Where each child’s unique sense of wonder and possibility unfolds,

1. Where each child’s unique sense of wonder and possibility unfolds, awakening a life long love of learning.

2. Educational method developed over 100 years ago by Maria Montessori, M.D. Focuses on the development of the whole child Teaches children to become problem solvers and critical thinkers Has been the educational beginning of many successful people History of Montessori

3. The Montessori Model • The Montessori education is premised upon the following basic elements: • A highly skilled educator • A respect for the child through individualized education • Sequenced learning through specially designed, hands-on materials • A child-oriented, prepared environment

4. A Few Facts • The Montessori School of Florence has no religious affiliation. • The Montessori School of Florence is competitively priced. • The Montessori School of Florence students transition well into traditional educational environments. • The Montessori School of Florence proudly celebrates a diverse student body representing many cultures.

5. Why Montessori School of Florence • Teachers • Bachelor’s or Master’s Degrees • American Montessori Society Certification • 250-450 clock hours of intense Montessori education • Remarkable awareness in how to observe, guide, and assist the child with learning • An average of 12 years of experience in educating and guiding children

6. Why Montessori School of Florence • Classroom Assistants • All Montessori classrooms have an assistant • Assistants have an average of 5 years experience working with children • Assistants required to earn annual continuing education credits • Assistants offer support to the teacher, individual students and the classroom as a whole

7. Montessori School of FlorencePre-Primary Program • Children ages 2 to 3 • Environment designed for individual growth and exploration • Age appropriate materials enhance the learning of language, motor skills, and provide for social interaction • Licensed by the S.C. Department of Social Services

9. Montessori School of FlorencePre-Primary Program • Safe, separate, toddler sized playground • Pre-Primary children participate in our music program as well as daily music and rhythm experiences • Peaceful, respectful, nurturing environment with room for free exploration and discovery • Personal choices for learning and play activities encouraged, no large group instruction. • Lessons and activities created to fit the very young child’s need for movement and choice.

11. Montessori School of FlorencePrimary Program • Children ages 3 to 6 • The three-year age grouping promotes a sense of family or community and provides role models for the younger child • Promotes the development of motor skills, a sense of order, concentration, and independence

13. Montessori School of FlorencePrimary Program • Multi-sensory, sequential, and self-correcting materials give the child the joy of discovery and learning while facilitating the learning of skills leading to more complex and abstract ideas. • Learning becomes an exciting opportunity and process rather than a chore to be completed. • Areas of curriculum include practical life, sensorial, language, math, science, geography, art, music, movement, and Spanish

17. Montessori School of FlorencePrimary ProgramEnrichment Activities • Spanish and music classes • Physical activity part of daily routine for all children • Physical Education program for 5K • Artistic expression part of daily curriculum for all children • Formal art class for 5K

18. Montessori School of FlorenceLower Elementary Program • First through third grade students • Three-year age grouping provides for more continuity in the educational instruction in second and third grades • The older children model and teach the younger children • The opportunity to teach a younger child reinforces the concepts for the older children and gives them ownership of the material being taught and confidence in their understanding

20. Montessori School of FlorenceLower Elementary Program • Language Arts • Reading is learned through the use of a variety of individually paced, phonetically based materials • Emphasis is placed on the development of strong skills in composition and creative writing • The study of grammar and analysis of sentences is introduced through impressionistic lessons • Research and critical thinking skills are encouraged as early as first grade • Accelerated Reading program is used as an extension of the curriculum

23. Montessori School of FlorenceLower Elementary Program • Math • The math curriculum utilizes a series of sequential steps that enable a child to learn math from concrete materials while moving to abstraction • Lessons are given individually and in small groups. The child practices with the math material until he or she is confident with their level of understanding and is able to do the math abstractly • Practical, real life applications of math are incorporated to reinforce understanding

26. Montessori School of FlorenceLower Elementary Program • Science • The Science curriculum is focused on the study of life, and the laws and structure of the universe • Concepts are explored after impressionistic lessons are given • The Scientific Method is emphasized in the exploration of the topics • Hands on lessons are used to reinforce concepts

27. Montessori School of FlorenceLower Elementary Program • Social Studies • The Social Studies curriculum includes history, geography, and the cultures of the peoples and places of all countries • Children learn geography through the use of interactive maps with increasing detail • The cultures of the peoples of the world are learned through reading, research and discussion

29. Montessori School of FlorenceLower Elementary ProgramEnrichment Activities • Physical education program • Spanish, Art, and Music classes • Curriculum based field trips • Soccer Team • Cheerleading • After school clubs

