 Liberty
Public Meetings - Winter 2008
How many spaces will be available in the new classroom? 25
How many students are in the class now?
25. The current class is filled with 1st and 2nd grade, 14 students
are 1st grade, 11 students in 2nd grade.
When will a Montessori Kindergarten be added?
There are no
plans at this time since the Montessori program is designed
for a multi-age class, with the kindergarten children at age
5 combined with 3 and 4 year olds. Currently it is against
the Idaho state law to use any state funds to provide educational
opportunities to children 4 and younger.
If a child attends a Montessori program as a 3 and
4 year old, then a public kindergarten, will the child be
considered
as having Montessori experience for enrollment to the public
Montessori program? YES
Will there be preference given to siblings?
Preference will
be given within the lottery category.
Will an open enrollment form be required each year?
Students,
who are accepted and who attend Liberty for one full year,
are considered part of the Liberty school boundary and do not
need to reapply each year. However, this doesn't qualify for
transportation if you reside outside of the school boundary.
Will on-site after school care be available?
A module unit
will be moved to Liberty to open a Just For Kids before and
after school care program. For more information contact the
Program Coordinator, MaryAnn Wallinger, at 854-6720.
How does a Montessori typical day compare to a traditional?
The Montessori class is full of activity with students working
either individually or in small groups. The students individually
select their work and have an uninterrupted 3 hours in the
morning to focus on their work. The teacher is available for
questions and some guidance, but the work is self-directed.
The afternoon is available to accommodate Library, PE, Music,
and other special needs as requested. Conversely, the traditional
day is more broken up, all students work on the same lessons
during the same time period each day as directed by the teacher.
The students in the Montessori have the choice of working at
desks and tables, or on a mat on the floor, whereas the traditional
students always work in their desk. Unlike the traditional
classes, there is no competitiveness among the Montessori students
as they work to increase knowledge of self and their peers.
How are public testing guidelines followed in the Montessori
program?
The Montessori program participates in all required
assessments with the 1st- 3rd taking the IRI, Idaho Reading
Indicator, test, and 3rd also taking the ISAT. Assessments
from this year indicate the Montessori classroom results increased
from the fall to the Winter IRI and ahead of the traditional
classes. The Montessori curriculum is similar to the public
even if not taught in the same order so that by the end of
the third grade they have been presented equal or more information
than their traditional counterparts.
Do you partner with private Montessori's in the area?
Yes,
we have a consultant from Rosehill Montessori School, Christel
Norhausen. Christel, the Liberty Principal, Betty Hoogland,
the Vice Principal, Liz Croy, and the teachers, Betty Young
and Peggy Watson alternate visiting sites for training and
mentoring. Eagle, Parkcenter Montessori and Lakewood Montessori
has also participated in providing assistance to the success
of the program.
Is a second language offered?
Yes, the Montessori program
currently includes Spanish.
Are there volunteer opportunities available?
Currently we
seek adult volunteers for our Reading and Art Programs. Monday-Thursday
from 9:15-10:30am volunteers listen to individual students
read, ask comprehension questions, and offer one-to-one support.
Art volunteers are contacted for specific projects and dates.
Volunteers may be relatives of our students or outside guests.
All volunteers are required to follow the Boise School District
Volunteer procedures of signing in and out at our office and
must visit briefly with Ms. B before setting up hours.
Is there a teacher for the computer lab?
Yes the computer
lab is teacher directed, and the students attend once per week
for 30 minutes.
What reading program is used in the Montessori classroom?
There is access to the different programs available through
the Boise School District. Generally the children are allowed
to read at their own level and choose their own reading material.
The grammar and language program follows the Montessori curriculum.
The lessons are consistent with current theory and practice
of teaching children how to read and write; a linear process
of curriculum accommodating individual learning styles.
Why was the Montessori program brought to Liberty?
The program
allows a choice for parents. Liberty was selected because of
the high population of Montessori students in the area and
Liberty had available space.
As a parent of a child without a Montessori background, how
do I assess if my child would benefit?
Here are some suggestions:
explore the internet to learn about the Montessori Method and
determine if you agree with its philosophy; watch a video about
the method with your child to help assess if your child would
fit in this program by analyzing if your child's personality
and learning style would work with the methodology.
What are some creative solutions to obtain Montessori experience
if you can't afford it?
