PARENTS & STUDENTS

Q. What’s new with Morey Public School?

A. Although Morey Public School Academy has undergone much change recently, we are truly Daring to be Different! The 2010-2011 academic school year promises to be a very exciting time. Morey’s Board of Directors have made the commitment to build a strong academic program in Pre-K - 8th grade and devote much attention to strengthening the Montessori program, which is now a K - 5 experience. We are working together with our local Montessori consultant, Margie Jensen, in pursuing our goals to fully embrace the Montessori curriculum.

Q. What is this “Daring to be Different” all about?

A. When families choose Morey Public School Academy, they’re enrolling their children in a safe, nurturing, family-like environment that places a strong emphasis on academic success. But there’s something more: families that choose Morey Public School have decided on an educational path that is fundamentally different from the one offered by other schools. The Montessori method and its core principles are unique. And their results are being validated daily by research as well as the extraordinary lives of Montessori graduates from all over the world.

Daring to be Different is just the start. At Morey, we are stepping up on all accounts.

Q. What makes Montessori Education so different?

A. Really, it comes down to the “whole child” approach. The primary goal of a Montessori program is to help each child reach full potential in all areas of life. Activities promote the development of social skills, emotional growth, and physical coordination as well as cognitive preparation. The holistic curriculum allows the child to experience the joy of learning and to develop self-esteem and independence.

Other key differences include:

The Prepared Environment - In order for self-directed learning to take place, the whole learning environment – room, materials and social climate – must be supportive of the learner. The teacher provides necessary resources, including opportunities for children to function in a safe and positive climate. The teacher thus gains the children’s trust, which enables them to try new things and build self-confidence.

The Montessori materials - Dr. Montessori’s observations of the kinds of “toys” which children enjoy and return to play with repeatedly led her to design a number of multi-sensory sequential and self-correcting materials which facilitate the learning of skills and concepts. Teachers will follow “Montessori principles” as they structure new activities for the classroom.

The Teacher – The Montessori teacher functions as a facilitator of learning. The teacher is a role model, designer of the environment, resource person, demonstrator, record-keeper and observer of each child’s growth and development. He/She encourages, respects, and loves each child as a special, unique individual; and also provides support for parents and joins them in a partnership to nurture the development of the child.

Q. Who is Maria Montessori?

A. Maria Montessori was the first female in Italy to become a physician. She designed a curriculum and concrete materials based on the academic and psychological needs of the child. Her thoughts, ideas and theories continue to be reinforced by current educational theories. Montessori schools are located worldwide, and have successfully educated children since Dr. Montessori opened her first Casa de Bambini in Rome in 1907, more than 100 years ago.

Q. What is the Montessori Method of education?

A. Maria Montessori's methods of teaching evolved from her observations of the children in her care. She observed that the child absorbs from the environment he/she is in, and using specially designed materials she was able to call to the child's inner desire to learn. These materials are presented in small groups, frequently on the floor, encouraging individual hands-on participation, and peer problem-solving dialogue. The child is allowed certain freedoms to be independent within the highly sequenced structure of the Montessori Method. Control of error is built into manipulative materials and charts, encouraging self-confidence and independence.

Q. How are classes at Morey Public School Academy structured?

A. Montessori classes are usually organized to encompass a three-year age span. At Morey, we offer the Great Start Readiness Preschool Program (GSRP), and therefore cannot offer the typical 3-6 year old Montessori classroom, but do offer Kindergarten classes as a traditional one “grade” classroom, structured with Montessori philosophy and materials. We have Elementary I classrooms for Grades 1-3, (ages 6 to 9) and Elementary II for Grades 4-5 this year, and 4-6 the year after. Through this multi-age grouping, each child is allowed to learn at his/her own pace and will be ready for a given lesson in his/her own time. In a mixed-age class, children can always find peers who are working at their current level. We also offer a traditional style of learning for our middle school program; grades 6-8. Morey’s vision is to embrace the Montessori curriculum throughout all grades in three years.

Q. Is parental Involvement encouraged at Morey?

A. At Morey, we are best known for our ability to provide an atmosphere where a partnership between home and school is emphasized and each student’s uniqueness is cherished.

Studies consistently indicate that when schools, families and communities work together to support student learning, everyone benefits. We recognize that parents are the primary educators of their children, and that they need to be heard. Morey Public School Academy strongly supports a community/family-friendly school environment that will actively encourage involvement and participation. Specific opportunities for parent and community involvement include: Open House events, volunteering in the classroom, participating in parent/teacher/student conferences, field trip chaperone and guide, mentoring, assisting with school projects, and supporting school-wide and fundraising events.

Morey Public School Academy provides Montessori parent education programs that promote understanding of Montessori principles and curriculum.

