Montessori/CMS 101

Maria Montessori

Her goal through education was to raise a generation of people who would work to

promote world peace

 “If help and salvation are to come, they can only come from the children, for the children are the makers of men.”

Whole Child

The Montessori approach provides a superior education, but is really designed to support the development of the human being.

Components of Montessori

Chief Components• Independence

• Self-motivation

• Respect and love for life

• Education for Life

Important Supporting Components• Role of the adult

• Role of the environment

“Free the child's potential, and you will transform him into the world”

Education for Life

Education comes from the Latin words educare, meaning to “bring up” and ducere, meaning “to lead.”

We are raising, “bringing up” these children to be successful in all aspects of life and to develop and sustain a love for learning.

Role of the Environment

Preparation of the environment is extremely important in providing Education for Life. Classrooms are designed to foster engagement, independence and self correction.

EnvironmentBeautiful and Orderly

Environment

Designed so materials are accessible and complete at all times.

Environment

Designed to allow for freedom of choice and freedom of movement

Environment

Specifically designed materials to help children explore their world, understand concepts and develop essential cognitive skills.

Role of the Adult

The role of the adult is dynamic and requires a comprehensive understanding of the sensitive periods and planes of development.

The adults in a Montessori environment must know how to guide and lead while fostering independent thinking and self direction.

Montessori’s Scientific Approach

Planes of Development

Sensitive Periods

Planes of Development

• First Plane: 0 - 6

• Second Plane: 6 – 12

• Third Plane: 12 – 18

• Fourth Plane: 18 - 24

Planes of Development

Planes of Development

CMS

CMS has:

•2 Casita Classrooms(18 months – 3 years)

•4 Children’s House Classrooms (3 years – 6 years)

•1 Lower Elementary Classrooms (6 years – 9 years)

•1 Upper Elementary Classroom (9 years – 12 Years)

First Plane (0 – 6) Sensitive Periods

Independence

Order

Concentration

Coordination

First Plane Curriculum

• Practical Life

• Sensorial

• Language

• Mathematics

• Cultural

Practical Life

Assists children in the development of coordination and concentration

Sensorial

Helps children develop

acuity within the

five senses, and also

helps them organize

their intelligences

Primary Language

Sandpaper letters

Object boxes

Metal Insets

Chalkboard

Moveable Alphabet

Reading

Primary MathematicsNumbers 1 – 10

Connecting symbol to quantity

Teens

Hundreds Board

Golden Beads

Bank Game

Other

* Concrete materials

Cultural

- Puzzle maps

- Cultural folders

- Geometry cabinet

- Botany cabinet

- Zoology

- Nomenclature

Second Plane (6 – 12) Sensitive Periods

Imagination

Socialization

Moral Justice

Characterized by

Strength (physically strong and high levels of energy)

Insatiable appetite for learning

Physical changes (growth, losing of teeth)

Less need for external order ( order is internalized)

Desire for “big work”

Socialization and desire for group projects and group work.

Group Work/ Herd Instinct

Morality and Justice

Reasoning Mind – Leading to Abstraction

Big Work

Less Need for External Order

Curriculum

• Cosmic Education (Give them the world!) HistoryGeographyScienceMathematicsGeometryLanguageThe arts

Cosmic Education

Give the child the world…

Every year, for six years, the elementary students receive five great lessons, providing a scaffolding for everything they learn for the rest of their lives.

Five Great Lessons

• The Story of the Creation of the Universe

• The Story of the Coming of Life

• The Story of the Coming of Humans

• The Story of the Coming of Language

• The Story of the Coming of Mathematics

Great Lessons

• Generate work• Open the doors of learning and research for all

subject areas• Provide stimulation for the children who will

begin working and researching independently• Allow the teacher time to meet and assess new

students

Great Lessons: Creation of the Universe

Great Lesson: Time Line of Life

Great Lesson: Early Humans

Great Lesson: Coming of Language

Great Lesson: History of Mathematics

Other Subjects

• Fine arts and visual arts are integrated into the curriculum at all levels.

• We do have a Spanish program:– Spoken language– Applying the language– Reading, writing and grammar (elementary)

Time Management

Character Building

Community

Montessori

School

Mission Statement

Community Montessori School is a diverse partnership of parents, teachers and children; an independent, non-profit school embracing Montessori principles to develop the child’s full potential and life-long love of learning.

