The first week of December was a very exciting time as it was time for School Reports! We met individually with our students' families and parents were positively impressed with the detail of the reports.
Our school reports resemble the kind of education we provide at The Earth School: Individualized and Holistic. We attend to the individual needs of our students and incorporate academics along with social and emotional development in a seamless manner. As one of the parents said: "I don't know exactly what you do in school, but it is working great and my child is very happy."
Each school report is different, as it includes a detailed list of activities and lessons presented to each child as well as a narrative describing each child's experience and creative ways in which s/he has overcome challenges along the way.
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
First Semester - Cultural Celebrations and much more!
Our Montessori curriculum includes a series of cultural celebrations along the school year. This first semester has been very exciting with many cultural activities for the children and their families. Thank you to all the parents who have volunteered at school and shared with our students about these wonderful traditions and celebrations, we greatly appreciate your involvement. The school year was off to a great start with the Family Pic-Nic. From there on, it has been so much fun!
We had a very special time during the Harvest Festival and also learned about Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights. Food was delicious and the opportunity to share with the families was priceless! Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, and Christmas were also among our cultural celebrations this semester. Our students enjoyed special crafts and took part in meaningful activities such as coloring rice to make their own rangoli (a traditional decorative art from India), preparing carrot soup for their parents, and making Christmas decorations, among others.
Our focus on providing experiential learning has covered not only the cultural area but all other areas of the curriculum. This is something that has supported our students in continuing to develop a deep love of learning. Being involved in activities where they can learn from what they do, rather than from what the teacher tells them in class, has made a significant difference in their learning experience.
Followed are pictures to share the magic of some of the moments we have treasured at school so far. At The Earth School we truly make learning fun!
We had a very special time during the Harvest Festival and also learned about Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights. Food was delicious and the opportunity to share with the families was priceless! Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, and Christmas were also among our cultural celebrations this semester. Our students enjoyed special crafts and took part in meaningful activities such as coloring rice to make their own rangoli (a traditional decorative art from India), preparing carrot soup for their parents, and making Christmas decorations, among others.
Our focus on providing experiential learning has covered not only the cultural area but all other areas of the curriculum. This is something that has supported our students in continuing to develop a deep love of learning. Being involved in activities where they can learn from what they do, rather than from what the teacher tells them in class, has made a significant difference in their learning experience.
Followed are pictures to share the magic of some of the moments we have treasured at school so far. At The Earth School we truly make learning fun!
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Wednesday, September 7th - First Day of School!
Thank you to all the families for choosing The Earth School, a learning community characterized by mutual respect, cooperation, appreciation, and a deep love of learning for life.
Wednesday, September 7th. is our First Day of School. Everything is ready to welcome our students: The classrooms are filled with authentic Montessori materials, most of them brought directly from Gonzagarredi (one of the two companies in the world producing Montessori educative material under the supervision and with the certification of the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI), based in Amsterdam).
The teachers and assistants are preparing special materials, songs, and activities with each of the children in mind. The school grounds are looking green and beautiful thanks to the much needed rain we have had during the last few weeks.
We are all looking forward to a wonderful school year, ready to discover the world through the eyes of our students. What an awesome opportunity!
Wednesday, September 7th. is our First Day of School. Everything is ready to welcome our students: The classrooms are filled with authentic Montessori materials, most of them brought directly from Gonzagarredi (one of the two companies in the world producing Montessori educative material under the supervision and with the certification of the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI), based in Amsterdam).
The teachers and assistants are preparing special materials, songs, and activities with each of the children in mind. The school grounds are looking green and beautiful thanks to the much needed rain we have had during the last few weeks.
We are all looking forward to a wonderful school year, ready to discover the world through the eyes of our students. What an awesome opportunity!
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Summer Camp Week 3 - Water Play!
This week's camp was filled with lots of fun! Children enjoyed themselves in the pool and also learned about the water cycle through many different activities.
A few exciting things happened last week at The Earth School, the seedlings from our vegetable garden kept growing, and with the help of the older students we transformed a beautiful old tree into an awesome playground! It has become very quickly the most popular feature in our campus, and we are thrilled to see how happy our campers are!
A few exciting things happened last week at The Earth School, the seedlings from our vegetable garden kept growing, and with the help of the older students we transformed a beautiful old tree into an awesome playground! It has become very quickly the most popular feature in our campus, and we are thrilled to see how happy our campers are!
