“…education is a natural process spontaneously carried out by the human individual, and is acquired not by listening to words but by experiences upon the environment.” — Dr. Maria Montessori

The Montessori classroom is referred to as a ‘prepared environment’. This environment encourages children to pursue their interests and to work independently at their own pace. A minimum use of wall displays, soft colors, and child-sized furnishings are the norm in this environment.

A typical day in the Montessori classroom will include activities to encourage independent work, small group activities, demonstrations by the teacher and opportunities to explore the environment both inside and out.

When necessary, teachers assist the child in the decision-making process by offering options from which the child can choose. The Montessori trained teacher is an astute observer who presents appropriate materials to the child or children in small groups. Recording your child’s progress on a daily basis allows the teachers the opportunity to stay in tune to the needs of the child’s and the environment. These records will also assist the teacher in communicating the child’s progress to his/her parents. Teachers in this environment serve as facilitators and observers who offer stimulation and choices. The child’s natural curiosity, love for work, and a sense of community are stimulated and nurtured in this environment.

The Early Childhood Classroom is organized into four major areas: practical life, sensorial, language arts, and mathematics.

Practical life exercises would include buttoning, food preparation, plant care, silver polishing and other activities that encourage self-care, environment care and care for others.

Sensorial area assists in the development of the intellectual skills of classification and mental organization by refining the child’s sense of touch, smell, taste, hearing and sight.

Language arts area develops the many facets of language. Oral language development, creative writing, listening skills, and handwriting development are skill areas that the language area focuses on.

Mathematics area focuses on counting, number recognition, making sets, measuring and patterning.

Arts and music encourages the growth and development of aesthetic qualities. Exercises in science including botany, zoology and physical science along with focus on history, geography and foreign language complete this well rounded curriculum.

The Elementary Program expands and extends the structure of the preschool environment, offering individual and small-group instruction using beautiful and dynamic manipulations which present abstract ideas concretely.

Language is an important part of the entire Montessori curriculum for it brings the child to conscious awareness of language and how it can be used more effectively. Once the child has an understanding that writing is a graphic form of language, then he begins work with spelling, word study, penmanship, grammar, punctuation and capitalization. The real experience in reading and writing comes through the child’s work in other areas of the curriculum, such as geography, history, botany, etc.

Foreign Language - Spanish is the foreign language currently being studied in the elementary program.

Mathematics - Manipulation of concrete and symbolic materials with built-in control of error develops sound arithmetic skills and leads the child to make his or her own abstractions. The children work with fraction materials, cubing materials and materials for studying algebra and calculus.

Geometry - Experienced sensorially through manipulation of both plane and solid geometric figures. As much geometric nomenclature is supplied as the child is able to assimilate so that the child will have as much information as possible at his or her command upon entering the stage of exploring why, how and when things happen.

Social Studies and Science (Cultural Studies) - Dr. Maria Montessori felt that social studies and sciences should be integrated in the environment, as they are in life. The subject areas studied include geography, geology, history, botany, zoology, chemistry, sociology and government.

History - The Montessori curriculum follows the development of the solar system, life on Earth, the development of humankind, early civilizations and recorded history. The child sees the long labor of humankind that is needed to accomplish all that is enjoyed here today.

Geography - Studies focus on how the physical configurations of the Earth contribute to our history. The study of physical geography is the basis for the study of economic geography, which shows the interdependence of people.

Art - In the elementary environment, the adult aids the child in the development of skills in order that the child may creatively express him or herself through various media. In addition to art expression, art is an integrating factor for the rest of the curriculum. The child may use it in such ways as geometrical drawings, geographical maps or illustrations for history, botany, zoology, social studies, etc.

Music - The elementary program consists of singing, dancing, music appreciation, guest listening and ear training. There will be opportunities to listen to and discuss many different types of musical instruments.

Physical Education - Biological studies relating to physical education include human anatomy, physiology and nutrition. An interest in the development of skills that could be used in later life is the emphasis, along with the challenge of competing with oneself rather than competing against others.

MSC middle school students in grades 7 & 8 study mathematics, science, language arts, and social studies in accordance with Georgia Performance Standards. In addition, students go on a variety of curriculum-based and outdoor-education-oriented field trips, maintain a plot in the Clark’s Grove community garden, create and run multiple class businesses, facilitate community service projects, and participate in community internships.

Teachers at the middle school level are specialists in their academic fields. They work with students in groups as well as on an individual basis. A low teacher-student ratio allows teachers to know students as unique individuals and meet individual needs.

Mathematics - Students are placed in a math textbook based on their previous math experience along with the mastery of certain concepts as demonstrated by beginning, mid-year, and end-of-year assessments. The following textbooks are used:

McDougall Littell Mathematics Course 2-The topics covered include algebra, integers and equation solving; algebra and rational numbers; similarity, geometry and measurement; and advanced algebra topics.

-The topics covered include algebra, integers and equation solving; algebra and rational numbers; similarity, geometry and measurement; and advanced algebra topics.

McDougall Littell Mathematics Course 3/PreAlgebra-The topics covered include integers, equations and inequalities; rational numbers and proportions; functions, geometry and measurement; and data analysis, polynomials and transformations.

