Montessori World Education Institute is coming to Grant School

Grant School’s Montessori program will be hosting two Montessori World Educational Institute teacher education classes in July.

A class on Montessori Primary Math and Language is scheduled for July 9-13.

A class on Montessori Cultural Subjects is scheduled for July 16-20.

These classes are geared toward children 5 to 7-years-old. For information on these classes and a registration form click here. Early registration is due by Friday, June 22.

Some things your child and family will experience in our Montessori-based* classroom:

  • Carefully prepared, inviting environment
  • High quality, beautiful time tested Montessori learning materials that are self-correcting
  • Sequential curriculum with emphasis on mastery before moving on
  • Projects such as gardening, cooking and maintaining the classroom
  • Whole-group, small-group and individualized instruction
  • Long periods of uninterrupted work time
  • Emphasis on individual responsibility and choice in learning where, with guidance from the teacher, students learn and set goals according to developmental readiness
  • Opportunities to research and report on topics of individual interest
  • Strong emphasis on collaboration, building a sense of classroom and school community, and philosophy of service to the greater community
  • Fostering grace and courtesy
  • Multi-aged classroom where younger children enjoy older role models and older children teach skills they have mastered to their younger classmates
  • A peace table where children practice taking responsibility to resolve interpersonal conflicts
  • Traditional curriculum along with Montessori materials/curriculum aligned to California State Standards

Montessori students and their families typically bring to the classroom:

  • The joy of learning
  • The interest and motivation to be educated in the Montessori approach
  • The desire to develop the ability and capability to work independently and be self-motivated in learning and achievement
  • Family commitment to support their child and the Montessori learning community

*The class will incorporate the Montessori approach to teaching and learning. Students will learn using standards based, state-adopted curriculum in addition to Montessori materials that are aligned to the California state standards for grades 1-3.

For more information contact Grant Montessori teacher Terri Vroman Little or Grant School principal Bill Cannady at 441-2552.

The Montessori curriculum at the elementary level includes regular outings to learn firsthand from the natural world.

At Grant Elementary, the nature trail to O'Gara Creek provides immediate access to a mini-ecosystem where students observe and research plant and animal life through the changing seasons of the school year. No classroom curriculum, no matter how fabulous, can replace for students the experience of seeing, hearing, smelling, and touching the living environment they are studying.

Students also gain an understanding of stewardship of land as they learn about trail maintenance, erosion control, and the important role each member plays in keeping the gulch ecosystem in balance.
Montessori students at Grant Elementary School traveled 100 years back in time to hear about life in Eureka from Bureau of Land Management interpretive ranger Julie Clark. Students wore period dress as did Clark and Grant teacher Terri Vroman Little.

Clark presentation included a photo, taken in 1900, of the first Grant School. She also shared some of the “rules” used in classrooms at the time such as no asking questions and no fidgeting.

Vroman Little’s class spent the day celebrating the 100th anniversary of Montessori education started by Maria Montessori at Casa Dei Bambini (children’s house) in Rome, Italy. Students learned what life was like in Italy 100 years ago, talked about Montessori’s life, and set out a timeline of events leading up to the opening of her first school. Vroman Little also showed students which of their Montessori materials were used in the first school.

Grant students celebrate 100th anniversary of Montessori program Eureka Reporter - January 13, 2007 - read more