Q. Who can attend Morey Public School Academy?

A. Morey is public school and is open to all students who would like to attend.

Q. What does it cost to attend? Is there tuition?

A. There is no tuition. Morey Public School Academy is a public school and cannot charge tuition.

Q. What is the difference between a Montessori class and a traditional class?

A. Children in Montessori classes move freely around the room, choose some of their own work and learn at a more individualized pace. They learn the same kinds of things as children in traditional classes, but learning occurs through self-paced, hands-on activities rather than exclusively teacher-directed lessons and follow-up seat work. Teachers present lessons in small groups, and observe work with the materials. Connecting students to the materials and to ideas for exploration and research are the main tasks of the teacher. Keep in mind, this year, we will have a combination of Montessori lessons and more traditional, whole group lessons. The primary goal of Montessori classes is to help children learn concentration, motivation, self-discipline, and a love of learning. Montessori teachers guide children to exciting moments of discovery, and work to create a non-competitive learning community in which children spontaneously share their knowledge with each other.

The implementation of the Montessori Curriculum at Morey will take place over a three-year span. This year will be a mixture of the best of the traditional methods and materials, while we implement the Montessori math and language materials, as well as some geography and geometry work. We will increase the Montessori curriculum and materials the next year to include its rich science and social studies integrated curriculum.

Another difference is that Montessori classes place children in three-year age groups. The early elementary class has children ages 6 to 9 years (1st-3rd grade); upper elementary class has 4th and 5th grade children this year and 4-6 grade children next year. The children stay with the same teacher for 3 years.

Q. Why does Montessori have mixed aged groups?

A. Mixed age groups free children to enjoy their own accomplishments rather than comparing themselves to others. Older children provide leadership and guidance, and benefit from the satisfaction of helping others. Younger children are encouraged by attention and help from older children. They learn through observation of older children. At the same time, older children reinforce and clarify their knowledge by sharing it with younger ones. Children easily learn to respect others, and at the same time develop respect for their own individuality. This interaction of different age children offers many occasions for building community, as well as nurturing the development of self-esteem. This encourages positive social interaction and cooperative learning.

Q. What are some common differences between a traditional classroom and a Montessori environment?

A. Please refer to the chart below.

Q. What specialized training do Montessori teachers have?

A. Montessori teachers learn principles of child development and Montessori philosophy as well as specific uses of the Montessori classroom materials. They become knowledgeable about the sensitivities of each age group of children, and develop classroom leadership skills that foster a caring learning environment, such as class meetings and peace education. They also learn to observe and respond to individual learning styles of their students. Because respect for children and the willingness to encourage children to grow in a noncompetitive environment are essential, Montessori teachers are taught to be positive, gentle and encouraging in their interactions with children.

Q. Is Montessori for all children? What kind of student will do well in Montessori?

A. Montessori education has been used successfully for more than 100 years with children of all socio-economic levels, of all academic abilities, and from all ethnic backgrounds. No single educational approach can work for all children, and there may be some children who do better with more teacher-directed instruction, fewer choices and more consistent external structure. In general, any child who can become engaged with a toy, game, or topic (dinosaurs, space, animals) and spend time exploring it and concentrating on it if left uninterrupted, should do well in Montessori.

Q. Is Montessori good for gifted children? What about children with special learning needs?

A. Montessori schools support all children in working at their own unique and appropriate pace to reach their fullest potential. Because work is individualized, there is no limit to how far children can go in their studies. For children with special learning needs, the attractive hands-on Montessori learning activities are helpful learning tools because they present one isolated concept at a time and allow students to experience one success after another. And in a classroom that has children of mixed ages and varying abilities, a non-competitive community develops, in which everyone both learns from others and also contributes to the good of the whole. Multi-age, mixed ability groups help children celebrate their own successes without comparing themselves to others.

Q. Is there too much individual work in Montessori? Do children learn how to get along with others?

A. Montessori children are free to work alone or in a group. Although younger children do often choose to work alone as they master challenges, there are many aspects of Montessori schools that help children learn to get along well with others. They learn to share, respect each other’s work space, take care of materials so other children can learn from them, work quietly so others can concentrate, and work together with others to take care of the classroom. As they get older, most children choose to work in small groups.

Q. Are Montessori children successful later in life?

A. Research studies show that Montessori children are well prepared for later life academically, socially, and emotionally. In addition to scoring well on standardized tests, Montessori children are ranked above average on such criteria as following directions, turning in work on time, listening attentively, using basic skills, showing responsibility, asking provocative questions, showing enthusiasm for learning, and adapting to new situations.

Q. Are Montessori schools religious?

A. Some are, but most are not. Some Montessori schools, just like other schools, operate under the auspices of a church, synagogue, or diocese, but most are independent of any religious affiliation. Morey Public School Academy is a public school thus has no religious affiliation.