First Essay

G has been back in school for a week and started the Extended Day program. Rather than napping, she has an afternoon work cycle now. Last week, she brought home a World Map that she drew, colored, and labeled as well as drawings of several different triangles, all colored and labeled.

Today, she brought home her first essay. Granted, it's only four sentences long, but she is only 4.5 years old. It may seem incredible that such a young child could write and illustrate an essay, but from what Montessori learned about children and the true capabilities of young children, this is completely normal. It is not normal that the first appearance of writing stories should occur when a child is 6.5-7 years old. We as humans beings are capable of so much more than mere grades and test scores.