At Elm City Montessori School we acknowledge and recognize the way that racism is deeply embedded in the fabric of this nation. We also understand the many ways oppressive systems such as racism, sexism, homophobia, etc. live in the institution of education.
In 2016, Elm City Montessori School committed to anti-bias and anti-racism (ABAR) as a pillar of the institution. Our ABAR work is centered on staff growth and development, curriculum and learning for students, and broader community partnerships. At school, our ABAR work is embedded in the curriculum through history and culture work and our One Book, One School initiative. All classrooms have weekly time where they engage learners in our core monthly ABAR work, ABAR circle discussions, planned lessons and readings. And we are still growing. We are working to help our teachers, learners, and families remain rooted in history and inquiry while grappling with power, oppression and justice.
To learn more about our work supported by NAEYC’s four goals of anti-bias education, visit the included link.
Our Core Beliefs
To be and to work towards becoming a more ABAR school community, we are anchored in these core beliefs about our work, our children and our purpose.
To build an ABAR Montessori School, we must:
- Prepare our children academically, nurturing their curiosity and love of learning.
- Honor youth voices and activate their potential to be agents of change in our communities and beyond.
- Practice authentic Montessori so that our learners cultivate self-confidence, independence, justice, and joy.
- Students, educators and families must be fully equipped to counter the institutional racism built into the fabric of this nation and to recognize how these factors impact their daily practices.
Vision for an ABAR Montessori School
Strengthening Adult Preparation
- Create consistency and community for staff
- Engaging in critical conversations about school and critical race theory
- Creating personal and schoolwide systems for accountability
Engaging Learners and Family
- Center ourselves in Conscious Discipline
- Amplify identity work and culture shares
- Create leadership and creative spaces for students
Enriching the Learning Environment
- Using data teams and adult learning to deepen Culturally Responsive Practices
- Solidifying math through problem solving and math fluency
- Deepening thinking with writing assessments, strategies, rubrics and portfolios
If you would like to learn more about our anti-bias and anti-racism practices, please contact Sade, ABAR Director at sade.jean-jacques@elmcitymontessori.org