Core Values

• Respect

• Responsibility

• Resourcefulness

History

Opened in 1981, under the guidance of 13 founders and 7 students

Campuses around Georgetown until settling here in 2001

Population

• Serves 150 students from 18 months through 12 years

• Diverse population reflecting the population of the greater Georgetown and Williamson County community

• Diverse, dedicated and qualified staff

Non-Profit

Community Montessori School is a private, non – profit organization, operationally driven by an Executive Director and governed by a Board of Directors (set policy, oversee finances, fundraise, hire/rehire the Executive Director.

Partnering with Parents• Parents are considered members of the organization

– Vote on by-law changes (January meeting)– Vote on new slate of board members (April meeting)– Contribute 25 hours of service to the school

(participation hours; VIC)

• Supporting the school in every way that you can– In the greater community– Participation hours– Attending events– Financially

Expectations

You can expect from the school:– Excellence in Montessori education

– Commitment and dedication to the children, families and each other

– Opportunities for involvement

– Strong communication

– Parent education opportunities

Expectations

In return, the school will expect:•Families to appreciate and respect our work as Montessorians

•Attend our parent education events so parent/school partnership can be strong

•Contribute to our annual giving campaign and support other community and fundraising events as you can

•Respect policies as outlined in the handbook

Finances at CMS

• We strive to have tuition dollars cover 100% of annual expenses.

• We fundraise annually to bridge any gap, to develop adequate reserves and to implement programs, etc.

• We set aside 3% of tuition for financial assistance

Fundraising at CMS

All members of the community are expected to participate in the annual fund campaign and contribute to the best of their abilities

2013 – 2014 annual fund will launch on Aug. 22

Mark your calendars for the spring auction: Saturday, February 22

What to Expect in Terms of Outcomes

• Famous Montessorians

• Alumni profiles (found in our Community Branch published twice a year)

• Standardized testing – (2nd – 8th grade every year)

Famous Montessorians

There is an article on the Wall Street Journal blog that is causing a buzz in Montessori circles.

In recent Wall Street Journal Blog, author, Peter Sims, suggests that

“the Montessori educational approach might be the surest route to joining the creative elite, which are so overrepresented by the school’s alumni that one might suspect a Montessori Mafia: Google’s founders Larry Page and Sergei Brin, Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, videogame pioneer Will Wright, and Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, not to mention Julia Child and rapper Sean “P.Diddy” Combs.

Board of Directors are elected by the CMS Community for three year terms or appointed for one year terms.

Minimum of 11 Board members and maximum of 15 (up to 4 who are not current parents)

Governance

Board Committees

• Executive• Advancement (communications, marketing,

fundraising)

• Finance and Audit

• Head Support and Evaluation

• Nominating

Administrative Staff

Shawn Edwards – Executive Director

Camey Parker- Stanley – Business Manager

Jodi Johnson – Advancement Manager

Crystal Mateer - Office

Director Reporting Committees

• Classroom Support

• Building and Grounds

• Gardening

• Library

Executive Director: Shawn Edwards

Oversees all educational programs, administration and works with the Board of Directors to support committee work and the strategic growth of the school

Business Manager: Camey Harned

Oversees finances, human resources, facilities and technology on campus. As parents, you will contact her for questions regarding– Tuition– Financial assistance– Facility upkeep– Human Resources

Advancement Manager Jodi Johnson

Oversees all interactions involving:

• Student admissions• Registrar duties• Communication• Internal and external marketing• Fundraising documents and

databases

Office Manager: Crystal Mateer

Responsible For:• answering the phones • taking messages• scheduling observations• organizing holiday care a• supporting the ordering and supply

needs of the school. • you will speak to her frequently

when you call the school for any reason.

Solid Ground

Solid Ground– Program to support students who thrive in Montessori and are in

need of additional academic support…part time learning specialist on staff.

Summer Camp– 8 – 10 weeks every summer depending upon calendar

Enrichment– 10 weeks each semester for children’s house and elementary

students

Lower School Liaison

Jinny Gonzalez is an all-day Children’s House Guide and

also works to support the work of the toddler and primary

guides in the capacity of Liaison to the Executive Director.

Communication At CMS

Classroom questions, concerns and comments:•Directed to the Guide. E.D. can be contacted if resolution is not satisfactory

School related questions, concerns and comments:•Directed to the E.D. The Head Support and Evaluation Committee can be contacted if resolution is not satisfactory

Get InvolvedAll parent meetings/class meetings

Parent education events•Evening events•Morning coffees•Committee work•Morning arrivals•Grocery shopping and sorting•Library/gardening

Spring dinner and auction

Stay Informed!

• Parent handbook• Annual calendar• Classroom observations • Monthly updates from teachers• Tuesday e-mail• Classroom newsletters• Website and Classroom web pages