Montessori Moments at MSMV

Moving Up in Montessori and Beyond

Amy-Anne — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:44:00 GMT

Moving Up in Montessori and Beyond

Thursday, February 25, 2010

6 PM school tour

7:15 PM Panel Discussion

A look at why Montessori continues to benefit children beyond the preschool years.

Following an informational tour of the classroom learning environments,

an alumni panel of graduates and their parents discuss life after Montessori school

and the impact Montessori education has had on their lives.

For parents of children birth to age 12.

Free to the public. Call or email montessori@msmv.org to register.

Your Amazing Child at Home

Amy-Anne — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:37:00 GMT

Your Amazing Child at Home

Wednesday, February 24, 2010 7 PM

Tips for parents on providing the best home environment to nurture your child’s brain development,

foster independence, and take advantage of those critical “windows of opportunity” for learning.

For parents of children birth to age 4.

Free to the public. Call or email montessori@msmv.org to register.

The Amazing Mind of the Child: How Your Child Learns

Amy-Anne — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:33:00 GMT

The Amazing Mind of the Child: How Your Child Learns

Monday,February 22, 2010 7 PM

We’ll take a look at how your child’s brain absorbs information,

optimizing your child’s brain development, and the significance of creative flow.

For parents of children from birth to age 12.

Free to the public. Call or email montessori@msmv.org to register.

Free Montessori Workshops for Parents

Amy-Anne — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:26:00 GMT

Free Workshops for Parents

by calling 330-788-4622

or emailing montessori@msmv.org

with the subject line “Workshop”

Montessori Education Week Tours

Amy-Anne — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:24:00 GMT

Montessori Education Week Tours

February 22 through 26, 2010

Montessori Education Week is an international celebration of the 103-year-old Montessori Method of education.

Our school will join with schools around the globe to commemorate the work of Dr. Maria Montessori,

and to shed some light for the public on her unique method.

School tours will be available promptly at 9 AM daily.

Adults only, please. Free to the public – no appointment necessary.

Montessori Classroom Observations

Amy-Anne — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:21:00 GMT

The best way to understand how Montessori education works is to see it in action.

Classroom observation appointments are scheduled during school hours Monday through Friday.

Please call the school office at 330-788-4622

or email amy.kibler@msmv.org to schedule your appointment

Open House for Prospective Parents

Amy-Anne — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:09:00 GMT

Open House for Prospective Parents

Sunday, January 31, 2010 1-3 PM

Parents of 2 ½- to 4-year-olds are welcome to attend our Open House for Prospective Parents.

At this open house, parent will receive demonstrations of Montessori materials,

classroom tours, and information packets.

A Montessori Parent Reviews MSMV

Kelly — Sun, 31 May 2009 21:36:00 GMT

Reviewed by Andrew W.

The Montessori School of the Mahoning Valley is the both the best known and least known jewel in our community! MSMV serves pre-school through 8th grade for over 30 years now! All three of my children attend, they are 4, 8 & 11... and they are thriving there! MSMV provides a safe environment with 2 teachers per classroom. The classrooms are prepared in the Montessori fashion to allow the children every opportunity learn, to teach and to truly develop into outstanding individuals. Though not required to take standardized testing, MSMV participates in the National Iowa Testing from the 2nd grade on... as a form of practice/experience for when they move on to high school. Our little school consistently scores in the top, top of the entire country! All this may seem too good to be true, but go see for yourself. I almost forgot, the best part is that because we are in Youngstown... the cost is about 1/3 to 1/4 of similar private school in areas as close as Cleveland and Pittsburgh!!

How To Talk To Children About Pandemic Flu

Amy-Anne — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 20:18:00 GMT

Children may hear about swine influenza, avian flu, or pandemic flu on TV or in conversations at home or school, and may become concerned and even frightened. Parents and guardians should be aware of what information is developmentally appropriate for each age group, preschool/pre-K, elementary, and middle school.

