By: Aliza Jensen, MCS P.E. Teacher Lower Elementary P.E. In Lower Elementary P.E., students learn a variety of motor and coordination skills by participating in a variety of sports, games, and movement activities. Students also gain valuable lessons about teamwork and cooperation by playing with others in a team-building atmosphere. A typical class begins with warm ups. Each child has the opportunity to choose a physical motion that can be performed while moving across the length of the gym or field. Skipping, leaping, and racecar driving are popular choices. The class then does the warm up across the gym or field together. The children really enjoy coming up with new and innovative ways to move their bodies! After warm ups, the children play a game.  Frequently children have the opportunity to choose a game and teach the rules to the class. Children learn how to play games such as soccer, capture...

We had a wonderful Silent Journey and Discovery experience this month. Fifteen parents were in attendence.  We started in the lobby where we shared the routine and schedule and then headed into the classrooms.  Upon entering each new environment, attendees spent the first few minutes of their visit to access the environment in relation to the students at that level. With some prompting they looked at the nature of the materials in the space.  Then, when the bell rang, they were invited to sit down and engage with the classroom materials.  After visiting each classroom and working with the materials, attendees participated in a student-led Socratic Dialogue.  Following a wonderful lunch, we had an open discussion about the experience as a whole and staff members answered specific questions about the materials, the curriculum, and the Montessori philosophy.  Thank you to those who attended.  We are looking forward to hosting this event...

In a recent interview, Head of Montessori Community School (MCS) established in 1985, Robyn Eriwata-Buchanan, and a current MCS parent, Marie Bosteels, reveal the difference between MCS and other schools in the Salt Lake Valley.   Montessori is an authentic curriculum which has been practiced for over 100 years to meet the developmental needs of each individual student.  “We have multi-age classrooms where students are presented lessons with hands-on materials by trained Montessori teachers.  Certified teachers observe carefully and prepare the environment to suit each student in their classroom,” says Robyn. Essentially, students have the opportunity to gain a firm understanding of a concept before moving on to the next concept. In addition, according to Robyn, it is commonly misunderstood that Montessori is a preschool program. On the contrary, the program offers an authentic Montessori education for children aged 18 months up to 8th grade. Current parent, Marie Bosteels, shares her...

Posted by Britney Peterson Britney Peterson Britney Peterson has not set their biography yet User is currently offline on Wednesday, 30 January 2013 in School News     Don't forget to take a look at the newest issue of Tomorrow's Child, which will be placed in your child's take-home file this week.  Some of the interesting articles that we recommend include: The Most Shocking Thing I Learned as a Montessori Parent, by Terri SherrillWhy Montessori for the Kindergarten Year, by Tim SeldinDear Cathie - Stars and Stickers, by Cathie Perolman Along with caring for and loving our wonderful students we are always looking for ways to nurture our parent's spirits.  Merging Montessori and parenthood can be a tricky task at times.  Often parents find themselves trying to revisit the reasons they chose a Montessori education in the first place.  Our school spends a portion of our funds allocated for parent education...

Posted by Britney Peterson Britney Peterson Britney Peterson has not set their biography yet User is currently offline on Thursday, 17 January 2013 in School News An Update from our Middle School students from Teton Science School! Monday, January 14, 2013 Today is the first day of our immersion trip and off to TSS (Teton Science School) it is. We left at around 8:45 and arrived at around 3! So, not too long of a drive. One TSS instructor named Katie, who is super fun and nice, greeted us. We walked over to our meeting place, inside a building with radiant heating. The floors are warm! There we talked about our schedule and what we will be doing during the week. When that was over we went to our dorms and got settled in. At 5:30, we had a delicious dinner of fried rice, chicken & Mandarin salad, tofu with broccoli...

Posted by Britney Peterson Britney Peterson Britney Peterson has not set their biography yet User is currently offline on Monday, 14 January 2013 in School News While reading the SL Tribune on Sunday, January 6, 2013, Robyn came across an article written by Angela Choberka, a fellow Montessori teacher in Utah, about the rights of teachers in Utah schools to carry guns in school.  Her view on the matter resonated truth for the Administration at MCS in that we believe heartily in Maria Montessori's stance on global peace.  Her curriculum is written so carefully as to include many lessons and practices that teach children to solve problems peacefully and with care and respect for their peers.  Montessori was nominated twice for the Nobel Peace Prize and her legacy of peace in education continues to this day.  We are proud to share her philosophy at MCS. Read Article Here MCS Students Walk for...

