Kingsley's Summer in the City program is a great opportunity for children ages 3 through 9 to explore Boston, learn, and have fun with new friends. Summer in the City is a five week program, that touches on a number of important themes each week.
At Kingsley, we regularly invite prospective families, current parents, and educators to observe a normal day in our classrooms. Montessori classrooms operate differently than other types of classrooms, and for some adults this flow might be new. There are a few things that you should be prepared for when planning to observe in Montessori classrooms.
Schools all over the world offer opportunities for families to visit, explore the school, and learn more about curriculum and culture. The Open House model is not new or groundbreaking, but at Kingsley we pride ourselves on delivering an outstanding experience at each Open House event. Our goal is to provide you with an honest, in-depth look at what Kingsley provides, in an efficient, pleasant experience. We strive for our events to be convenient, welcoming, and forthright.
From its humble beginnings as a one room school house, to its current 330-plus enrollment, Kingsley has undergone many changes in it's eventful lifetime!
At Kingsley, we believe that our students can, and should, be in charge of their own learning spaces. One of the ways that we promote this is by allowing students to work together with their classmates to create their Class Charter. Each classroom chooses their own way to approach this task. In every class, students work together and share their ideas to create a charter that describes their ideal learning environment.
We love building community through learning and doing. One of the ways we do this is by creating occasions where students work with different teachers or in different classrooms for special projects.
One of the ways that we build an accepting and supportive community at Kingsley is when our students host Community Meetings with other grade levels. Our Lower Elementary students regularly host Community Meetings with our entire Elementary division—Upper Elementary students, other Lower Elementary students, teachers, staff members, and guests.
One idea that underpins the Montessori philosophy, is that education must be student-centered. Maria Montessori is famously quoted, advising educators to "follow the child." Allow the child to determine the path of their education—with the necessary support.
In the Early Childhood Division here at Kingsley Montessori School, our approach to assessment depends on a thoughtfully prepared classroom environment, and formative observations by teachers throughout each day. This results in detailed record-keeping, which informs everything from what lessons to present and which classroom materials to emphasize, to how to approach goal-setting and progress reports.
In the Montessori classroom, students engage in independent work blocks. During these work blocks, students consult their learning plans, select the work they need, prepare their environment, and get to work. This level of independence and motivation begins at an early age for Montessori students.