Enrichment Programs
During periods of self-directed learning, Mi Escuela Montessori students incorporate visual and performing arts into the daily curriculum as meaningful avenues for communication and representation. Students have frequent opportunities for expression and creativity. Practical life education and movement activities are also integrated into classroom learning. In addition, students participate in 180 minutes of Physical Education instruction, 45 minutes of art instruction, and 45 minutes of music instruction each week.
Fine Arts Instruction
Art Instruction
In keeping with Montessori philosophy, the Mi Escuela Montessori art program aims to nurture the creative spirit by emphasizing self-discovery and joy in the process of making art. Art is used to make connections across the curriculum.
Specific goals of the arts program include:
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Appreciating diversity of expression and representation across history, culture and geography.
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Gaining knowledge of art elements and principles.
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Building artistic skills including 2D and 3D techniques, handwork, and digital creation.
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Developing vocabulary to describe art.
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Recognizing the relationship between art and the natural world.
Music
At MEM, students learn music as an additional language. Music is incorporated into all aspects of the classroom curriculum, especially language learning. MEM teachers use instruments, singing, movement, and speech to develop children’s innate musical abilities. Students work through four stages of learning: imitation, exploration, improvisation and composition.
Beginning in the Primary program and expanding into more complicated skills in the Elementary program, students in MEM’s music program will:
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Develop appreciation for culturally diverse music, including classical, jazz, folk, and world music.
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Learn basic vocal and instrumental performance techniques using voice, body percussion, various instruments, diatonic and pentatonic bells, and tone bars.
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Improve notation, melody, memory, pattern recognition and musical vocabulary.
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​Create a foundational understanding of music that can be applied to a range of instruments.
Physical and Social Emotional Education
Physical Education Classes
At Mi Escuela Montessori, students will learn skills that contribute to developing and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Classes help students develop gross and fine motor skills, flexibility, strength, stamina and eye hand coordination through activities which also build sportsmanship, rule following, and teamwork. Students also learn about nutrition including how to prepare healthy snacks for themselves.
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​Practical Life Skills
Being able to care for oneself is a goal of high-fidelity Montessori education and an essential element in developing self-esteem, self-confidence and self-efficacy. Dr. Montessori said, “Any child who is self-sufficient, who can tie his shoes, dress or undress himself, reflects in his joy and sense of achievement the image of human dignity, which is derived from a sense of independence.”
Students at MEM are nurtured in developing practical life skills from an early age. Students participate in caring for themselves, maintaining the environment, food preparation, simple carpentry, sewing, landscaping and gardening, managing money, caring for animals, and even, in upper elementary, managing a small business or planning a trip.
They maintain their environment through activities such as sweeping, washing and folding laundry, washing dishes, polishing wood and metal, and gardening. MEM utilizes 4-H In School Programming resources and curriculum to teach skills such as animal and plant science, sewing, public speaking, cooking and more.
Peace Education
Character education, conflict resolution and habits of mind are elements essential for any high-fidelity Montessori program. Students at MEM learn how to develop important habits of mind like persistence, flexibility, perspective-taking, respect, and integrity. Through grace and courtesy lessons, students learn how to work cooperatively in an active and diverse community. Through explicit guidance in developing conflict resolution skills, they learn skills like self-advocacy and consideration for others.
Over the course of their time at MEM, students develop:
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Self-awareness: Students learn to identify their feelings, accurately judge their own behavior and performance, and respond appropriately to social situations.
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Community awareness: Students learn to understand and acknowledge the viewpoints of others. They identify ways in which they can impact their community through anti-bias, anti-racist and service-learning activities.
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Environmental awareness: Students develop knowledge of environmental issues and behaviors that demonstrate environmental responsibility. They learn about to care for flora and fauna, reduce waste, conserve and reuse resources, and recycle materials.
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Cultural awareness: Mi Escuela Montessori provides both explicit and implicit guidance for students in developing an awareness of universal needs and similarities and differences between themselves and others of different backgrounds and talents.
