Montessori Education Week

The concept of Montessori Education Week was born in the late 80's as, then owner's of the Montessori Child Enrichment Center, Peter and Rosann Larrow wanted to get the word out about Montessori Education. In the late 90's, the Larrows worked with the International Association for Montessori Education to take the idea to the national and international levels, designating the last week in February as the official week to recognize Montessori education. The Larrows continue to maintain a website full of ideas and information at http://www.montessori-opportunities.com/montessori_education_week. The formal recognition by State Governor's Proclamations began in 2007 allowing the idea to truly reach all schools. South Carolina was one of the states to immediately get on board with the idea of commemorating the important movement afoot across the world coined as the Montessori Movement.

Here in South Carolina, the South Carolina Montessori Alliance files for the Governors' Proclamation, announces Montessori Education Week events, and provides information on how your school can participate. Send us your school's events and we will announce them prior to the event or post them on our site after the event at Secretary@scmontessori.org. Your submission can be text, video or picture. We are so grateful for continued support of Montessori Education Week by Governor Nikki Haley.

Optional Ideas for Participation

At the School Level

Participate in one of the South Carolina Montessori Alliance's supported charities of Ronald McDonald House and Wells of Love and Hope.
Host a Video Talk event showing Education 2.0 by Dr. Steven Hughes or other speakers widely available on the Internet.
Create an exhibit at your school about your school's history.
Create a photomontage about Montessori education in your area.
Hold a luncheon in honor of Dr. Montessori.
Celebrate the business sponsorships of your community and their contribution to education as a result of support.
Have the children write testimonials.
Have the parents and/ or staff write testimonials.
Send a press release to the local news and radio regarding your efforts.
Create a People of Peace wall in your school, having each class choose a person of peace.
Start each day with a YouTube short video about Montessori Education

At the City Level

Create an exhibit at the local museum
Offer an open house for VIP's in your area.
Send a press release to local media
(see a media kit http://www.montessori-opportunities.com/press_releases)
Conduct food drive
Make a theme each day (such as Police Day) inviting a different civil servant each day.

At the State Level

Invite local legislators and leaders to events
Organize a speaking event
Organize a group to visit the legislators in session

The SCMA Board welcomes your input into how the state organizes the events surrounding this very important recognition of Montessori Education. Contact secretary@scmontessori.org for suggestions and questions.

More Ideas

This is From Charlestowne Montessori in Charleston describing their Montessori Education Week activities.
Event: CTM Peace Ceremony
Date: Thursday, February 29, 2013 (raindate make-up, orig. scheduled on Monday)
Time: 8:45 am
Duration: 30 minutes

The students and staff at Charles Towne Montessori School joined millions of others around the world in the celebration of Montessori Education Week 2013. This year Charles Towne Montessori celebrated with a peace ceremony around their Peace Pole. The CTM Peace Pole has "May Pleace Prevail on Earth" inscribed on 4 sides, each side with a different language: English, Chinese, Spanish and Swahili.

The children and staff brought personal messages to the ceremony about how they could help peace prevail on earth. These messages were written on cutout doves that were presented during the ceremony along with the lighting of a peace candle, presentation of classroom peace symbols, the singing of a peace song, reading poetry concerning peace and students individual ideas about peace.

Students and staff left the courtyard with the reminder of a quote from Maria Montessori, "Establishing lasting peace is the work of education; all politics can do is keep us out of war." The ceremony was concluded with every one holding hands, singing the peace song and extinguishing the peace candle.