The Montessori School of the Mahoning Valley in Youngstown Ohio is offering free information about how to talk to kids about pandemic flu. Simply email montessori@msmv.org and we will send you a free .pdf file that will help you tackle this important topic.

Please use care in discussing topics like the swine flu virus with your child. This free information will help.

Attention All Horse Lovers and Enthusiasts!

Kelly — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 01:04:00 GMT

The Montessori School of the Mahoning Valley, Inc.

Is proud to present

The Colleen Campbell Memorial Hunter Show

Saturday, May 9, 2009 BUCKEYE HORSE PARK Canfield, Ohio

(five miles west of Rt. 11 on Rt. 224)

No admission charge for spectators! Bring the entire family to watch

the competitions. Don't worry about bringing food...a concession stand will be open

for breakfast and lunch with yummy food! Breakfast burritos are a wonderful way

to start your morning. There will be hot coffee in time for the early risers (8 AM).

Lunch time will bring with it hot dogs

and hamburgers as well as snacks and ice cold drinks!

Come spend the day with the us...

For Parents Interested in Excellent Education

Kelly — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 23:04:00 GMT

Montessori School Hosting Informational Meeting

Youngstown - The public is invited to an informational meeting at The Montessori School of the Mahoning Valley, 2008 Lynn Avenue, at both 10 am and 2 pm, on Saturday, April 25. This meeting is geared toward parents with children ages 3 to 12 years. The school is inviting members of the Mahoning Valley community to come and take a firsthand look at the child-centered, individualized approach developed over 100 years ago by Dr. Maria Montessori, the first woman physician in Italy.

A presentation on the benefits of a Montessori education will be given by the school's executive director, Amy-Anne Kibler, followed by a Question and Answer session. There will also be an opportunity for a school tour. For parents concerned about the various school closings in the community, the Montessori School of the Mahoning Valley may be their best option!

"The Montessori system may be one of the best-kept secrets in education," says Kibler. "Scientific research is now touting the very things Montessori education has employed for over 100 years. We believe all parents should know about this education option, and paying us a visit during this informational meeting will give them a good opportunity to find out."

To schedule a visit or obtain information, Kibler advises parents to contact the school office at 330.788.4622. Parents, and professionals alike, claim that the Montessori approach is on the cutting edge of today's school reform movement, which identifies innovations that have been part of Montessori classrooms since 1907. Multi-age groupings, a rich and extensive curriculum implemented with hands-on materials, cross-discipline learning, and care of the global environment are just a few of these innovative characteristics, according to Kibler, in a school setting with a "family atmosphere." The Montessori School of the Mahoning Valley serves children ages 3 through the 8th grade. The school is currently accepting applications for the fall.

Crossing Over and Evening of Thanks Combined!

Kelly — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 17:29:00 GMT

            Each year, our families gather to watch the Evening of Thanks--the students perform songs, dances, skits, etc. demonstrating an area of interest in that classroom. For many years our tradition has been held at the Youngstown Playhouse, who has generously allowed us use of their facility for next to nothing, and sometimes for free.
            Unfortunately, our friend the Playhouse is now closed. Since notification of this sad end of an era, we have tried to find a suitable facility for a reasonable budget, to no avail.
            Then one of our staff members came up with an exciting concept-combining two traditions into one! This year, we will be combining our Evening of Thanks celebration with our graduation ceremonies--also known as "Crossing Over"--on Wednesday, June 10. The event will be held outdoors and preceded by the end of school picnic we traditionally have with Crossing Over. This promises to be a night to remember so mark your calendar!
            The other advantage to this new schedule is that now peope can be free that Thursday night to volunteer for setting up the horse jumps for the Horse Show! To get in some needed volunteer hours, just contact Horse Show Chair, Sandy Pintaric, for more details!

