Principal and Montessori teacher
may we introduce
Andrea Helfenstein – A Montessori teacher through and through.
With Andrea Helfenstein we have a teacher at our school who is second to none. She lives the Montessori pedagogy, puts the child at the center and supports them in being able to develop their full potential themselves.
Why is Montessori education so important to Andrea and why does she bring her experience and knowledge to the Montessori School in Seetal?
The best thing we can do is ask them ourselves:
In Montessori education, the child is at the center. Maria Montessori was way ahead of her time and repeatedly pointed out that every child can develop their full potential if they are in an environment that is tailored to their needs.
This requires other teachers who accept this ability of the young person.
This school implements the idea of the Montessori method holistically. She is not influenced by fashion trends. That’s why we don’t have any exams, grades or homework.
It is only in the last year of primary school that the children learn how to deal with exams and grades and work at home on tasks they choose themselves. Individual learning takes place in a mixed-age group.
In addition to working at our school, Andrea continues to educate herself.
She is currently completing a multi-year Training of Trainers program in Baltimore, Lucerne and Dublin. She can train future Montessori teachers at the International Montessori Training Center Switzerland in Meilen.
We also asked Andrea what she was able to learn from the children:
The path of the young person does not always correspond to our ideas. It is precisely these ideas that are often an obstacle to healthy development. I have learned that children are capable of much more than we think if they are allowed to learn in freedom.
We are convinced that we cannot find a better teacher and pedagogical manager for our Montessori School Seetal and feel very honored that Andrea has supported us for so many years.