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
It's Party Time! Music and Crafts from Around the World - Summer Camp Week 2
This week our campers continued to care for the Butterfly Garden and Vegetable Garden they created on the first week of camp. A sense of responsibility
and appreciation for their environment is emerging as they take the time each
day to water the plants and carefully remove all dry leaves. Monday was a very special day. After the children came back from their weekend at home, there was a very special surprise awaiting them… the seeds they had planted just a few days before, had become beautiful seedlings! The expression on their faces said it all. There was a sense of accomplishment, surprise, and excitement at the same time. What a wonderful experience! As the week continued and through different games, Earth-friendly crafts, learning activities, and hands-on experiences for each age group, they learned about:- How to make musical instruments from recycled materials - Musical instrument families and how they are divided At the end of the week parents joined us for a music and dance performance. The children presented a Rwandan dance wearing traditional customs, played the drums, and later danced to the rhythm of Caribbean music. We all had a great time!
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Summer Camp Gardening Week at The Earth School
The Earth School Summer Camp has started! Children are enjoying their time together gardening and learning about plants, insects, butterflies, and other little garden friends.
Some of the activities we have done this week include:
Some of the activities we have done this week include:
- Container planting
- Making creative Earth-friendly crafts (Yes, at The Earth School we Recycle, Reuse, and Reduce!)
- Create beautiful designs using 3-D chalk and straw painting techniques
- Drumming
- Enjoy the extraordinary sensorial experience of sand play
- Enjoy the outdoor classroom while listening to stories or dancing under the trees
- Make friends and enjoy the gorgeous school grounds
Thank you to all the parents, staff and volunteers our campers are having a wonderful time!
Monday, June 20, 2011
The Earth School Open House - A Big Success!
Thank you so much to all the families for joining us on our first Open House! Thank you also to Uburanga Art Studio for the beautiful art display!
The Earth School is looking great and we enjoyed sharing with all the families. The Earth School is the only school in Rwanda to provide authentic Montessori education for the Pre-School and Elementary School years. Parents were very interested in learning about the Montessori curriculum, the philosophy, and most of all about the many benefits that this approach offers compared to traditional education.
Particularly, parents were very impressed with how all the areas of the curriculum are interrelated and presented in a holistic and sequential manner that "actually makes sense", as one of them said. Another point of interest for parents was learning how Practical Life skills are encouraged from a very young age to support students desire to become independent. It starts with activities such as setting a table or watering a plant, to creating a family budget and managing a bank account, and developing skills that will remain with them for life.
Another question of interest to parents was how students' progress is assessed, and how children adjust to moving from a Montessori environment to a traditional education setting, where there is testing. The short answer is that students generally have no difficulty because they have had opportunities to practice and develop test-taking skills in a non-stressful environment.
Even though assessment of students' progress in a Montessori school is done through a portfolio of activities and continued observation by the teacher, knowing that testing is still the traditional education assessment form, we do equip our students with test-taking strategies. However, a significant difference is the way in which school reports are presented. Rather than a report card that shows the list of subjects and a number indicating the percentage of correct answers on a test, our school reports are in the form of a narrative that provides in rich detail, an account of the student's work, interests, and strengths, as well as any challenges s/he may have found along the way and how s/he has overcome them. Teachers from traditional education settings are usually very pleased to receive this kind of reports that are a detailed description of the student’s experience at school, not only academically, but also personally.
Regarding our facilities, parents seemed very pleased with our classrooms being very spacious, filled with natural light, and having furniture and materials appropriate to the developmental stage of the students. The outdoor space had a very positive impact on parents and children alike. Children enjoyed coloring and building with blocks inside, but specially exploring the gorgeous green areas where they played with sand, experienced the outdoor classroom, and felt free to run around in a safe environment.
Children definitely made the school feel alive with their positive energy and enthusiasm. It was a very special time for us, seeing the children happy and the parents having a nice conversation with the peace of mind that their children were in a safe and beautiful environment, made all the hard work well worth it. There were many "picture perfect" moments that will remain in our minds and hearts forever.
We are now preparing for an exciting Summer Camp and looking forward to a successful school year. Parents are welcome to schedule a personal meeting to learn more about our program. Thank you for your interest and your great comments!
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Montessori and Traditional Education - FAQs
Welcome to The Earth School's blog. Our first post will answers some of the questions we have received from parents interested in learning more about Montessori in general, and The Earth School in particular, with the hope that this information will help other parents as well.
Questions from parents commonly range from: Is Montessori just for young children? or Why are students grouped in mixed-ages? to Will my child succeed in a traditional education setting after being in a Montessori school? Here are some answers. Please fill free to post any other questions and/or comments you might have, we will be happy to answer them! This blog is a way to create a space for communication and mutual feedback. We appreciate your time and interest.
1. Is Montessori just for young children?
No. Montessori education has been successfully implemented in hundreds of schools around the world serving children ages 0 to 18. At The Earth School we currently serve children ages 3 to 12.
