Montessori Method

Montessori is a method of education that is based on self-directed activity, hands-on learning, and collaborative work. In Montessori classrooms, children make choices in their learning, while the classroom and the teacher offer age-appropriate activities to guide the process. Children work in groups and individually to discover and explore knowledge of the world and to develop their maximum potential. Students use materials created by Maria Montessori and classroom teachers.

The Montessori program at Eugene Field will follow the Montessori philosophy and method of education. The Montessori program is a fully inclusive curriculum and will cover all areas of learning. Each classroom will have a full line of specific Montessori materials that teach all objectives in the curriculum. Teachers in Montessori classrooms undergo a rigorous training program and are the key to the success of a Montessori classroom.

Montessori is rich in academics and cultural subjects. Students are given tools to solve problems and lead others.

• Students and teachers working on the floor and at tables using flexible seating.
• Multi-age groups working in the same classroom.
• Students working on different lessons based on ability and need.

The Montessori model has been in place at Emerson for three years, and we are at the mid-year point of year four. 

Through informal teacher forums, Montessori trained teachers report a high level of satisfaction with their teaching experience, support for their development, and a belief that their students’ Montessori experience will increase student academic achievement, especially during the early childhood years.

Parent requests for seats in the Montessori program at Emerson this year exceeded available seats, and indicates that families in our district want access to the program and believe that it is a viable investment for Tulsa Public Schools in shaping our future.   

Per available national research studies, the impact of the Montessori model, if implemented with fidelity, has the potential to equalize the achievement of students across all socio-economic levels in the early childhood years, (Pre-K-2), positioning students for higher levels of achievement in grades 3-5.

The success of a Montessori program model is dependent on attracting a pre-K and kindergarten enrollment that will support school growth long-term. Our goal for a Montessori expansion is that the school enrollment represents a balance of 50% enrollment from the neighborhood and 50% from transfer requests in the initial implementation.  Over time, we will strive for a higher percentage of students from within the school’s attendance boundary to populate the early childhood cohort, expecting that families will remain at the school long-term, increasing neighborhood enrollment and ultimately total school enrollment.  

Based on enrollment tracking at Emerson, students that enter a Montessori program at the pre-K level, are likely to remain in the school for the following year. 

The program model is funded through multiple funding sources: 

• Teachers are allocated through the district staffing plan.
• Some teacher allocations are exchanged for teacher assistants, as class sizes are typically larger than in traditional classrooms, 24-28 students.  Each class is staffed with a Montessori trained teacher and teacher assistant
• Teacher assistants not earned by allocation exchanges are funded by site Title I funds
• Montessori curriculum, materials, and equipment are non-consumable, and funded through a Bond project budget dedicated to Montessori programming
• Site Title I funds support intervention programs, such as guided reading, and intervention teachers, and other support roles such as Academic Engagement Teachers, etc.
• District funds support teacher training costs and related stipends

Successful Montessori instruction is dependent on having two Montessori trained professionals in each classroom, as the model requires that a teacher and assistant work together to support the delivery of individual student lessons and related student work.  Upper elementary classrooms may share a teacher assistant.

Yes, the design of classrooms changes dramatically as a classroom becomes a Montessori learning environment.

Teachers in the first Montessori cohort of pre-K and kindergarten students at Eugene Field will begin intensive training in July 2022 to prepare them for the “launch” of Montessori programming in school year 22-23. The year of continued training (school year 22-23) will include face-to-face and virtual training days throughout the school year on district professional development days, some Saturdays, and some days that will be scheduled with substitute teacher coverage.

Full Montessori Early Childhood certification can be achieved in 18 months. This includes 6 weeks of training in the summer of 2022, a full year of teaching in a Montessori classroom with additional training days, and a 2-week summer residency in the summer of 2023.

Teachers that choose to formally enter Montessori training are compensated per a monthly stipend that is commensurate with the number of hours that are expected to engage in off-contract learning work. 

A 54-month commitment through yearly extra duty stipend contracts are required of all teachers entering formal Montessori training. This commitment, renewed yearly, outlines the stipend amount that teachers will receive during training, and includes a commitment to teach for 36 months, or three years in Tulsa Public Schools beyond the attainment of  Montessori teacher certification. Stipends end when the teacher completes Montessori certification. Teachers that leave Tulsa Public Schools by choice during the 54-month period are expected to reimburse TPS for a portion of the cost of their Montessori training on a prorated basis, outlined in the extra-duty stipend agreement. Exceptions are considered for life changes that prevent a teacher from fulfilling the agreement, or if a teacher is recommended for exit from the program by the principal of Montessori teacher development. 

Diane Beckham, a certified Montessori teacher and administrator will support the development of teachers that begin Montessori training at Eugene Field Elementary during school year 22-23. Ms. Beckham will share responsibilities with the school leader at Eugene Field in support of teacher development. Ms. Beckham will provide long-term support to the teachers through their training, and will coach the school leader in his/her development as a Montessori principal. 

In the first year, Eugene Field will start with converting pre-kindergarten and kindergarten to the Montessori model. The program will expand by one grade each year through the 2027-2028 school year.

Pre-K and kindergarten students that enter Eugene Field Elementary in school year 22-23 will be included in the first Montessori cohort across 5 multi-age Montessori classrooms. This cohort of students will have a Montessori education through grade 5, expanding the program by one grade level each year. 

Students that will attend Eugene Field Elementary in grades 1-5 in school year 22-23 will continue their learning in the traditional program model in place at Eugene Field Elementary through grade 5. 

Teachers will experience a “phase out” process of traditional teaching positions as the Montessori program starts in school year 22-23 and expands one grade level at a time each year for six years. 

The “phase out” of traditional teaching positions will be managed through teacher attrition, retirements, transfers, and the district rebalance process if necessary, as the Montessori program cohort expands by a grade level each year.

This is a question we are exploring. We are examining Montessori secondary models across the nation.  Available research studies indicate that students that exit an elementary Montessori program are successful in traditional secondary school options. We are exploring the extension of the Montessori education principles through the personalized learning programs at Central JH and HS, and Memorial JH and HS, as well as through interest-based programs.