I’d love to take a moment (or several!) to share some of the ideas I’ve been getting to more deeply explore through my class, and through my subsequent reflections. Many of you have asked how it’s going and I hope I can share bits of this journey with you. Because, for me, I think the best way to grow our understanding in anything, is to try and teach it. And so, I'll try... . . . For starters, I’ve been thinking about the Montessori philosophies in general. Just like an

We are entering one of my favorite times of the year… fall at the Farmers Market! I love a fall morning at the market. The crisp air, the smell of fresh-brewed coffee and baked goods, and wandering around to find all the amazing homegrown produce that will fill my kitchen for the next week. There’s just something about it. I also love that I get to share that experience with our students! Over the last two weeks, students from every class have been involved in some way, shape

Every year, I like to start the school year with a lesson about trash, recycling, and compost. And before you skip on because those may not feel like the most glamorous topics, I want you to think about how often we interact with them. It probably won’t take long to realize that these things are part of our everyday lives and usually, more than once a day! This year, I started our lesson by giving the students an overzealous story of everything I had used or touched from the

As we start our second full week of school, the students are already taking ownership of their environment. Our returning students have been patient mentors, and our new friends have joined in with enthusiasm, together creating a healthy sense of community. Today the Student Board Committee facilitated our first student-led Morning Meeting of the year. Coming together in circle to start our day truly sets the tone for the rest of the day. The process started last week when

Lower Elementary officially has its first field trip of the year in the books! We spent our morning at the Mint Museum Uptown exploring its galleries through an aptly named tour: “Every Picture Tells a Story.” For many of our first graders, this was also their first DGS field trip without a parent accompanying them (a big step in independence)! They rose beautifully to the occasion. Our students listened attentively, followed museum guidelines, asked thoughtful questions, sha

We wrapped up another year's poetry study with Poets' Cafe. Each studet recited poetry, shared recorded poetry with art and enjoyed all the cafe vibes. We studied a variety of poetic elements and styles and spent this last part of the school year reading, writing and listening to poetry. Thank you to our fifth level leaders who created a cozy vibe complete with candles and chocolate fondue. For the recorded poetry, each student practiced reading a poem of their own or anoth

We started building community with Habitat for Humanity last year. It's been wonderful to partner with this organization that contributes so much to our region. https://www.habitatcltregion.org/ We have painted baffles, decorated art for homes, hosted a book drive for Julia's Cafe https://www.juliascafe.org/ and now - fueled a crew. With each step, we have learned more about the work they do and been able to see some of that work in action. This week we brought lunch to th

All of their hard work came to life last week at the Upper Elementary Wax Museum! Their process: choose a person of interest to study read a biography about that person find at least two resources for research take notes document sources write a biographical essay create a backdrop with words and images highlighting that person's life practice reading your essay aloud assemble costume and props presentation day What a joy to experience the culmination of their efforts!

Upper Elementary recently participated in Junior Achievement Biztown. Biztown is an interactive simulation of an actual town, thriving with businesses and its own government. Students spent several weeks working through in-class lessons. Topics included financial literacy, community and economy, work and career readiness, and business management. Students worked in groups as they prepared to run two of the businesses at the simulation. As in real life, things did not go as

Lower Elementary recently went on their overnight adventure trip to Lake Logan! This second trip of the year is always so incredible. Many of the 2nd and 3rd graders look forward to returning to this magical space, while the 1st graders are eager to experience it for the first time. The trip started off with a stop in Montreat at an amazing creekside playground. We had a picnic lunch together, and then students got to run around and explore everything the playground had to of

In Upper Elementary, we have continued our exploration of the coming of the universe, how all living things have come to be and their interconnectedness. We have read stories, examined timelines, researched, created art, experimented and created literary connections to Montessori’s Great Lessons. Please take the time to read about Cosmic Education in Montessori and the Second Plane of Development in this article from American Montessori Society’s Montessori Life....

Last week, our 7th grade students set off on their Extended Learning Field Trip (ELFT) to Washington, D.C.! This four-day adventure was filled with travel, sightseeing, meaningful learning experiences, and opportunities to build community in unforgettable ways. This journey actually began last year, when these students were in 6th grade and planned their ELFT to Raleigh. During that trip, they discovered the Ann and Jim Goodnight Museum Park, a space full of art sculptures an