Welcome to Goodwater Montessori School!

Thank you for joining our grassroots group of parents, educators, and others committed to establishing

Goodwater Montessori School, a public Montessori charter school in Williamson County, Texas.

We are so grateful for your support!

Our Mission, Vision, and Values

�  Our Mission: To provide an exceptional Montessori education to all children and their families, encouraging a lifelong love of learning and active participation in their communities and the world.

�  Our Vision: To develop conscientious citizens who approach their world with confidence, creativity, and collaboration.

�  Our Values: Diversity, Independence, Joy, Passion, and Respect.

Welcome to Montessori 101

We understand the huge responsibility for educating and caring for your child.

We are committed to doing our best for your child and family.

Dr. Maria Montessori

First woman to receive her MD in Italy!

She’s on money!

Her work with children led her to develop a new type of educational approach.

She’s on stamps!

Montessori education is found in many countries.

Montessori schools are on six continents.

Montessori Education is found around the world.

The Pink Tower

You may have seen this before.

The Euclid Plate

You may have seen this!

You might be familiar with some Montessori training and accrediting organizations.

What is Montessori Education?

It is a hands-on educational approach developed in the poorest district in Rome in 1907.

�  Hands-on learning in beautifully-prepared environments where the materials stay out on the shelves for a child to use and reuse to master a concept.

�  Three-hour uninterrupted work periods during our day.

�  Mixed-age classes that give a variety of opportunities for children to lead each other, to help each other, and to teach each other.

�  Indoor and outdoor prepared environments where two adults guide and help the children every day.

More about Montessori Education

�  It is a Mastery-based program where a learning objective is given by the Guide to an individual child or small group of children. The concept is Presented, Practiced, and Mastered. We will document the three phases of the child’s learning and share their progress with you — formally, twice a year in parent conferences.

�  Our instructional day will be from 8 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. This length of time gives us two uninterrupted work periods per day, plus time to eat, run around outdoors, be social, and so much more!

More about Montessori Education

�  In the Montessori classroom, each child is a unique learner with specific goals for every lesson and every subject. Interest in our world and cultures, as well as lifelong learning, will occur daily on our campus. Exploration, research, and discovery are encouraged by the Guide as students work from the concrete to the abstract in their curricular lessons.

�  The Montessori Method and classroom structure provide inclusive learning environments that are ideal for both the delivery of Special Education and Gifted and Talented services.

Four Planes of Development

Each Plane of Development has particular characteristics. The First and Third Planes mirror each other, while the Second and Fourth Planes mirror each other.

The Whole Child �  In our planning and work at Goodwater Montessori,

we think about the Whole Child. This means we consider every aspect of your child … the mind, the body, and the spirit.

�  We give academic lessons along with peace education lessons, social/emotional lessons such as Grace and Courtesy lessons, and community-building lessons.

How? �  How does this work?

The Guides are highly-trained in lessons from a variety of curricular areas. The lessons are also in the TEKS, the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills, our State learning standards. We create TEKS lessons when they are not found in the Montessori curriculum.

tTe Montessori TEKS

GMS

School Update

�  Staff

�  Facilities

�  School Calendar/School Times

�  After-School Program

�  School Lunch Program

Building Community at Goodwater Montessori School

Dean of Student Affairs: Kathy Anthony

�  Communication

�  Education

�  Volunteerism

Registration process: Documents needed. Why?   Information from previous schools   Importance of Daily Attendance    

Goodwater Admissions with our Registrar, Christi Cowden

Kindergarten and the Elementary Experience

GMS Level Leaders:

�  Lesley Williams, Primary Level Leader

�  Alex Abel, Elementary Level Leader

Kindergarten and beyond!

�  At Goodwater Montessori, our youngest children are in the Primary level or cycle. This cycle spans from three to five years of age. In a Montessori school, Kindergarten is a culminating year since it is the last year of the Primary cycle. The child experiences leadership, explosions in academic experiences, and joy and self-confidence in helping others in their community.

Kindergarten �  The kindergarten child is the oldest in their class as

the First Plane of Development comes to an end. They are the leaders. They are working on “Big Work” such as Reading, Writing, Math Operation Skills and Fractions, Sentence Analysis, Advanced Sewing and Handwork, and more.

