Grand Rapids Public Schools Montessori Coordinator Nikki Jones outlines her vision for the GRPS Montessori Middle School--grades 7/8--in the Grand rapids Public Schools.

1. Montessori Middle School Program Update
Nikki Jones
Grand Rapids Public Schools Montessori Coordinator
February 29, 2012
Grand Rapids, MI

2. Mission
Ensure quality education for all Montessori students in Grand Rapids Public Schools
“We seek to sow life in the child rather than theories, to help him in his
growth, mental and emotional, as well as physical” Maria Montessori
GRPS Montessori Middle School Program Update | Montessori Education in the Grand Rapids Public Schools | February 29, 2012

3. Student Achievement
Three basic ways to increase learning and performance
1. Increase the knowledge and skill of the teacher
2. Affect the content
3. Alter the relationship of the student to the teacher and the content
Student
Environment/
Teacher
Content
GRPS Montessori Middle School Program Update | Montessori Education in the Grand Rapids Public Schools | February 29, 2012

4. Unified Montessori Program Pk-12
(Teacher Content)
Increase program wide Pk-12 collaboration
• Professional development specific to
Montessori
• Peer coaching/mentoring
• Sharing ideas and resources
GRPS Montessori Middle School Program Update | Montessori Education in the Grand Rapids Public Schools | February 29, 2012

5. Middle School
(Teacher Content)
• GRPS has committed $50,000 to teacher
professional development. Our two middle
school teachers, three high school teachers and
two administrators are headed to Montessori
training this summer.
GRPS Montessori Middle School Program Update | Montessori Education in the Grand Rapids Public Schools | February 29, 2012

6. Middle School
Student Content Teacher
• 20 hours per year of community service to be
completed with a social service agency
• Spanish offered as an elective
• A new orientation/camp Program is under
development.
– Students and teachers will build together a school
community with shared common values and social
cohesion.
– Students will be asked to demonstrate their various skills
• become involved in group activities,
• think about their personal goals and interest,
• develop a mission statement and put their skills to work within
their community.
GRPS Montessori Middle School Program Update | Montessori Education in the Grand Rapids Public Schools | February 29, 2012

7. Middle School
(Student Content)
• Urban Agriculture project to begin this March 2012-Partnering with
Baxter Community Greenhouse, Food Corps and GRM Gardening Club
– Moving raised beds
– Adding organic wide row beds
– Building hoop houses
– Soil testing
– Starting seeds, transplanting, harvesting
• Student entrepreneurs
– Student run fundraisers-selling Nightshade-organic starts (May 2012)
– Cold season produce stand (June 2012)
– Late summer produce stand (August 2012)
– Program wide Harvest Festival (October 2012)
To Produce adults who are equipped with the confidence in themselves and
actual skills to live in the real world
GRPS Montessori Middle School Program Update | Montessori Education in the Grand Rapids Public Schools | February 29, 2012

8. Outcomes
How will we know we’re succeeding?
 Increased student test scores
 Increased student retention
 Increased enrollment
GRPS Montessori Middle School Program Update | Montessori Education in the Grand Rapids Public Schools | February 29, 2012

9. Interested in Montessori
for your child?
Contact
Montessori Coordinator Nikki Jones
(616) 819-2405
jonesni@grps.k12.mi.us
http://www.grpublicschools.org/montessori
GRPS Montessori Middle School Program Update | Montessori Education in the Grand Rapids Public Schools | February 29, 2012