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Wonderland Montessori is always evolving! The academy follows a century-old method where children teach themselves, and teachers known as guides, take the backseat as they observe their students grow and step in when it's needed. Real News Communications Network's Digital Correspondent Sarah Macias takes us inside the classroom introducing us to the students and guides.

The Wonderland Montessori Academy is always evolving!

The academy follows a century-old method where children teach themselves, and teachers known as guides, take the backseat as they observe their students grow and help when it’s needed.

Stepping into a Wonderland Montessori campus, you will hear the sound of children playing, discovering and learning.

“It’s a lifestyle, it’s not just something you do during the day, it’s not just a job, it’s something you take home,” said Christina Jimmerson, Infant Community Guide.

The Wonderland Montessori Academy allows children to take the lead and master their own skills with an onsite guide like Christina Jimmerson.

“We follow the child’s development, not just a standardized curriculum and also the teacher is not the center, you know, the teacher is there to guide and help the child but we don’t force them into anything they are not interested in,” said Jimmerson.

More than 100 years ago, Italian Dr. Maria Montessori came up with the child-centered educational philosophy.

This method encourages children as young as infants to discover and problem solve with minimal guidance.

Stacy Burks is the Head of School at the Wonderland Montessori Academy in Carrollton, she’s worked with the academy for seven years taking notice of results.

“It fosters a lot of independence, so you’re not having students relying on teachers and really what their expectations are, they are able to pick and choose the work that they are doing, and they are able to excel on their own, they are not having to wait for a teacher to prompt what they are doing,” said Burks.

The Montessori philosophy believes students can learn from each other which is why the guides say placing older children with a group of two to three years younger is an advantage.

“It helps them feel like very confident and knowing that someone is looking up to them and actually helping that child,” said Claribel Rodriguez, Infant Community Guide.

A helping hand all students learn to have because in these classrooms, students get involved in everything including making their own snacks.

“They are able to kind of help chop up the fruits and vegetables so that way they are involved in that process from the start to finish,” said Burks.

CEO Sanjay Joshi opened seven campuses since 2010.

It’s a way of living and learning that he says will impact generations to come, hopefully for another century.

“Their independence will keep their curiosity awake and they will know their voice and opinions matter because since they were young they were heard and taken in count,” said Joshi.

For more information on the Wonderland Montessori Academy, visit wonderlandmontessori.com