�  In this last year of the Primary cycle, the kindergartener begins to show characteristics of the Second Plane child. After a quiet “Bridging Ceremony” at the end of the year, they are ready to move to Elementary.

The Elementary Years �  Characteristics of the Elementary child differ from that

of the younger child. Dr. Montessori called this stage of development the Second Plane of Development.

�  (She also called it the Age of Rudeness!)

�  Students like to work in small groups in our classrooms.

�  They are more interested in the broader, bigger world.

�  The First Plane child asks “What?” while the Second Plane child asks “Why?”

GMS Elementary

�  Freedom with Limits: It occurs in all levels in Montessori Education! It is an important aspect of Montessori Theory. We give the child freedom with some boundaries.

�  Elementary students receive the same Montessori and TEKS age-leveled lessons. The lessons are given usually in small groups.

�  Students keep work journals and meet weekly with their Guide to review progress and for goal-setting together.

GMS Elementary �  Our students will work on research projects about a variety of

topics of their choosing.

�  Reference books, going outs, and safe computer websites will be used for research. Small groups of children will work on a project looking at the related Math, Geometry, Language, Science, Music, Arts, Geography, and History of that particular topic.

�  Students will research, write a report, create a mural or diorama, and present the report to their class and others around the school. The Guide shows the children the steps involved to be successful in their projects.

�  Students gain experience in the skills of research, writing, art, public speaking, and more through this work.

GMS Elementary: “Going Out”

�  Who: The Going Out is for the experienced Elementary student.

�  What: During a research project, a child may need more information about a topic than they can find at school. The Elementary Guide has a prepared box of information about local places and people who could help the children gain more knowledge.

�  How: There is a Going Out Process that the Guide models for the students. It involves several steps before the student has their Going Out.

�  Why: The Second Plane student wants and needs to know more of the world! The Going Out experience allows the student to further their research on their topic, use interviewing skills, use navigating skills, use communication skills, use money skills (sometimes for mass transit), and use Grace and Courtesy skills in the broader, big world.

GMS Elementary �  PE: Music and Movement will occur two to three

times each week.

�  Music and Art are incorporated in our regular class curriculum.

�  Our classrooms are set up for movement. Our students work at group tables and on the floor with special work rugs. Our school building was designed for movement. We have wide and long halls for counting the 1,000 bead chain and working on Elementary timelines.

GMS Elementary �  Our Atrium area is large for group work such as whole

class singing, class meetings, or plays.

�  Our Library, with its beautiful natural light, will be a quiet sanctuary for reading and working.

�  Our entire building has been designed for the Whole Child. We are planning a Sensory Room for any student to take a body break as needed.

�  Let’s not forget our beautiful 11 acres! Nature walks and nature discovery will be incorporated in our days.

GMS Elementary �  We will formally conference with you twice each year, and provide a

written report of your child’s progress. Of course, we’ll be happy to share your child’s progress more often as desired.

�  Homework for Elementary: There will be very little homework at Goodwater Montessori School. Our longer school day gives the children and the staff time to accomplish many goals. If your Guide sends something home, such as a reading book or math fact cards (for example), please look for a correspondence included with this work.

�  We want your family to enjoy family time after school. Your children are capable human beings and want to apply at home the skills they’re learning at school. They can help make your grocery lists and shop, plan and cook meals, take on household responsibilities, garden, and more fun family tasks. Enjoy your child at home!

STAAR & GMS Elementary

�  As a public charter school in the State of Texas, we will give the STAAR tests for grades 3-6. STAAR stands for the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness.

�  In 2017-18: o  Reading and Mathematics, grades 3-6. o  Writing, grade 4. o  Science, grade 5.

�  Goodwater’s rich curriculum will help prepare your child for success for life and for the STAAR tests. We will focus on all the curricular subjects: Language, Math, Geometry, Science, Geography, History, Art, and Music.

Volunteering in the School:

There will be many opportunities to help at Goodwater Montessori School. Would you be able to …

�  Listen to children read aloud.

�  Help with our Sensory Room.

�  Help in our Library.

�  Share your skills and talents with our students.

�  Help with class projects as needed.

�  Be an Ambassador for new families (after Year One).

�  Help our outdoor gardens grow!

Thank You!

We Montessori!!!!