Obtain some Montessori materials and
work with your child at home; read about it with your child
and practice the methodology. Consider attending part-time
if your budget allows, most Montessori's offer a part-time
choice. It is also highly recommended to contact your local
legislatures in the House and Senate to show your interest
in the State providing public lower/primary educational opportunities.
Liberty Public Meetings - Spring 2007
What is the enrollment priority?
The first priority goes to students within the Liberty boundary with prior
Montessori experience, then to those without, per the 80/20 ratio. Next priority
goes to those outside the Liberty boundaries with prior Montessori experience,
then to those without, per the 80/20 ratio.
Will families in the Montessori Program be required
to reapply annually?
No. Preference will also be given to siblings of participating Montessori students.
Will there be a separate PTA for the Montessori strand?
No. Montessori parents will participate in the Liberty Elementary PTA.
Are there other Montessori strand schools housed within
a traditional public school?
Yes. There are a number of successful models like the one we are piloting across
the nation and we are seeking to benchmark best practices from them.
Will children outside of the Liberty boundaries only
be accepted after those within it?
Yes.
How does Montessori work with kids who have special
needs?
Maria Montessori originally developed her methods for children with special
needs. These methods are currently widely used by Special Ed teachers. Each
of these children has a unique set of needs that should be considered on an
individual basis. The Montessori approach may or may not be the best approach
and should be considered on a case by case basis.
Will the teachers be certified?
They will be Montessori certified and they may or may not be hold an Idaho
Teaching Certification. If we hire someone without a current Idaho teaching
certificate, they will work toward this per the BSD guidelines.
Is a BA required for Montessori certification?
Yes, it is for all elementary teachers.
How does Montessori fit in with testing requirements?
This is something we have addressed since the beginning. While the scope of
the Montessori curriculum matches up with that of the traditional school,
the sequence does not. Montessori students complete a three-year curriculum
at their own pace and therefore may not always have received the curriculum
that is being tested at the time the test is administered. By the end of
sixth grade, the Montessori students will have received all of the same curriculum
that their traditional track peers have received. Nationally, Montessori
students have scored at or above the level of their traditional school peers.
To what would you attribute the higher math and science
scores within Montessori classrooms?
Montessori subjects are presented to the student first in a concrete form and
progress to the abstract. The student internalizes each subject fully, and
gains a solid foundation of math and science principles. This probably accounts
for the higher math and science scores found in a number of studies.
Are the 3rd grade materials going to be the highest
materials offered, or will more advanced materials be available – for
instance to a 3rd grader who is more advanced in a certain
subject?
We will be purchasing all the materials for 1st - 6th grade. Students who have
mastered a subject and show interest in further study will be introduced to
the next level of materials. 1st - 3rd grade teachers Montessori training prepares
teachers to challenge accelerated students.
Will the district pay for the Montessori materials?
Yes.
Will parents have to pay anything extra?
Nothing that the other Liberty parents don't have to pay. Liberty has a budget
for field trips and some other expenses, so there will be very few, if any,
additional expenses for the parents.
Is there a process at the end of the year to determine
if the pilot is successful and will continue?
The district has approached this as a program that will grow. Other special
programs, such as the Harbor Method , have been slow to start, but were supported
by the district as they grew into successful strands. The factors to evaluate
success of the program are being carefully identified.
What about 4th grade next year?
It is our intention to start 4th - 6th grade classroom(s) next year to match
the demand of student need.
How is word getting out about this?
There have been newspaper articles and national job postings.
Are you going to visit schools with Montessori classrooms?
Betty Hoogland and two of her teaching staff will visit a successful out-of-state
public Montessori school within a school very soon. Betty has also visited
Montessori preschool classrooms in Boise and has been recently invited to
visit a private Montessori elementary school as well.
Where do enrollment forms get turned in or mailed
to?
Completed enrollment forms may be delivered directly to Liberty Elementary,
or mailed to the school:
Liberty Elementary School, 1740 S. Bergeson, Boise, ID 83706.
Are you looking at a Just for Kids program here at
Liberty?
Yes. Please complete a Just For Kids survey and turn it in with your enrollment
forms. The more positive responses we get to the survey, the better our chances
of having the program offered at Liberty.
Montessori Home | Mission & Philosophy | Choosing
the Montessori Program | Staff
Contact: Liberty Principal:
854-5410 | Lead Teacher:
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