Step By Step Montessori Plus
At Step By Step Montessori Plus and Step By Step Learning Centre, we have adopted a Fluency-Based instructional format that refers to an integrated model based on Precision Teaching that is founded on the principle that the student knows best- if the student is progressing, the program is right; if the student is not progressing, an immediate instructional change or intervention is required. This model allows the student’s performance to directly guide ongoing programming decisions. The goal of this model is to ensure that students reach a level of performance that is highly accurate as well as fast-paced, in order to acheive fluent behavior or true mastery. Well-researched outcomes are associated with fleunt performance.
At Step By Step Montessori Plus, the emphasis is on the importance of foundation skills. Also, not unlike the Montessori School model, Plus emphasizes the importance of the connection between experience and meaningful, effective learning. Children learn about reading, the pleasures and benefits of literacy, math and its place in the world, science, technology, and the arts.
Plus melds young children’s need for directed learning by a qualified teacher and their need to be guided to explore the world and its intricacies at their own pace. Student progress is monitored daily- this encourages students to find the balance between asking for help and asking to be taught what they need to succeed.
The goal of Plus is to become the leader in pre-education. The aspiration of the Plus student is to be the best that he or she can be. This unique school will cater to 60 families in Halton Hills. Plus is responding to the needs of this community today and the greater community in the years to come. Our children need to be prepared emotionally and academically for the challenging years ahead. Most importantly, they need to learn to embrace learning whether that be how to read, apply to Canada’s top universities, create their investment portfolios or make decisions for their own families.
At Plus we offer:
- A warm, respectful, courteous, and purposefulness atmosphere
- Small class sizes with a maximum of 10 students per teacher ensures personalized instruction
- A setting where students wear uniforms daily, and staff members observe a professional dress code
Curriculum at Plus
Our curriculum focuses on 7 key learning areas:
Reading: Our reading curriculum combines two powerful educational approaches to learning; Direct Instruction and Precision Teaching. This combined approach gives students the opportunity to not only acquire a strong reading repertoire, but to become fluent readers. Young students are introduced to the world of print through the use of a variety of traditional and computer-based approaches in order to make learning to read fun and exciting. Our reading curriculum currently includes Teach Your Children to Read Well, Horizons Learning to Read, and Headsprout Reading.
Math: Our mathematics approach utilizes the science of both Direct Instruction and Precision Teaching. Students gain an understanding of a variety of math concepts, including math computation, through active exploration. Students learn and build fluent performance across a number of basic numeracy skills including counting, addition, and subtraction. Our mathematics curriculum current includes Distar Arithmetic, Saxon Math, and Morningside Academy’s Math Facts Instruction.
Printing: At the Georgetown Preparatory School, students learn to become proficient printers by building fluent performance across various component skill areas that include holding a pencil correctly, discriminating between correct and incorrect paper placement, and by learning to print a variety of both straight and curved marks that are the basic components of letter and number formation. GPS is a proud user of Haughton’s Print and Cursive curriculum.
Montessori Exploration: The 5 areas of traditional Montessori curriculum are explored daily- practical life, sensory awareness, langauge arts, mathematics, and culture.
Computer Science: GPS is committed to preparing students for our fast paced technologically driven society. Students will learn mouse control and the basics needed to manoeuvre within age-appropriate software. Students will also have the opportunity to use the computer for both academics and fun.
Music: Music classes provide a pleasurable environment in which students enjoy activities that encourage listening to, understanding, performing and enjoying a variety of genres of music. All students perform in our end of the year recital. The joy of self-expression and confidence are the primary goals of the GPS music program.
Visual Arts: Through the visual arts, students are guided through a variety of projects geared towards expanding their understanding of color, line, shape and a variety of mediums. Throughout the year, each student produces a portfolio of art work to be shared with their families. At mid-year, parents are invited to our Gallery Showing showcasing the work our fine young artists.
The Plus Learning Guarantee
Here at Step By Step Montessori Plus, we are so confident that your child will learn how to read, we are offering a money-back guarantee. The Learning Guarantee for Reading will only apply to students enrolled in the full-day program for 2 consecutive academic years. Students must also be in attendance for a minimum of 80% of classes for the duration of the 2 years. This guarantee states that parents will receive a 100% tuition return if their child does not score at the early Grade 1 level on a Standardized Test of Academic Achievement. This offer does not apply to students who enter the program with a pre-diagnosed learning challenge.
Please feel free to contact Kevin S. Cauley for more details.