Posted by Britney Peterson Britney Peterson Britney Peterson has not set their biography yet User is currently offline on Friday, 11 January 2013 in School News Due to the extremely dangerous road conditions and based on the forecast, which shows that the snow will continue throughout the day, we have decided to cancel Extended Day today, Friday, January 11, 2013.  We would like our students and teachers to travel safely home before it gets dark.  Please make arrangements for your child(ren) to be picked up  no later than 3:30 pm .  We invite you to pick up your child(ren) even earlier than that if your schedule allows. Also, Little Chefs has been postponed.  Ms. Sheila will contact you with the revised date. Tags: Untagged

The Middle School students recently completed their Service Learning Cycle.  Below they have shared some of their experiences from the Immersion Week. The Humane Society The Humane Society is an animal rescue shelter for homeless house pets. Elise and I volunteered there for our independent service project. We both wanted to help the same organization so we did two things for the same place, that’s why we also raised about seventy-five dollars and donated it to the organization. Elise and I walked four dogs and over twenty cats each, giving the pets fun and loving experiences. - Emilia   The Bicycle Collective The Bicycle Collective is a non-profit organization that takes in old and unwanted bikes then fixes them up and donates them to those in need. The M.C.S. Middle School class volunteered there for two and a half hours during our service-learning immersion. We fixed small kids bikes that will...

Happy New Year from the PSA! I hope you all had a fun, relaxing break and are ready for a great 2013! Since there are many new families who have joined the school this past fall, I thought it might be a good time to send along a few reminders and updates. Feeling connected to your child’s school and teachers is something that is very important to many parents.  Below are a couple of great ways you can be involved in your child’s classroom:   From 8:30-9am each morning in the Toddler and Early Childhood classes and 8:00-8:30am in the Elementary and Middle School classes, parents are welcome to be part of your child’s class – if your schedule permits, you are invited to stay during this time and do some work with your child.  It’s a great way to feel a part of their learning experience as well as getting...

Posted by Britney Peterson Britney Peterson Britney Peterson has not set their biography yet User is currently offline on Wednesday, 19 December 2012 in School News In the midst of this Holiday Season I give thanks for our precious children, dedicated and caring staff and our supportive families. This year we have had the highest enrollment since we moved to our current location and I attribute this to the fact that we have such incredible teachers and support staff and also such wonderful families who often make financial sacrifices to ensure that their children have all the opportunities that a true Montessori school has to offer them. These children will of course grow academically in our school and in addition they will grow in so many other ways. They will learn how to learn, to respect themselves, their peers, teachers and support staff and their environment, they will learn to become...

Posted by Britney Peterson Britney Peterson Britney Peterson has not set their biography yet User is currently offline on Tuesday, 18 December 2012 in School News Tags: Untagged

Posted by Britney Peterson Britney Peterson Britney Peterson has not set their biography yet User is currently offline on Monday, 17 December 2012 in Parent Education We want to extend our deepest sympathies to the Sandy Hook Elementary community and also take this opportunity to communicate our own emergency protocols to MCS parents.  In light of recent events, we are moving forward more urgently with the plans we have been developing in conjunction with a few dedicated parents who have formed our Emergency Preparedness Committee, particularly Sara Hart, who spearheads the committee. The lockdown procedure has been a priority for us since the EPC formed last spring. As part of our Emergency Preparedness, various members of the EPC have taken FEMA courses online that provide advice about preparing for various emergency situations. At our November meeting, one of our parents brought back what she had learned from the Lockdown course specifically....

Posted by Britney Peterson Britney Peterson Britney Peterson has not set their biography yet User is currently offline on Tuesday, 11 December 2012 in Classroom Updates   Enjoy this update from our Dance teacher, Katie Meehan, about what is happening is the Dance Classes this month. Early Childhood- We looked to the Nutcracker for movement inspiration. Observing different characters (The Nutcracker prince, the sugar plum faires, flowers and snow flakes). We listened to the dynamic soundtrack of The Nutcracker as we moved like these various characters. Taped pathways on the floor added a navigational component and spatial structure to our movement. Lower El- We explored using various props as a way to further our experience with dance composition. We worked in groups of four with each group having different props. Some props we used were scarves, hula hoops, hats, sequin fabric, etc. The students all had an opportunity to work together to find...

Posted by Britney Peterson Britney Peterson Britney Peterson has not set their biography yet User is currently offline on Wednesday, 05 December 2012 in Parent Education Through the years I have commonly been asked about Montessori students and their development of social skills. Some parents, when considering a Montessori education, become concerned that because of the size of the facility, the mixed age groupings, or the limited number of classrooms that their child will somehow be "missing out" on some aspects of social development. The short answer is that although there might not be as many children on our campus, the opportunities to develop socially are unlimited in the organization of the classrooms and curriculum.   Montessori herself said that "Social life does not consist of a group of individuals remaining close together, side by side, nor in their advancing en masse under the command of a captain like a regiment...

