| The Primary Program (ages 3 - 6 years
old)
Primary
Teacher
Misha Engel
| Misha Engel has been a Primary guide
at GMS for seven years. She earned her AMI certification
at the Montessori
Institute of Atlanta (Georgia) in 1991. She also has
a BA degree in French and and a second BA in Comparative
Literature from the University of Georgia. Misha lives
in Gila, NM with her daughter and her two dogs. |
|
Primary
Teacher
Liz
Morales
| Liz Morales begins a new phase in her
life this year. She will open our second Primary classroom
at GMS. Liz is both a parent and staff member. She
has two boys in the GMS and has been in charge of our
After School Care the past two years, as well as working
in the Summer Programs at the school. She has spent
much of this last summer in San Diego doing Montessori
training and is looking forward to working with your
children. |
|
Our Primary Montessori classrooms are designed
for children two and one-half through six years old, in a mixed-age
group. The classroom provides a place where children have freedom
to choose their activities within a carefully prepared and enriching
environment.
The children attend the school five days a week
as the consistency of going to school each day increases the children's
security with the classroom and aids the child in developing a
self-directed learning style.
Parents are asked to consider that this is a three-year
commitment to their child's education, as one year's work builds
upon the next in the classroom. The three year program and age
span encourages beneficial social interaction, and allows children
to develop their skills year by year in the same environment.
Typically, our school day goes something like this:
8:15 - 8:30 The children arrive. The
school day begins at 8:30.
8:30 - 11:40 The children choose activities
from a wide variety available to them. Much of the time
is spent in individual ''work, but the children may choose
to join a small group game, sharing, or story time. The
teacher gives lessons to the children and supports their
work. Large motor activity is included in the schedule,
as well as music, rhythm, and creative expression. The
children gather together for sharing, stories, singing,
and games.
11:40 - 12:00 The Half Day students have
outdoor playtime and students are picked up to go home.
The children who are staying for Extended Day and Half
Day Plus help prepare the classroom for lunch.
12:00 - 12:30 The children serve each
other the meal and eat together. This is a social time
to learn the gracious and courteous way to take meals together.
12:30 - 1:00 The Extended Day and Half
Day Plus children have outdoor play time.
1:00 - 3:00 "Extended day." The
five and six year old children gather for circle and have
individual work time. This very important time together
allows the child to bring to fruition the efforts made
and skills learned in the first two years in the classroom.
It is equivalent to a child's kindergarten year. Half Day
Plus children have rest time in the nap room.
3:00 Dismissal outside |
|
