n interest in Montessori
education is on the rise—
with its emphasis on hands-
this form of education to Maryland.

She was motivated by her own
experiences in traditional classrooms
and sought to find a way to emulate
the teaching experience she admired.

founder Julia Brown, she opens up
and together we decided to create this
about what motivated her and why
opportunity for children in our own
she finds Montessori education so
school. I was trained with the first
beneficial. group of educators in the Montessori
method of education in the United
1. What originally got you
States by Margaret Humphries and
interested in Montessori
Phoebe Childs. These women had
opening one of the first Montessori
education? worked directly with Dr. Montessori
schools in the state of Maryland,
I was looking for a method of
in London. Montessori classes allow
The Julia Brown Schools still put
education that encouraged and
children first. With a vast array of
recognized the individuality of
pace and encourage the children to
programming for toddlers to third
children’s learning styles. The
be respectful of each other and the
graders, and before- and after-care
children were taught as a group and
environment. She opened her first Montessori
school in 1967. Now, fifty years after
20 September 2017 washingtonFAMILY.com
children to progress at their own
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