Ballard Lab School

The Ballard High School Department of Family and Consumer Sciences, MMLCC, and the Seattle Public School´s Community Alignment Initiative joined in a pioneering effort to support students in developing effort to support students in developing skills that foster independence, cooperation, and competency. An on-site lab school with a Montessori early education program provides the environment through which we are collaborating to improve expand, and motivate student learning.

In this innovative academic program, BHS students observe and study with Montessori-trained educators and early childhood specialists. Under the guidance of Eileen Knobbs, BHS students attend early childhood classes in which they study the work of Dr. Maria Montessori through readings, demonstrations, discussions, and projects.

After several weeks of classroom preparation, the students are required to supplement their learning by involving themselves as observers in Casa Maria Montessori School (the Children´s House) by submitting written portfolio notes to their instructor for comments and review. They are guided to notice how a child gains self-confidence and how a child´s need for inquiry can become quietly focused. As the students´ insights into these processes emerge, awareness of their own potential for transformation is heightened.