-The topics covered include integers, equations and inequalities; rational numbers and proportions; functions, geometry and measurement; and data analysis, polynomials and transformations.

McDougall Littell Algebra I-This course begins with a review of simple equations and properties of real numbers. Once this is completed, the following topics are covered: solving, graphing and writing linear equations and inequalities; systems of equations and inequalities; exponents and exponential functions; quadratic and rational equations and functions; polynomials and factoring; and radicals and connections to geometry.

The Arts – Students have weekly classes in art and music. In both classes, students have the opportunity to explore a variety of genres and materials. An annual art and music show highlights student work.

Foreign Language: Spanish – the middle school foreign language program is a continuation of the foreign language study students begin in the lower elementary classroom with expanded work in the areas of conversation, vocabulary, grammar, and cultural studies.

Physical Education - a versatile weekly physical education class for middle school students is provided. The program emphasizes preparing students for a lifetime of physical fitness.

Middle School Community Involvement - Opportunities to serve and work in the local community are essential in the development of confident adolescents who feel capable of making positive contributions to society.

Middle school students are required to facilitate a community service project each year. Students may choose to create a unique school or class project or include classmates in a local nonprofit’s service event. Past projects have included food and coat drives, designing and manning a table at Newton County’s annual literacy festival, participating in Rivers Alive, assisting at the Newton County Special Olympics, and organizing a Red Cross blood drive.

Community Internships - Involving adolescents in the work of the adult world is a strong component of Montessori middle school programs. One of the ways that MSC addresses this need is to have students participate in a 20-hour community internship during their eighth-grade year. With parent and teacher support, students are responsible for arranging the details of their internship in an area that interests them. Students maintain a journal reflecting on their experiences.

Dr. Maria Montessori described the middle school years as a period of vulnerability characterized by physical and emotional unrest. She also viewed it as a period of opportunity and growth during which students seek to discover both self and society in order to take their places in the adult world as contributing members.

Montessori called her program for adolescents Erdkinder, which translates as “land children,” emphasizing the interdependence of the natural world and human life. In addition to academics and the arts, a major component of Erdkinder would entail students working on a farm and running a store or hotel as a means for them to have a place in the social and economic life of a community.

Following ten years of research review, the Carnegie Council on Adolescent Development‘s findings reveal that Maria Montessori’s vision for adolescents is relevant for the twenty-first century. According to the Council, middle school students

Find a valued place in a constructive group
Feel a sense of worth as a person
Know how to use the support systems available to them
Express constructive curiosity and exploratory behavior
Believe in a promising future with real opportunities
Master social skills, including the ability to manage conflict peacefully
Cultivate the inquiring and problem-solving habits of mind for lifelong learning
Acquire the technical and analytic capabilities to participate in a world-class economy
Become ethical persons
Learn the requirements of responsible citizenship
Respect diversity in our pluralistic society
In keeping with the best practices for programs serving adolescents, the MSC middle school includes a strong academic and arts component in conjunction with opportunities to interact with the natural environment and community in which they live. Small class size allows students to build positive relationships with peers and teachers, practice leadership skills, and develop effective problem solving skills in a supportive setting.

Montessori School of Covington is expanding to offer high school classes in conjunction with Georgia Cyber Academy beginning Fall 2013.
High school students will now have the opportunity to attend Montessori School of Covington (MSC) as students of Georgia Cyber Academy (GCA) in a unique environment offering opportunities for in-depth independent learning, concrete instruction that leads to concept mastery, and a safe environment for social growth and development. GCA is a SACS-accredited public charter school serving over 12,000 students across the state. Content teachers are state board-certified, and high school students are eligible for the Hope scholarship, Governor’s Honors programs, career/technical courses, college coursework for credit and academic supports for special needs.
The public is invited to attend an informational program scheduled for 6 pm Tuesday, May 21 at Montessori School of Covington, located at 4108 Summers Street.
A Montessori education offers a hands-on approach to learning that meets children at their own levels and allows them to advance through the curriculum at their own pace. Much like the environment currently provided for ages three through eighth grade at MSC, high school-level classes will deliver a rigorous curriculum through individualized learning plans with accommodations that foster different learning styles.
At MSC, high school students will have a small student-to-adult ratio, supervised use of technology, and flexible class scheduling. MSC high school will incorporate extracurricular activities that encourage real-world application of learning, community service, leadership, and peer mentoring, supported by an on-site learning coach/family facilitator. MSC high school will also prepare students for college by offering dual enrollment for 11th and 12th graders, apprenticeships and internships, and assistance with school research and selection.
Enrollment is now open for the 2013-2014 school year. In order to be accepted into the MSC high school program, students must be enrolled in Georgia Cyber Academy. Prospective students should contact Georgia Cyber Academy at http://www.k12.com/gca/enroll prior to completing an MSC application. School visits and interviews will be conducted while GCA enrollment is being processed. Students enrolled in GCA for the current school year only need to indicate their intent to re-register at the time of requesting an MSC application. Spaces are limited in the MSC high-school program and provisional students will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis as their enrollment with GCA is approved. Tuition for 2013-2014 GCA @ MSC students is $3,000 for the 10-month school year. For more information, please contact MSC at (770)788-7779.