2. Why are students grouped in mixed-ages?
Students in a Montessori classroom are part of a community of learning. The prepared classroom environment provides opportunities for children of different abilities and interests to interact with each other. The mixed-age arrangement allows for peer-to-peer teaching and learning where older students act as role models to the younger students, and a sense of collaboration and community is naturally developed.
3. What exactly is the role of the teacher in a Montessori classroom?
Montessori is a child-centered approach to education. Unlike traditional classrooms where the teacher acts as the main source of information, Montessori teachers act a guides and mentors. Their main role is to present lessons on the appropriate use of the Montessori materials, observe the individual interests, needs, and abilities of the students, and to create a school environment that provides opportunities for them to explore, experience, and learn at their own pace both inside and outside the classroom.
4. Will my child succeed in a traditional education setting after being in a Montessori school?
Yes. This is a very common concern for parents new to Montessori education that eases as they develop a better understanding of the philosophy and transition themselves into the Montessori community. Children in a Montessori school develop into independent and creative students with a love of learning for life. They are used to asking questions to deepen their understanding of the subject at hand, and to search for answers on their own, based on experiential learning rather than relying on the teacher or a textbook. When moving to a traditional education setting, after being in a Montessori school, these developed skills remain with them and teachers usually are pleasantly surprised at the level of interest and love of learning children bring along. Transitioning to a traditional setting where there are not as many opportunities for independent learning, to advance at their own pace, and where usually the expectation is to memorize facts to pass a test, may take some time for students to adjust to. Fortunately, the love of learning is likely to remain with students for a lifetime and they will find ways to continue to create knowledge and enjoy their learning.
5. Will The Earth School offer a program for 2 year olds?
A growing group of parents has shown interest in a program for children age 2. At the moment, we are considering the option of making the half-day option for three year olds, also available to children age 2. The final decision will depend on the number of students enrolled in the program. With a group of 12 students, we would be happy to accept two-year-olds. Should you be interested in having your child considered for this program, please contact us as soon as possible at info@theearthschoolafrica.com
Questions from parents commonly range from: Is Montessori just for young children? or Why are students grouped in mixed-ages? to Will my child succeed in a traditional education setting after being in a Montessori school? Here are some answers. Please fill free to post any other questions and/or comments you might have, we will be happy to answer them! This blog is a way to create a space for communication and mutual feedback. We appreciate your time and interest.
1. Is Montessori just for young children?
No. Montessori education has been successfully implemented in hundreds of schools around the world serving children ages 0 to 18. At The Earth School we currently serve children ages 3 to 12.
2. Why are students grouped in mixed-ages?
Students in a Montessori classroom are part of a community of learning. The prepared classroom environment provides opportunities for children of different abilities and interests to interact with each other. The mixed-age arrangement allows for peer-to-peer teaching and learning where older students act as role models to the younger students, and a sense of collaboration and community is naturally developed.
3. What exactly is the role of the teacher in a Montessori classroom?
Montessori is a child-centered approach to education. Unlike traditional classrooms where the teacher acts as the main source of information, Montessori teachers act a guides and mentors. Their main role is to present lessons on the appropriate use of the Montessori materials, observe the individual interests, needs, and abilities of the students, and to create a school environment that provides opportunities for them to explore, experience, and learn at their own pace both inside and outside the classroom.
4. Will my child succeed in a traditional education setting after being in a Montessori school?
Yes. This is a very common concern for parents new to Montessori education that eases as they develop a better understanding of the philosophy and transition themselves into the Montessori community. Children in a Montessori school develop into independent and creative students with a love of learning for life. They are used to asking questions to deepen their understanding of the subject at hand, and to search for answers on their own, based on experiential learning rather than relying on the teacher or a textbook. When moving to a traditional education setting, after being in a Montessori school, these developed skills remain with them and teachers usually are pleasantly surprised at the level of interest and love of learning children bring along. Transitioning to a traditional setting where there are not as many opportunities for independent learning, to advance at their own pace, and where usually the expectation is to memorize facts to pass a test, may take some time for students to adjust to. Fortunately, the love of learning is likely to remain with students for a lifetime and they will find ways to continue to create knowledge and enjoy their learning.
5. Will The Earth School offer a program for 2 year olds?
A growing group of parents has shown interest in a program for children age 2. At the moment, we are considering the option of making the half-day option for three year olds, also available to children age 2. The final decision will depend on the number of students enrolled in the program. With a group of 12 students, we would be happy to accept two-year-olds. Should you be interested in having your child considered for this program, please contact us as soon as possible at info@theearthschoolafrica.com
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