Where each childs unique sense

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Where each childs unique sense of wonder and
possibility unfolds, awakening a life long love
of learning.
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History of Montessori

• 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

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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

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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.

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Why Montessori School of Florence

• Teachers
• Bachelors or Masters 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

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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

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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

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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 childs need for movement and choice.

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Montessori School of FlorenceUpper Elementary
Program

• 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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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 childs planning
  choices that day.

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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

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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

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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 1s only perfect SAT score student last
  year is a Montessori School of Florence graduate.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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Imaginary Island
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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

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Maverick BasketballSportsmanship and Teamwork
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Maverick BasketballSportsmanship and Teamwork
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Maverick BasketballBuilding Strength and
Confidence
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Maverick SoccerBuilding Coordination and
Confidence
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Maverick SoccerBuilding Sportsmanship and
Friendship
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Montessori School of Florence

• An excellent academic environment
• A child focused curriculum
• A safe, nurturing, milieu to promote individual
  success.
• Ensure a bright future for your child today!
• call 843-629-2920