Step into a primary classroom and you will be amazed at how peaceful, happy and busy the children are. At home your child is most likely heard saying ?I want to do it myself!? In the Montessori environment we not only allow it but encourage it. Maria Montessori observed that children love to do ?real work? and when allowed they not only learn but become more confident in the process. In a primary classroom, you are likely to see a 3-year old doing something such as watering the classroom plants and polishing it?s leaves. This is not pretend she is really participating in real ?work? and is part of the classroom community. You may see a 4-year old lying down at a work rug with a 5-year old friend working with the movable alphabet and doing short vowel word building. Not only is the older child learning from teaching the 4-year old but the 4-year old is feeling proud to be doing the ?big kid? work and is confident when challenged to move to the next level.