30. Montessori School of FlorenceUpper Elementary Program • Fourth through sixth grade grouping • Older children model and teach younger children • Older children serve as mentors to lower elementary children • Upper Elementary children assist in primary classrooms

32. Language Individually leveled reading comprehension books and SRA as well as grade level basal study Novel studies used to explore literary concepts and vocabulary Intense grammar study to support language mastery necessary for fluent writing Focus on creative and critical writing Montessori School of FlorenceUpper Elementary Program

34. Montessori School of FlorenceUpper Elementary Program • Math • Use of concrete materials in lower elementary gives the students such a strong foundation that abstraction and development of higher level thinking skills comes easily to the upper elementary level child • Lessons continue to be small group and individualized • New concepts are taught with Montessori materials and are available to the child for practice • Many students work one or more grade levels above their grade • Logic problems are introduced and practiced weekly

37. Montessori School of FlorenceUpper Elementary Program • Science • Topics are covered in a three-year cycle to allow for more exploration with hands-on materials • Science experiments following the scientific method are an important part of the hands-on exploration • When a concept is covered, students are given activities to reinforce the concept and allowed time to work alone or with other students to complete the activities • Upon culmination of the activities, results are discussed by the whole group

38. Montessori School of FlorenceUpper Elementary Program • Social Studies Students learn history, geography, and the culture of other countries through • Reading and answering short answer questions • Making and labeling maps • Research • Presentations • Designing visual aids to support research and presentations

39. Montessori School of FlorenceUpper Elementary Program • Assessment Each child has a written study plan for the day or week Teachers give oral and written exams or have students demonstrate their understanding of a topic by teaching a lesson to another student or giving a formal presentation Detailed progress reports are provided to parents at regular intervals Standardized tests are given annually

40. Montessori School of FlorenceUpper Elementary Program The nature of our instructional style, the use of specialized materials as well as the opportunity for each child to proceed at his own pace in a productive work cycle makes traditional homework unnecessary. Incomplete work or an extension activity may need to be taken home but this is usually due to the child’s planning choices that day.

41. Montessori School of FlorenceUpper Elementary ProgramEnrichment Activities • 5th and 6th grade students practice real life economics with a computer simulated Stock Market Game provided through the SC Council on Economic Education • 6th grade participates in SCISA math meet • Weekly Spanish, German, Art, Music and PE • Sixth grade designs and prepares yearbook for publication • Student published newspaper created bi-monthly

43. Montessori School of Florence • Media Center • The Media Center has over 8000 publications for leisure reading and research • A computer based reading comprehension program is utilized by our students as an adjunct to our language program. • A 14 station computer lab • An open door policy for children to choose a book, use a computer, or sit quietly and read

44. Montessori Moments to Shine • Over 65% of our 4th and 5th grade students qualify for the Duke Talent Identification Program • Over 65% of our 2nd through 6th grade students qualify for the John Hopkins Center for Talented Youth Program • Over 91% of our students score above the 50th percentile nationally on standardized tests • District 1’s only perfect SAT score student last year is a Montessori School of Florence graduate.

45. Montessori Moments to Shine • The 2007-08 Sixth Grade Math Team took fifth place in the SCISA state math meet. Forty one of the forty two opposing teams were 7th and 8th grade teams. • The winning Academic Challenge Team at Williams Middle School is composed of 12 students. For the past three years, 25% of that team has been Montessori School of Florence graduates.

46. Montessori Moments to Shine • Our 2008 Sixth Grade Quiz Bowl Team won second place in the Statewide South Carolina Independent Schools Middle School competition. Our sixth grade students were again competing against seventh and eighth grade students.

47. Another Shining Moment • Upper Elementary students participated in state-wide Stock Market Game presented by the S.C. Council on Economics. Teams of students researched and managed on-line stocks. The Montessori School of Florence teams placed 2nd and 3rd in the S.C. Elementary Division

48. Montessori Moments That Shine • Our third-grade students complete an Imaginary Island project each year. This project allows each child to design an island. Building on the social studies learned in first, second and third grade; each child determines the location, topography, government, economic activities, culture and weather of his island. A project including a three dimensional model, paper, and oral presentation is the culmination of this three year project. This project has been recognized by Montessori Alliance for its creative integration of curriculum.

49. Imaginary Island

50. Extracurricular ActivitiesGo Mavericks! • Our lower elementary students have the opportunity to participate in inter-school soccer competition • Our upper elementary students have the opportunity to participate in inter-school basketball competition • Both age groups may be part of our Cheerleading Team