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Teaching Kids to Read: Modern Approaches vs. Montessori Method

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Originally published in TEACH Magazine, May/June 2025 Issue

By Jillian Simons

So many schools, so many philosophies. I’ve been an educator for over twenty years, and have taught across public, private, and charter schools. My teaching journey has led me through a maze of varying philosophies on instruction and pedagogy, and my current path has landed me in the role of public school reading teacher.

Early into my career, however, I was a fourth- through sixth-grade classroom teacher at an independent Montessori school. I continue to value much of what I learned through my Montessori training, as this century-old philosophy is still applicable today: focus on the emotional needs of the child, meet the children where they are in their development, and differentiate instruction based on each child’s needs.

Opposing Philosophies

Although I have been out of the Montessori classroom for nearly ten years, I still consider myself a Montessorian. The Montessori method greatly influenced my understanding of children and learning. It taught me to see each child as an individual with unique talents, challenges, and ways of exploring the world. Based on my experience, I whole-heartedly believe that fostering a child’s intrinsic drive to learn forms the foundation of a successful classroom.

I do consider myself an idealistic Montessorian, but I’m also an informed realist who follows current educational trends—and any teacher not hiding under their desk these last few years is aware that reading instruction has been trending toward the Science of Reading. This practice, informed by decades of research into how children learn to read, has been gaining popularity in the literacy community.

At first glance, the Montessori method and the Science of Reading appear to be opposing philosophies. The Montessori method is applicable to all disciplines, and places the focus on the whole child. The emphasis is not just on developing academic skills, but emotional, social, and physical skills as well. The Science of Reading, on the other hand, is based on systematic and explicit phonics teaching, and refers only to literacy instruction.

Despite the apparent differences between the two approaches, I have grappled with the question of whether I would be able to combine my idealistic Montessorian beliefs with the systematic approach of the Science of Reading.

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Jillian Simons is a dedicated teacher with over 20 years of experience working with K–7 students as a classroom teacher and reading specialist. She has taught in private, charter, and public schools, and is deeply committed to helping emergent readers develop a lifelong appreciation for reading.

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Jillian Simons
Jillian Simons
Jillian Simons is a dedicated teacher with over 20 years of experience working with K–7 students as a classroom teacher and reading specialist. She has taught in private, charter, and public schools, and is deeply committed to helping emergent readers develop a lifelong appreciation for reading.

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