november – december 2013 montessori...

Our Prepared Environments – Our Schools

Montessori MomentsThere are three jewels that I cherish:Compassion, simplicity and patience.–The Tao of Montessori (verse 67)

“The child has other powers thanours, and the creation he achieves isno small one. It is everything.”– M a r i a M o n t e s s o r i

Spontaneous Activity in Education R E F L E C T I O N S O F M Y M O N T E S S O R I E X P E R I E N C E S b y L a D e n e ’ C o n r o y

| November – December 2013

Inside this issue

2 Student Writing; Montesorri Parent Group

3 James Simons Open House, Stage One

4 James Simons Open House, Stages Two, Three & Four

5 East Cooper Montesorri Charter

6 Montesorri Teachers Coming Together

}La Dene’ Conroy, CCSD Montessori Specialist for Development,Support and Expansion

Primary ClassroomChildren are busy crafting stories with the moveable alphabet using invented spelling and recording their story intheir writing journal in the primary classrooms. Some children are recording their stories on story paper andillustrating for publishing. I love in particular reading over the shoulder the child’s invented spelling showing theirwork with sound to letter connections – and being able to read every single word! One example touched my heart:I wuz maceg cucez with mi mome. [I was making cookies with my mommy.] Watching the child choose the lettersand say the sound they hear as they construct the story and break down each word is amazing as they assimilatethese simultaneous works as a reader and writer.

Practical life area (“the smells of the season”) has seasonal works like pincing cloves to push into an orange; gratingcinnamon or nutmeg to strengthen the palm; children stringing cranberries and popcorn with a needle and threaddeveloping their concentration and self-discipline; preparing the environment and making it more beautiful asthey add the strand on an evergreen.

I watch the careful and confident execution of each lesson practiced by the youngest children’s hands (three yearolds) – they have crossed the threshold into the world of Montessori. They carry the lesson carefully to the work

mat, use it in sequence and putit away in order. There issophistication as the childprepares and smooths out thework mat and the profoundimpression that a linear layoutof the nine bead chain. Shownat left Terry Hartnett and twoof her students fromMontessori Community Schoolworking with the 9 bead chainsand arrows stretching the 9s outto 1000. The Work I love the seriousness the children have with their work. The children eagerly work because

their love of learning and the work motivates them intrinsically. – Daniel J. Pink, Drive

Montessori Moments | November – December 2013

Deck the Halls and Walls with Writing. Students are writing every day, everywhere in all Montessori’s schools. Softmusic is the only sound besides minds composing, drafting, revising, editing, publishing, and sharing. Children arewriting about their interests. Students are writing about what they know. Below are several examples of The WritingExplosion at Murray LaSaine Elementary – A Montessori Pilot. These samples are from Lower Elementary student writers.

La Dene’ Conroy, CCSD Montessori Specialist for Development,Support and Expansion

Below are samples from Primary Students.

Countywide Montessori Parent Group met for the first time as aninvestment for Montessori Education countywide. The newly formedgroup, calling themselves FOM in Charleston (Friends of Montessori inCharleston) was spearheaded by Russell Patterson and Louise Monteith,parents of Montessori children who attend the Hursey program. Thegroup stated that their mission and commitment will be for advocatingfor continued expansion for full Montessori programs and educatingparents/families about Montessori Education. The group meets monthlyat one of our five CCSD Montessori schools. November was MontessoriCommunity School and December was at Montessori Children’s Houseat Hursey Elementary. Both public and private schools are represented.



Welcome To The James Simons Open HouseParents Peek at Montessori students at work at James Simons Open House. With over 800 applications received,Montessori families wait with eagerness to receive their letter of acceptance or worry and angst on whether their studenthas been accepted to the Montessori School they applied for. Below, Principal, Quenetta White answers questions andshares what Montessori looks like at her school. Parents toured the three levels of Montessori at James Simons.

A Look at the New James Simons Elementary – A Montessori Focus. Students will begin the new year at the newschool at 741 King Street. Pictured below are snap shots of the staff and school as they make preparations for opening thebrand new school.

S t a g e O n e (receiving the furniture, shelving and materials)



S t a g e Tw o (first time visits for teachers) – Looks of sheer enthusiasm and excitement by the staff as they saw theirnew school. Principal White shares a beautiful smile and scream of delight that moving…. is finally happening.

S t a g e T h r e e (preparing the environment)

S t a g e F o u r (working evenings and weekends)


The last PTA meeting of 2013 washeld at the new James Simons building(741 King Street). As you watch theparents and children walk and maketheir first observations your heartswells and explodes with pride. Thechildren will return to their new school

on January 6. The joy and beauty of the season was made special for the childrenand families as they see their school for the very first time. Everyone is so excited..


Read-A Thon at East Cooper Montessori Charter School. Shown are pictures of Emilee Ellinberg and her Lower Elchildren dressed in pajamas listening to La Dene’Conroy, Montessori Specialist for CCSD, only one of the many guestreaders on this special day, reading Fly Away Home by Eve Bunting. The children then read silently from the books theycarried with them to school from home.

East Cooper Montessori Charter, Lower El students, gave

transplanted spider plants in beautifully designed containers

designed to represent our planet to new Montessori classrooms at

James Simons. Pictured is teacher, Beth Armstrong, putting curly

ribbon on each pot with special message written by the students for

the new classroom.



“My fabulous team for constant support, answers and friendship.”Britney SmithLower El | Montessori Children’s House at Hursey

“I am grateful for the opportunities to learn from mystudents and my colleagues every day!”Debbie ClemUpper El | Montessori Children’s House at Hursey

“I am grateful for the opportunity to learn and practicecompassion in my job.”Bill CarsonPrimary | Murray LaSaine Elementary

“I am grateful to know you! Your passion and love forchildren and Montessori is so inspiring.” Krissie PattersonLower El | James Simons Elementary

“I am grateful for the times my students show me howhappy they are to be at school.”Maria Simonelli Lower El | Montessori Children’s House at Hursey

“I am thankful for the opportunity to become a betterteacher through leadership.”Jamie CannonMiddle Montessori | East Cooper Montessori Charter School

Montessori Teachers Coming Together andWorking on the WORDS – Gratitude Basket

Tidings of Traditions The time of year or the season for giving has arrived. As I read and observe what is going on in our Montessori SchoolsI hear about sacrifice and obligation as a way of living. Children choose to make this decision and want to from insideof their hearts. Whether the child, family or schools are donating canned goods, collecting blankets for the cold andhomeless, adopting a family so they have a Christmas, serving dinners at Crisis Ministries, reading stories to children ina homeless shelter, visiting and talking to the elderly about their fond memories of long ago… giving because youknow it is the right work to do is the gift that expects no gratitude. The gift of giving touches your heart privately andwarms the hearts of others.

Gratitude statements penned by the Montessori teachers and teacher apprentices in the Classroom Leadership Workshopsheld monthly.

Recruiting Teachers for Training for Expansion of MiddleSchool Montessori

Mary Marcy, Middle School Montessori teacher from MontessoriCommunity School, shares the kind of training that the new recruitwill participate in and talks about the program at this level ifselected to become part of the Montessori Learning Community.

Comments, suggestions, ideas or additions – please e-mail [email protected] or speak to me directly. The newsletter will be posted on the CCSD web site and is based on my school service and visits.

november – december 2013 montessori...

Documents