Secondary Classes:
Our Montessori Secondary Program focuses on four distinct parts to support the learners needs: the adolescents, the prepared environment, the syllabus, and the guide. Let’s take a quick look at each of these parts and how they are needed for the educational development of the adolescent.
Class Schedule and Tuition:
Classes begin the first Tuesday after Labor Day and finish the Thursday before Memorial Day. Classes are held Mondays-Wednesdays from 8:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. and Thursdays from 8:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Tuition is a set amount per academic year. You have the option to pay it for 9 months they are in school or for 12 months (even during the summer when kids aren’t in school). Tuition includes guest speakers and field trips and healthy snacks in the morning and afternoon. A registration and supply fee is due at the time of registration. The tuition cost and registration and supply fee amounts are listed on the contract.
The Adolescents:
The Teton View Montessori Secondary Program focuses on the needs of the whole adolescent. The curriculum and teaching method supports the learners through 5 aspects of their lives: the intellectual, the emotional, the physical, the spiritual, and the social. All 5 aspects create the adolescent as a whole.
- The Intellectual Being — is fed through inquiry-based learning that is rigorous and interdisciplinary, which support and build an adaptable and independent adolescent.
- The Emotional Being — is supported through the sense of belonging and the need for purpose. In our Montessori Secondary Program, the learners are guided with the interdisciplinary approach, which allows them to see the need and purpose for others and themselves. They learn they belong and have a role in society.
- The Physical Being — is stimulated through movement and the connection to outdoor exposure. This movement is given through open work cycles, activities, field trips, hands on learning, and project-based curriculum. This all ties into our beliefs of a healthy and sustainable lifestyle.
- The Spiritual Being — is empowered through self-development. The spiritual being grows from self-awareness and discovery. To empower this being the adolescent must discover their passions, their ability, and their purposes. This method allows the student time for self-discovery through our student lead program. They are given the ability to find what drives them to learn and do more with their talents. Our interdisciplinary approach also allows this spiritual being to find its purpose for itself, the community, the nation, and the world. They discover the power to become.
- The Social Being — is developed through the community, collaboration, business, travel, and service. Perhaps this is one of the most important beings for the adolescents in this stage of life. Their need to become an adult, to be independent, to belong to a community, and to become self-confident in their abilities through valorization in society.
The Prepared Environment:
The Prepared Environment is the second part of our Secondary Program at Teton View Montessori. We have taken great care in developing this environment for our learners. We maintain a small school setting, with Montessori Guides who not only understand the material/subjects and methods of the Montessori program but also the needs of the adolescents.
There are three key factors in the Secondary Prepared Environment found in our school. These factors are vitally important to a truly authentic Montessori experience. They are listed and discussed below.
- The Farm — a place-based education.
- Challenges that never sleep, requiring regular and consistent care.
- Connection to nature
- Experiencing authentic social interaction
- Real work and problem solving that creates authentic contributions to the community.
- Understanding of our connections to food, sustainability, man’s journey on Earth, and a cosmic education (vast education).
- Building the community through individual roles, leadership, management skills, and the interdependency of jobs, skill, and individuals.
- Teaches social responsibility within the community.
- The Business — experience in the element of social life
- Gives the learning for exploration and practice in economics and cultural independence.
- Supports the preparation for the work of the adult.
- Teaches lessons in entrepreneurial practices, math, finances, management, leadership, conflict resolution, marketing, value-adding, moral, customer service and communication.
- Allows the understanding and opportunities for authentic work to results in a real contribution.
- Presents exploration in future life roles, allows for creativity, builds personal dignity, social justice, and the ability to see one’s purpose.
- Understanding sustainability.
- The Museum — a celebration of achievements, validation, and stewardship.
- Evidence based research and presentation.
- Resources for analysis, deep understanding, construction and deconstruction of ideas.
- Conservation, curation, and preservation of ideas and skills
- Opportunities for self-expression, mentorship, creativity, and innovation
- Connection to Humanities
These three factors plus a rigorous curriculum that is focused on the individuals’ developmental needs creates a deeper educational experience. However, when we continue to allow the students freedom of choice, ability to give and receive feedback, and allow time for self-reflection, this program becomes both valorizing and empowering for the students and feeds their ability to become a lifelong learner.
The Syllabus:
Our educational syllabus is based in the needs of the adolescent taught through the Montessori ideology. The syllabus follows the three-part lesson that the Montessori Methodology is famous for: Discovery, Exploration, and Innovation. This method allows the students to learn the knowledge, explore the knowledge (to see if it is truth and understood), and then to show (express) mastery of the knowledge. The syllabus contains additional aspect of an authentic Montessori education:
- Inquiry-based learning- diving deeper with question-based education.
- Structures of Inquiry that build independence, community, adaptability, free thought, communication, and life skills.
- Structures for self-expression
- Structures of choice
- Open Work Cycles that support time management
- Project-based learning
- Cycles and Themes that connect subjects to deeper interconnected understandings.
- Socratic Seminar discussions
- and more
The Guide:
The Secondary Montessori Guide is someone who, after receiving their bachelor’s degree, continued their education and has been certified through an accredited Montessori Secondary Teaching Program. These programs are an additional 2+ years of education. The Montessori guide guides the process rather than dictates to the student. Their job is to build independence, community, inquiry, adaptability and the ability to cope with ambiguity. Without an authentically certified guide there cannot be an authentic Montessori experience. The guide accomplished their task through:
- Understanding the adolescents
- Understanding the subjects being taught
- Understanding Maria Montessori’s purpose in Educational Reform
- Use the Montessori method of instruction:
- Observation
- Open work cycles
- Self-refection and Evaluations
- Feedback for fortuity
- Mini Lessons for individual support
- Structures of Inquiry for deeper thinking
- Socratic Seminar Discussions
Daily Schedule:
(subject to change as teacher/guide feels is needed):
8:15 — 8:30 a.m.
Morning Meeting
9:00 — 11:30 a.m.
Core Subject Lessons and Open Work Cycle
11:30 am — 12:15 pm
Lunch
12:15 — 12:45 p.m.
Core Subject Lesson
12:45 – 1:15 p.m.
Solo Time
1:15 – 2:30 p.m.
Fluid Work Cycle
2:30 — 2:45 p.m.
Restore Classroom Environment
2:55 — 3:15 p.m.
Closing Meeting
Apply to Teton View Montessori Elementary Program:
Please complete and return the contract and student questionnaire form. You will be contacted once we have received your information. If there is space available in the classroom for the specified year, you and your child will be asked to meet with the administration for eligibility of enrollment. If the program if full, you will be notified of this and added to the waiting list.