Nurturing Excellence in Our Montessori Schools

We appreciate your continued partnership as we support our school teams in honing their professional development. We couldn’t do it without you!

Our company-wide Teacher In-Service Day is an important aspect of the care we provide, offering comprehensive training, tools, and instruction for all teachers and staff. Our goal for the October 2024 session was to provide teachers with the support and resources they need to focus on Nurturing Excellence Through Communication and Critical Thinking.

We focused on cultivating behaviors that will increase the quality of language-rich practices in classrooms, reduce the risk of hazards and injuries, and create safe environments for children.

Here are a few of the key takeaways for families:

The Energy Bus for Schools

This fall’s keynote speaker encouraged our teachers to hop on The Energy Bus for Schools! While listening to the keynote message delivered by Dr. Jim Van Allan, teachers gained valuable tips about creating a positive school culture. So, how will we achieve this?

• Apply F.U.E.L.
  • Feed the positive
  • Uplift their minds
  • Encourage others
  • Love it
• Display a positive mindset when facing challenges
• Encourage others through positive words, notes, support, etc.
• Show love and care to team members

Critical Thinking Skills for Work and Life

Teachers worked on things they could do to create a language-rich environment in the classroom by utilizing critical thinking skills. The goal is to offer smart solutions for each child as well as the entire school community. You’ll notice your teacher demonstrating these goals by how they:

• Observe and analyze information
• Ask questions to digest complex situations and understand underlying issues
• Listen with an open mind to consider new and different perspectives
• Carefully consider options and evaluate alternatives to solve problems

Relationship-Centered Communication

Leaders trained school community members on how to demonstrate relationship-centered communication behaviors. These include building rapport with families by creating a welcoming classroom environment, being an active listener, and approaching all conversations with curiosity to ensure understanding.

Montessori Prepared Learning Environment

Teaching teams reflected on the classroom set-up, materials in the different curricular and activity areas, and the aesthetics of the environment, from the point of view of a child. We want to make our learning environment appealing and beautiful so that it calls to the children. We want the space to feel warm and inviting, like a second home to them. We hope each child feels comfortable in the space as they explore and challenge themselves physically, socially, emotionally, and cognitively as they grow and develop in a nurturing environment.  

Over the next few months, take notice of these goals throughout your child’s classroom and school. They’re part of the promise we deliver to keep your child safe, happy, and learning.