About the New Reading Program at Apple Montessori Schools
Apple Montessori Schools takes pride in offering a unique, phonics-based reading program that has many of our students excelling in reading by age four. We’re happy to share that we recently upgraded to a new, modernized reading approach that is aligned with the “Science of Reading” in our commitment to providing high quality education for our students.
Here are 5 things you should know about the new program:
1. Modern, Montessori-Inspired Materials
Our new program now integrates Waseca reading materials, which are becoming standard in many Montessori classrooms. These Montessori-inspired materials offer a structured, sequential presentation of the phonetic elements of the English language and combined with our proven methods, enhance the effectiveness of our reading instruction.
2. Unique Supplemental Resources Reinforce Skills
Our new program continues to uphold the philosophy and unique blueprint established by our founder, Jane Bailey, honoring her legacy of fostering strong, confident readers. We have developed proprietary materials that supplement the Waseca resources to provide our students with what we believe to be the best tools to achieve academic excellence, while also reinforcing the knowledge they acquire through their lessons.
3. Comprehension & Creativity Through Sentence Building
A new component of our program involves hands-on sentence building materials, which offer a fun and engaging way to strengthen reading skills as children progress through our new program. Now, children can both read individual words and construct sentences that describe illustrations, using the phonetic elements they have learned. This integration promotes both creativity and comprehension in their learning journey.
4. Fosters Reading Skills & Geographical Knowledge
We have also introduced Waseca’s Continent Biome Readers, designed to support emerging readers as they study different continents. These readers enable children to explore content independently while introducing phonetic elements in a progression that aligns with the color-coding system used in Waseca. This approach fosters both reading skills and geographical knowledge in an engaging way.
5. Research-Proven & Evidence-Based
Our new program is aligned with the Science of Reading, a vast, interdisciplinary body of scientifically based research about reading and issues related to reading and writing. And further, evidence suggests that students instructed in reading in schools using Montessori methods and curriculum achieve results significantly higher than the state average and expected results.
What is the Science of Reading?
This approach teaches based on five main principles: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. This is a shift from previous approaches based primarily on phonics alone. Research resulting in the Science of Reading has been conducted over the last five decades across the world, derived from thousands of studies conducted in multiple languages. Read more about the Science of Reading and how it is changing the way students are taught here.
Here’s what you can expect to see in the classrooms...
The materials are stored in hardwood cabinets with beautifully stained drawers (picture above!). Each drawer within the program represents a distinct lesson, organized in a color-coded, numbered, sequential order. This structure simplifies the reading process for everyone involved, eliminating any confusion about the next steps to take.
The new sound cards that can be seen hanging on our walls align with the Montessori philosophy by featuring real pictures of everyday objects. This approach makes the sounds associated with these items relatable and meaningful for children.
Why did we switch programs?
We didn't switch... we upgraded! Like its predecessor, this program is one of many offerings from McGraw Hill, that incorporates new research and advancements in education.
How is this method different than what might be found in a public-school classroom?
The Apple Montessori approach employs a unique set of practices that foster a positive, natural learning experience for reading and writing. The curriculum is carefully designed to teach children the various elements of literacy one at a time, making the process both accessible and enjoyable.
In traditional education, children often participate in reading lessons as a group, which doesn't meet individual needs and pace. This approach typically emphasizes memorizing sight words through constant exposure, resulting in limited phonics and word attack skills. In contrast, our language program focuses on developing auditory skills, speech, vocabulary, writing, and reading comprehension while fostering an understanding of language patterns. We emphasize guided work sessions, encouraging extended focus, peer-to-peer learning, and collaborative problem-solving, allowing children to confidently seek help when needed.
While traditionally educated children may still be learning to read, our workshops and materials aim to build strong readers. We enhance reading comprehension and critical thinking skills while reinforcing the rules of language and improving spelling proficiency.
If you have questions about this new reading program or would like to see it in action, don’t hesitate to reach out!