Gifted Children Being Left Behind As a Result of Federal Initiative

Kelly — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 12:26:00 GMT

(excerpted from The Washington Post, Leave No Gifted Child Behind By Susan Goodkin, Tuesday, December 27, 2005; Page A25

"Conspicuously missing from the debate over the No Child Left Behind Act is a discussion of how it has hurt many of our most capable children. By forcing schools to focus their time and funding almost entirely on bringing low-achieving students up to proficiency, NCLB sacrifices the education of the gifted students who will become our future biomedical researchers, computer engineers and other scientific leaders."

Not surprisingly, with the entire curriculum geared to ensuring that every last child reached grade-level proficiency, there is precious little attention paid to the many children who master the standards early in the year and are ready to move on to more challenging work. What are these children supposed to do while their teachers struggle to help the lowest-performing students?"

Some schools, "...along with the drafters of NCLB, labor under the misconception that gifted students will fare well academically regardless of whether their special learning needs are met."

"Ironically, included in the huge body of evidence disproving this notions are my state's standardized test scores--the very test scores at the heart of the No Child Left Behind Act. Reflecting the school's inattention to high performers, they show that students achieving 'advanced' math scores early in elementary school all too frequently regress to merely 'proficient' scores by the end. In recent years the percentage of California students scoring in the 'advanced' math range has declined by as much as half between second and fifth grade."

Comment from Executive Director, Amy-Anne Kibler:
In a traditional school setting, all students must learn the same thing at the same time. This does not allow children to work at their own rate, If the teacher in a traditional setting must teach to the lowest-performing student, the other students must wait. In a Montessori setting, students learn at their own rate, so there is no waiting for others to "catch up" to them; they may progress at their own ability.

At MSMV, we use standardized testing as a Practical Life exercise; we do not teach to the test, nor do we place emphasis on testing outcomes. However, our recent longitudinal study of IOWA test scores indicates what we have known all along; the Montessori Method works!

OhioEd Choice School, Last day April 6, 2009

Kelly — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 17:47:00 GMT

April 6, 2009
Last date to apply to MSMV with intention to apply for Ohio EdChoice Scholarship.

Who is eligible to apply for EdChoice?

You can find a list of EdChoice-designated public school buildings on the EdChoice Web site http://EdChoice.ohio.gov


All students currently attending schools listed are eligible to apply for an Ohio EdChoice Scholarship. Students currently attending a public community school (charter school) who would otherwise be assigned by their public school district to one of these listed buildings are also eligible. Students currently enrolled in a regular public school or community school who would be assigned to attend one of the listed buildings for the upcoming school year. This refers to students moving from elementary school to middle/junior high school or from middle/junior high school to high school. Incoming students who are eligible to attend kindergarten in the fall of 2009 and who would be assigned by their public school district to one of these listed buildings are eligible to apply. Students currently attending private schools and homeschooled students are not eligible.

Horse Show May 9th, Volunteers Needed

Kelly — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 11:49:41 GMT

Here are some time slots that will fit any busy schedule…

Morning

Cooks needed to prepare breakfast for hungry horse people!

Afternoon

Flip some burgers or turn some hot dogs for the ravenous lunch crowd.

Evenings

Volunteers needed to set up on Thursday and clean up on Saturday.

Any Time

Donations of individually packaged snacks and bottled drinks are needed for the concession stand.

Working together is one of the many benefits of our amazing Montessori school.

Thanks for making a difference in the life of your child. Contact Kelly Prokop, MSMV Board President at boardpresident@msmv.org to volunteer.

MSMV Alumni Shares His Experience

Kelly — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 11:31:00 GMT

Montessori school gave me childhood memories and an education that I will cherish forever. I very much enjoyed my years as a Montessori student. I have kept in touch with the many friends I made over the years and still use my Montessori teachings in every day life. Montessori is not a system for training children in academic studies, nor is it a label to be put on educational materials. It is a revolutionary method of observing and supporting the natural development of children. I believe this method of learning is so special and I truly believe children like myself not only enjoy learning this way but learn more in the process. Montessori to me never felt like school, but more of a second home. A comfortable environment is crucial to learning and Montessori is definitely that.

