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Our Classrooms
Multi-age student groups in each classroom - Each classroom becomes a community in which two of the three levels of students remain in the classroom each year
- Incoming students are welcomed by the already formed community
- Older students become mentors who experience the joy of being helpful and caring individuals.
- Mentoring is encouraged to the degree that a student helps a fellow student to understand a concept without "taking charge."
- A student learns a concept better when he explains it to a peer
Sequenced Montessori manipulative materials - Hands-on Montessori materials invite touching, arranging and understanding important concepts
- Sequenced arrangement of Montessori materials is interesting and reassuring
- Motivation occurs as students see the next exercise and want to do it
- Motivation also occurs as students become interested in a peer doing advanced work and know where it is located on the shelf
- Love of learning happens as students see the manipulative exercises they have finished and want to move on
Co-teaching - Co-teachers with Montessori training are in every multi-age classroom
- Co-teaching is efficient
- Co-teachers work together with the students to form a community in which everybody shares responsibility in being respectful, accountable, kind, and caring
- Each teacher is in charge of a core area, arranging, presenting, and record keeping
- When one teacher is teaching a small group, the co-teacher is available to help the student who needs help
- Co-teachers can compare notes and use a consistent approach for students who need help
- Helpful observations of students can be shared each day
- Each teacher teaches in her area of passion and expertise
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