Michele Kaegi
Montessori Teacher

Maybe Robert Fulghum should have visited Michele Kaegi’s classroom before he wrote “All I Really Need To Know I Learned In Kindergarten.” The 3- to 6-year-olds in her Montessori preschool program aren’t waiting for kindergarten. They get lessons in character from the moment they enter the door. “Respect is No. 1,” says Mrs. Kaegi. “When they come in the door, we greet them. We shake hands with each other. We say, ‘Hello, how are you.’ We invite them in.” says Mrs. Kaegi. Following close after respect, the character education continues with modeling and teaching a good work ethic, grace and courtesy. Also, they quickly learn not to walk on each other’s rugs – but that’s just part of respect.

The book that gives these students their cues on classroom behavior is one Mrs. Kaegi frequently reads to them: “Our Peaceful Classroom” by Aline D. Wolf. Reading about good behavior is a way to reinforce the idea that they need to work cooperatively – which in turns creates a rich learning environment. There is good evidence the children become young scholars by the time they leave this preschool classroom to go to kindergarten. “Most of my kindergarteners are reading in the second and third grade level right now,” she says.

Mrs. Kaegi feels strongly that the lessons in character will last a lifetime. “To be able to work with people, to love each other, to respect each other, to respect each other’s differences – that widens their experience and their world. It opens their world to new experiences, diversity, acceptance and curiosity.”

Diversity and acceptance are big issues for pre-schoolers who may have been sheltered at home without the company of other children. Here in Mrs. Kaegi’s classroom, they not only learn to share, but they meet children who don’t look like them, who have different beliefs about God and come from all over the world. Sometimes geography lessons become lessons in culture and understanding, with parents visiting the classroom to tell stories about what it is like to live in China or celebrate Eid al-Adha.

Mrs. Kaegi teaches in a Catholic school but she isn’t Catholic. That, she says, is an advantage. She believes her upbringing in an extended Christian family which valued a strong work ethic helps her bring peace to her small classroom of sometimes rowdy, diverse youngsters. “I give respect to the children, the children respect me, they respect the environment.”