Student Activities
Student activity courses are designed to
support the Montessori philosophy and are offered to enhance the
experiences of children outside the regular classroom
setting. Collaboration between individual instructors occurs
informally to better support the work of each across all
disciplines. Montessori-certified instructors, professionals
within the field of study, or other interested professionals teach
all programs. Kindergartners and children, ages six through
twelve, participate year round in all programs. However,
exceptions due occur by program. Generally, all children attend
class as members of their respective homerooms for forty-five
minutes per week. Teachers and parents participate to support
the instructor.
In Spring 2008, with the vision and assistance of a TNSM parent and friends, The New School Montessori prepared a garden to support the life cycle of butterflies on our campus. The garden, used by all students for research, observation and practical life experience, includes a variety of butterfly plant favorites like Butterfly Weed, Bee Balm, a Butterfly Bush, Yarrow, Verbina and Bottle Brush Buckeye to name a few.
Dance
The Dance program is designed to support the
development of coordination, large muscles and creative thinking.
Various types of dance are studied during class and act as
extension activities for work occurring in classrooms.
Spanish
The Spanish program is designed to provide a
cultural experience for children. Instruction supports their
appreciation and understanding for the Spanish language and the
people who speak it. Two instructors, both Montessori certified,
help children ages 3-12 with their study of the culture, geography,
vocabulary and communicative dialogue of native Spanish
speakers.
Music
The music program is designed to introduce children
to both choral and instrumental music. Music begins after the
swimming program concludes. All children, ages 6-12, participate in
the music program as it occurs outside of the regular classroom.
Children are encouraged to move, dance, sing and play while
participating during each class period.
Library
The library is
utilized to support The New School Montessori community of children, teachers
and parents. It contains supplemental materials to aid
children’s learning, a teacher’s facilitation of the
curriculum and for parent education. The library is equipped
with two computers for research and/or typing of work. It is
currently used strictly as a resource room and is available during
school hours except during tutoring. The art teacher works in
the library approximately three hours per week to organize,
re-stock and to create renewal notices.
Reading Tutoring
Reading tutoring occurs individually or by
group from private tutors or a teacher employed through the local
school district. Private tutors use space at the school to deliver
service, as does the teacher secured through the local district.
The district employee, secured through auxiliary services, works
approximately three hours per day, three days a week with thirteen
students collectively. Reading tutoring is available to all
children through agreements made between parents and tutors while
tutoring with the district employee is available only to children
ages six to nine.
Art
The art program is designed as outlet for children
to express themselves freely and openly. It is a well-rounded
program that directly supports and enhances the work that the
children do within their classrooms and around school. Children are
offered insight into all forms of art including art history,
drawing, sculpting, painting and the creation of their own
materials. A professional in the field of art who is also a current
parent teaches it.
Appreciating Differences (3rd Grade Class)
Through this elective course,
students explore the differences in people and develop
understanding through talking about various issues and topics
that support the emotional and social development of each
child.
Civil Rights (6th Grade Class)
Students discuss school law, the
Civil Rights movement and several other topics relating to
rights and liberties of all people. Participating in unity
activities, activities that support individual interests and
field trips aid in the learning and discovery process.A continuation of Appreciating
Differences.
Elective Courses
Fine Arts
Elective Courses
The
purpose behind Elective Courses is to support many of our
Core Values and Goals and to give Elementary students
opportunities to explore interests in areas that relate to
the general fine arts education programs we currently offer,
specifically Art, Music, Dance and Spanish. While each
child will participate in the general fine arts education
programs as they have in the past, each child will select the
Elective Courses that they would like to participate in over
the three-semester school year.
Music
Elective: Creative Drama (applies to grades 1-6)
Andrea Rosenthal
As an extension of the Music curriculum,
Andrea will assist 6-9 and 9-12 students in learning the
basics of acting warm-ups, blocking, creating characters and
improvising dialogue. Students will gain the basic
skills needed to work in an acting ensemble through various
games that stress trust, collaboration, quick thinking and
comic timing!
Younger
students will also learn some theatre basics like what a
director does, what plays are, what scenes are, what stage
directions are, etc.
This will be a wonderful program that
will help build independence, self-esteem and confidence
while publicly speaking. All of the exercises and games
are challenging, fun and high energy!
Art Elective: Project Linus (applies to grades 1-6)
Robin Hartmann
As an extension of the Art curriculum,
Robin will assist 6-9 and 9-12 students in expanding their
creativity. Robin and the children will team up with
Project Linus to provide blankets to children in
need.
Project Linus is a 100% volunteer
non-profit organization with a two-fold mission: First,
it is our mission to provide love, a sense of security,
warmth and comfort to children who are seriously ill,
traumatized, or otherwise in need through the gifts of new,
handmade blankets and afghans, lovingly created by volunteer
"blanketeers." Second, it is our mission to provide a
rewarding and fun service opportunity for interested
individuals and groups in local communities, for the benefit
of children.
This is a wonderful activity for children
to not only expand their artistic ability but it will allow
them to engage in a community service project to support many
of ideals identified in the The New School Montessori’s Core
Values and Goals.
Spanish
Elective: Let’s Travel to Spain (applies to grades
1-6)
Carlos Mairal
In
Let’s Travel to Spain, Carlos will help 6-9 and 9-12
students explore the vastness that is Spanish culture and
tradition. All students will enjoy enriching their
Spanish vocabulary and cultural understanding by learning the
fundamental needs (a Montessori approach) of Spanish
people. This will include Spanish history, traditions,
dress-up, and food preparation. Your children will
enjoy this fun, energizing and tasty look at Spain and other
related countries when they complete the semester with
a dress-up and food fiesta.
While parents will be enlisted to help
with food preparation, everyone will expand their knowledge,
understanding and appreciation of others who may dress, act,
play and eat differently but are very much the same.
Dance
Elective: Ansari Yoga (applies to grades 1-6)
Jeanne Speier
Current research has shown that
participation in yoga and yoga-like activities positively
benefits a child’s ability to produce in school. One
report notes that yoga "...incorporates physical postures,
breath control, mental concentration, and deep relaxation...
in an effort to positively affect mental states.
Practitioners report that it produces similar effects as
relaxation training and tends to promote self-control,
attention, and concentration. Thus, the purported
outcomes of yoga suggest that it could be a helpful for
children, as it "...seems sensible that children's heightened
body awareness, reduced tension, and improved concentration
would be conducive to learning.” To read more
related information, please go to:
http://www.himalayaninstitute.org/yogaplus/YogaPlusArticle1.aspx
In this class, children will participate
in breathing exercises, balance poses and basic poses that
imitate animals stretching such as a cat and the downward dog
to support the development of many emergent skills.
While engaging the child’s human spirit, Jeanne will
assist the children in strengthening their ability to
concentrate, maintain self-control, be self-aware and gain
confidence, again relating to many of The New School Montessori’s
Core Values and Goals. Each class will end with deep
relaxation.
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