I’m very happy and proud to have gone to Montessori and truly feel like my childhood education was special from it.

Justin Karzmer

Forces, Newton, and Gravity

Kelly — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 11:19:00 GMT

In April, the Adolescent Class will examine the nature of force and Newton's Laws with some exciting experiential learning. The students will construct and race CO2 dragsters as a way to learn about force, aerodynamics, acceleration, rate, the metric system, measurements and the use of tools, planning and design.

Baby Talk Sign Language Classes Offered at Montessori

Kelly — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 11:10:00 GMT

Studies have proven that the ability to communicate reduces frustration of both the caregiver and the infant/toddler. MSMV is the place to make this happen. Baby Talk, a sign language class for infants and caregivers, trains the adults, as well as the child, to communicate using simple sign language. Before a child is able to physically produce the words declaring his or her desires, the infant is capable of the fine and gross motor needed to create specific signs. Signed words such as "more", "hungry", and "drink" provide the child with the necessary communication to get his or her message across quickly.

Baby Talk, a sign language class for infants, is hosted at The Montessori School of the Mahoning Valley, 2008 Lynn Ave.

Baby Talk I and II sessions are usually offered 3-4 days. Sessions are generally offered twice on these days for both classes, from 11:40 a.m. to 12:40 p.m., and 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Classes are for children ages 6 months to 2 ½ years.

To register, call Barb at (330) 540-1025 or email Karen at baileysignstoo@aol.com.

Finding Balance: Yoga in the Montessori Setting

Kelly — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 14:05:00 GMT

Yoga is a wonderful way for children to develop body awareness, self-control, flexibility, coordination, and concentration. This year, our students at various levels have been incorporating yoga into their daily lives at school.

Yoga also helps manage stress. Poses like the warrior pose and tree pose help instill calm, confidence, and balance; breathing exercises, like the three-part breath, help children stay centered and calm, even in difficult situations.

Children may focus on belly breathing and listen to music or nature sounds and practice visualization of peaceful or happy experiences. Guided visualization with a calming theme is used sometimes to help children access their own inner peace and encourage a feeling of oneness with nature. Sometimes partner poses are used to develop trust, develop team skills, and foster bonding.

Input from the children may be encouraged. In some classes, for example, children may show a pose they have created and name it. Ideas and questions are addressed to allow learning to take place.

Learning Environment of Montessori versus "National Chain"

Kelly — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 13:33:00 GMT

The Montessori Approach gives the child a foundation on which to build upon his or her entire life. Each teacher is skilled in introducing age appropriate materials and tasks, which, in turn, allows the child to experience success in practical life applications. Another testimonial from the parents' point of view...

Dear Mrs. Amy-Anne,

We were introduced to the Montessori approach by friends of ours who have a daughter at the school. Our son was already enrolled at a preschool that was a national chain with a great curriculum and high expectations for the students. However, something was missing for us. George had begun preschool knowing his letters and their sounds, his colors, shapes, counting and much more. We didn't feel he was learning anything more than socialization. We didn't have much prior knowledge of what Montessori had to offer but we were interested to find out. So, we decided to attend an open house. From the moment we entered the classroom we knew things were different. Through our observation of the kids at work we were so pleased with the level of responsibility and maturity. The learning environment was structured yet free enough for the kids to make choices from a wide arrangement of developmentally appropriate materials. The kids can be challenged because everyone can work at their own level and build upon their prior knowledge. This concept was much more beneficial to our child than anything we had seen. The materials and the staff provide the children with a concrete foundation to learn what is necessary to thrive academically, socially and emotionally. We truly believe Montessori has enriched our child and our family through the respect and love of learning and caring for our environment and others.