The question on all teachers’ minds these days is “How do I keep myself as safe as possible during this pandemic while still doing what I love?”
Before moving from Chicago at the end of May, these two new words, “Learning Pods” began to surface creating quite a buzz! Over the past two months, I was wondering if this could be a practical way for me to be able to continue teaching and to feel safe, not only for me, but for the students and families I would be serving. I came to the conclusion that the Learning Pod would be the ideal solution to satisfy my desires and passions to continue to do what I do best, TEACH!
You may be asking yourself, “What is a Learning Pod?”
In a nutshell, a Learning Pod is bringing a small group of children (in my case 5 children) together for academic and social benefits of in-person instruction. According to an infection prevention epidemiologist at George Mason University, Dr. Saskia Popescu PhD, pods should limit the group size to 5 children to help minimize the exposure to the coronavirus. I am a believer in scientific driven data!
And in regards to scientific driven data, Maria Montessori was a physician and her scientific background and clinical understanding of how children learned led her to create this incredible philosophy and methodology. This proven and effective Montessori philosophy and methodology, continues to inspire a worldwide educational movement more than 100 years later.
Mission Statement
Guided by the Montessori philosophy, I will help children learn how to learn in a SAFE, secure, and prepared environment, laying a firm foundation for them to become confident, compassionate, and successful human beings.
Philosophy
My Montessori Learning Pod will provide a safe, nurturing, child-centered setting for children who are three to six years old. I remain committed to building and fostering a community of life-long learners, using proven Montessori methodology. While focusing on helping children master language, math and sensory experiences at age appropriate levels, I will simultaneously nurture the development of conscientious, caring, and compassionate human beings.
As a certified master Montessori teacher with 15 years of Montessori experience, I continue to celebrate the primary belief of Montessori: that children want to learn naturally. Even the youngest child receives great pleasure in seeing and mastering how things work. It is essential to respect each child’s individual interests and abilities. Free to follow their own inner dictates, children acquire an ability to learn which is virtually unlimited; free to explore in prepared environments, they develop a sense of purpose, process, completion, – and success!
As an experienced teacher, I have the ability to create and establish an authentic Montessori environment. My unique and expansive collection of Montessori learning materials will provide an experience that is purposeful, engaging, and fun! I have a deep and special interest in science and language. In addition to this program, parents will receive monthly informative newsletters.
Private Montessori Learning Pod Details:
School Start Date: Monday, August 31
(Schedule will follow Indianapolis Public Schools calendar for MOST holidays and vacation days.)
Last Day of School: Friday, May 28
Parent/teacher communication: There will be 3 Parent/Teacher Conferences during the school year (Nov, Feb, May)
Number of Children: 5
Ages: 3, 4, 5, 6 year olds
Location: near Cathedral High School
Days/time: Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. (must commit to 5 days)
Tuition: $250.00 a week
Lunches: Parents will provide daily
The safety and well-being of my students are of the upmost importance. Temperature checks will be taken of each individual student as he/she arrives. Each child will have an individual cubby where coats, backpacks, shoes, and other essential items will be stored. The classroom materials will be cleaned and sanitized daily and more often as needed.
There will be Zoom call interviews scheduled to determine the best fit for the school.If your child is selected as a student into this program, there will be a $75.00 registration and enrollment fee.
