1. Barnwell Primary School Parent Information Session
Montessori Program

2. Montessori Overview “ The first duty of an education is to stir up life, but leave it free to develop” ~ Dr. Maria Montessori
A s5 year old student laying Montessori math materials that teach place value
Our goal today is to share our enthusiasm for a curriculum that empowers children to become life-long learners and care takers of their environment. We will give you an overview of Montessori education and the application process. We’d like to share with you a short video clip of a Primary Montessori Classroom in action before we explain the curriculum and the application process.

3. What Is Montessori? PERSON PHILOSOPHY Children learn by discovery.
Dr. Maria Montessori was the first female physician in Italy.
She devoted her life to child development.
She started by working with asylum children who had learning disabilities, and they excelled academically.
Her first Children’s House (school) was for children of Italian day workers living in a housing project.
PHILOSOPHY
Children learn by discovery.
Lessons progress from simple to complex and concrete to abstract.
Children are natural learners.

4. Child’s Role: To respect the rights of the group and
the other individuals
in the classroom
Take care of the
environment
Through play, be led naturally to work

5. Parent’s Role: Be sensitive to the needs of the child
and see the child as having infinite
possibilities to learn
Allow home environment to be a learning environment (limit negative/excessive stimuli: TV, video games)
Provide a healthy, nutritious diet
Be involved and communicate with the classroom teacher when/wherever possible
Nurture and encourage the child to be the best person he/she can be
Foster independence

6. Teacher’s Role: Follow the child’s interests and needs
Prepare an environment that is educationally interesting and safe
Lead the child to discover his/her own abilities and interests
Provide experiences that lead to new learning
Maintain communication with parents on a regular basis
Promote peaceful interactions and academic excellence

7. Three Important Principles:
Repetition- the child can repeat an activity, which aids in concentration and leads to mastery.
Movement- the child can walk around the room at his/her own will. Movement is essential for some lessons and aids in cognitive development.
Choice- the child may choose his/her own work.
So…are there limitations?
Yes

8. The Classroom Management is in….
Control of Movement- the child is taught to move carefully and with purpose
Number of works- there is one set of each lesson on the shelf
Peace Lessons- lessons are given in how to share and collaborate with peers
Observation- the teacher knows what each child has done and leads him/her to what he/she needs to do next

9. Montessori Outcomes
Academic – broad curriculum knowledge, understand concepts as well as application – especially in math
Behavior – self-regulating, peaceful
Independence
Self-confidence as a learner
Seek out challenging tasks
Cooperative, work well with others
Compassionate
Love learning & school!!

10. There are five major areas:
Practical Life
Sensorial
Language
Math
Culture and Science

11. Practical Life Creates an important foundation
Aids in developing concentration, fine motor skills, coordination, order, and independence (leads to better math, language skills)
Lessons show a child how to care for oneself and the environment

13. Sensorial Designed to appeal to and train the senses Designed to teach
the child about the
properties of the world
Foundations for Math

14. Language
Begins with visual discrimination and leads to oral instruction
Letter sounds learned before names
Writing before reading
Phonics and Whole Language combined

16. Math Hands-on materials Curriculum includes: numeration, place value,
basic operations of
addition, subtraction,
multiplication,
and division =

17. Culture Peace Curriculum that teaches problem solving and valuing
other cultures
Other areas:
zoology, botany,
physical science,
geography, history,
art, music
and movement

18. Geography

19. Physical Science

20. Botany

21. Zoology/Herpetology

22. Application Process
3 year olds must be 3 by September 1 and be fully potty trained by the start of school.
Paperwork should be submitted as quickly as possible after being contacted about an available slot.
Parent/Guardian must attend an informational meeting.

23. Program Schedule 3 year olds 4 year olds 7:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Breakfast and Snack
No Lunch
4 year olds
7:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Breakfast, Snacks, and Lunch
Rest time

24. Transportation 3 year olds 4 year olds
Parents must provide transportation to and from program
4 year olds
Students can ride school buses

25. Parent Involvement
Parents/Guardians are welcome to volunteer and make classroom visits throughout the year.

26. Questions