Posted by Britney Peterson Britney Peterson Britney Peterson has not set their biography yet User is currently offline on Tuesday, 04 December 2012 in Parent Education Thank you to those parents who recently attended our Elementary Admissions Information Meeting.  Remember, if you have a child who is moving into 1st or 4th grade next year, this meeting is MANDATORY for both parents.  Also, if you are currently still in process of deciding whether your Kindergartner or 3rd grader will continue with us next year, we recommend you come to the next meeting where Margaret, our Elementary and Middle School Program Head, will answer your questions regarding curriculum as well as social develpment of Elementary age students.  Many of the attendees of our meeting last Friday were especially excited by the brief overview of the Montessori Math materials. During the meeting some questions were raised about Montessori students transitioning to schools with...

Posted by Britney Peterson Britney Peterson Britney Peterson has not set their biography yet User is currently offline on Wednesday, 28 November 2012 in Parent Education One question that regularly comes my way this time of year is "what should I get my child for Christmas?"  Finding developmentally appropriate gifts that will keep our children happy and entertained, but still support their growth, can be challenging.  If you are anything like me, you don't want to spend a bunch of money on toys that will end up broken, lost, or forgotten by days end.  Below we've listed some of our favorite resources for finding the perfect gift for your Montessori child.... Small Hands is a wonderful resource for choosing gifts that support the Practical Life skills your child is working on regularly in the classroom. Daily Montessori shares information about choosing the right gift for children at the right age. Jessica...

Posted by Britney Peterson Britney Peterson Britney Peterson has not set their biography yet User is currently offline on Wednesday, 28 November 2012 in Parent Education Why Montessori for the kindergarten year? Written by Tim Seldin with Dr. Elizabeth Coe   Every year at reenrollment time, and in thousands of Montessori schools all over North America, parents of four-almost-five-year-olds are trying to decide whether or not they should keep their sons and daughters in Montessori for kindergarten or send them off to the local schools. So here are a few answers to some of the questions parents often ask about Montessori for the kindergarten age child. Naturally, to some degree the answer is also often connected to the question of family income as well, although we are often amazed at how often families with very modest means who place a high enough priority on their children's education will scrape together the...

Posted by Britney Peterson Britney Peterson Britney Peterson has not set their biography yet User is currently offline on Wednesday, 14 November 2012 in Classroom Updates The Middle School students are at the completion of another cycle.  They have spent the past five weeks talking about how to be involved in the community and how service is a way to be involved and be supportive. During their Immersion this week the Middle School students are focusing on Community Service. They have visited Wasatch Community Garden, The Stable Place, and The Living Planet Aquarium where they have rendered different services.  They have prepared and organized independent volunteer opportunities which they will participate in tomorrow and have also planned trips to the Bicycle Collective and Camp Kostopulos.  They are expecting a visit from Tree Utah on Friday. Check back soon for a more comprehensive report of what they've been up to, what they...

    The Montessori philosophy was developed by Dr. Maria Montessori through careful and thorough observation of the child.  Having studied to become a medical doctor, much of her theory was developed based on the biological growth of the child.  In developing her theory, Montessori discovered that children go through sensitive periods in their development.  What is a sensitive period?  It could be defined as a special sensitivity related to certain elements in the environment towards which the organism is directed with an irresistible impulse and a well-defined activity.  In other words, and in relation to our children, sensitive periods are periods of time in which children are directed by an inner pull towards a certain activity, impulse, or characteristic. Montessori herself described sensitive periods stating, "Children pass through definite periods in which they reveal psychic aptitudes and possibilities which afterwards disappear. That is why, at particular epochs of their life,...

Practical Life is an essential part of the Montessori curriculum.  Students begin as early as 18 months old working on daily living skills.  The areas of a Practical Life environment include; care of self, care of environment, grace and courtesy, and control of movement.  Activities are carefully designed to not only prepare the child to LITERALLY become independent in all areas but also to develop the mathematical and language areas of the brain. This is accomplished when a teacher in the environment sets up each activity and presents it methodically, paying careful attention to every detail.  For example, a lesson on table washing would be presented to a child starting to scrub the table at the top-moving from left to right and top to bottom.  The child moves cross-body as their washing hand literally crosses from the left side of the body, past the center, and to the far right, preparing...