As the school year progresses, it’s an essential time to ensure that our students are well prepared for the transition to the next stage of their educational journey at ASM. To facilitate this smooth transition, we have introduced the Collaborative Classroom initiative. Occurring every Friday up to and including February 2, this program allows students a glimpse into their upcoming academic environment: Kindergarten students will explore the Lower Elementary classroom, third-year students will step into Upper Elementary, and sixth-year students will experience Middle School. These visits enable students to acquaint themselves with new routines and build relationships with their future peers and teachers. Additionally, this program is designed to help students acclimate to the next level of Montessori materials and lessons, where older students serve as mentors, guiding activities and fostering learning. In our first Collaborative Classroom session, we witnessed wonderful exchanges: Kindergarten students explored multi-digit addition and subtraction with the Stamp Game under the guidance of Lower Elementary mentors; third-year students discovered the intricacies of light microscopes with their Upper Elementary friends; and sixth-year students engaged in a hands-on lab on mitosis alongside their Middle School partners.
Beyond the knowledge gained, these sessions are invaluable for making students feel at ease in a new setting and providing an opportunity for teachers to connect with future students. We look forward to the continued success of the Collaborative Classroom, where learning blossoms into new friendships and a community spirit.
