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
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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.
Environment
Beautiful 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 Mathematics
Numbers 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!)
History
Geography
Science
Mathematics
Geometry
Language
The 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
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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.
Governance
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)
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
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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:
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Student admissions
Registrar duties
Communication
Internal and external marketing
Fundraising documents and
databases
Office Manager: Crystal Mateer
Responsible For:
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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 Involved
All parent meetings/class meetings
Parent education events
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Evening events
Morning coffees
Committee work
Morning arrivals
Grocery shopping and sorting
Library/gardening
Spring dinner and auction
Stay Informed!
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Parent handbook
Annual calendar
Classroom observations
Monthly updates from teachers
Tuesday e-mail
Classroom newsletters
Website and Classroom web pages