mathematics – Rowntree Montessori Schools

2019/11/01 by R.M.S.

Using Grocery Flyers to Teach Math Skills in Grade 3

Brought to you by Rowntree Montessori Schools

Nurturing Tomorrow’s Achievers Since 1969

Our AHA! Moments take place in our classrooms, every day!

At Rowntree Montessori Schools, our teaching method focuses on 21^st Century Learning. 21^st Century Learning refers to “the skills and technologies that will position students to succeed in a world that ever increasingly requires collaboration, critical thinking, adaptability, grit, perseverance and relies less on the learning of facts and data. The “how” and “why” of learning becomes central and is far more important than the “what” or “who” from past models. Students must approach lifelong learning with a flexible mindset as they tackle 21^st century issues. They must learn to work with and listen to a variety of points of view.[1]

This past week, one of our grade 3 classes tackled a “real world” task where they were provided with various grocery flyers, given a budget and asked to plan out their groceries for the week. Students were given time to look through different grocery stores’ flyers and research which store had the best prices and items that they wanted to purchase. Students were also asked to determine where the foods and items they chose originated from, and if the item came from live stock or was pre-packaged. This provided the class with an opportunity to use their math skills, social studies’ skills and communication skills. In addition, students learned that fresh foods are much healthier options than packaged foods. Students worked in groups as well, which provided them with an opportunity to problem-solve and work as a team.

Rowntree Montessori Schools believes that it is important for our students to have a connection with what they are learning and link their learning to a real world situation.

Want to practice this great math and social studies activity at home? Read a great article here.

To learn more about Rowntree Montessori Schools (RMS), continue browsing our website and ideally drop by any of our welcoming, friendly and family oriented campuses for a personal tour anytime Monday-Friday 9:30am-3:00pm. If you prefer, call to book an appointment for a personal tour anytime Monday-Friday 9:30am-3:00pm.

More details about Rowntree Montessori Schools‘ approach to education can be seen by clicking here .

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2019/09/24 by R.M.S.

Cross-Curricular Teaching and Learning in a Prep-ONE class

Our AHA! Moments take place in our classrooms, every day!

Brought to you by Rowntree Montessori Schools…Nurturing Tomorrow’s Achievers since 1969.

This past week, during a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) activity, our Prep-ONE students learned how to create 2D shapes using straws, Popsicle sticks, connectors, paper, scissors and magnetic shapes. Building strong engineering and math skills is important at Rowntree Montessori Schools because we believe that such STEM skills will help prepare our students for the future. However, we also believe that building students’ character is equally important. Teaching our students skills, such as working together in small groups, problem-solving, team work and leadership are all essential character traits. This lesson provided an opportunity for our Prep-ONE students to practice their math, science and engineering skills, as well as their collaborative and problem-solving skills.

To learn why it is so important for students to become 21^st century learners and to have a strong base in STEM, click here.

2D shapes during a STEM activity

To learn more about Rowntree Montessori Schools (RMS), continue browsing our website and ideally drop by any of our welcoming, friendly and family oriented campuses for a personal tour anytime Monday-Friday 9:30am-3:00pm. If you prefer, call to book an appointment for a personal tour anytime Monday-Friday 9:30am-3:00pm.

More details about Rowntree Montessori Schools‘ approach to education can be seen by clicking here .

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2019/08/30 by R.M.S.

At Rowntree Montessori Schools, Math is Fun!

Not everyone will agree that math can be fun but the students at Rowntree Montessori Schools love math. As the great, William Paul Thurston stated, “mathematics is not about numbers, equations, computations, or algorithms; it is about understanding”. The teachers at RMS are excellent at teaching one of our core subjects, math, and fostering a love of this subject.

Rowntree Montessori School students shopping during Math Day

Math is one of the core subjects taught in Prep-ONE (Senior Kindergarten) that we teach at Rowntree Montessori Schools (RMS). During our math circle time, we start the year with counting from 1 to 100, counting by 2s to 20, and 5s and 10s to 100. We often make this engaging for students by adding songs because studies how that children learn well when lessons are fun. We teach students greater than and less than, as well as before and after numbers (up to 100). Students really enjoy this because the lessons are conducted using Montessori manipulative materials. These materials include number cards and object counters.

We also teach our students addition and subtraction to 10 using the Montessori Addition and Subtraction Boards. When students are learning double-digit addition and subtraction, we use the Stamp Game. This provides children with a learning tool that they can touch and see. At an early age, we also introduce 2D and 3D shapes, sorting, time by the hour,m and by the half hour, graphing, fractions, and place value.

Recently, our students learned about Canadian money which they used it in a real-life setting, during our annual “Math Day.” On this day our whole school transformed into a shopping mall and all of our students became shoppers. They learned how to purchase items and budget their mock money to buy toys, books, clothing, etc. Another exciting activity was teaching our students about “place value” through the use of Montessori materials. In this activity, students were able to create numbers by using the Montessori Golden Beads.

As a Kindergarten teacher, I can truly say that our Math programme is well-organized, and well balanced to suit the needs and learning styles of our young children. Our programme is truly ahead of the Ministry set guidelines. I look forward to many more years of watching our young students build a love for math, as they become interested in it through well thought-out activities and an excellent planned curriculum.

To learn more about Rowntree Montessori Schools (RMS), continue browsing our website and ideally drop by any of our welcoming, friendly and family oriented campuses for a personal tour anytime Monday-Friday 9:30am-3:00pm. If you prefer, call to book an appointment for a personal tour anytime Monday-Friday 9:30am-3:00pm.

More details about Rowntree Montessori Schools‘ approach to education can be seen by clicking here .

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2019/04/26 by R.M.S.

Save the Planet – STEM Fair

For many years, our students from Grade 1 to Grade 8 have participated in the Annual STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Fair. This is the culmination of many months of hard work from students, and takes place over two days at the Academy Campus. The STEM Fair offers students a great opportunity to present their projects, which have been created to solve real-world problems. It allows students to enhance their public speaking and presentation skills, as they present their projects in the gymnasium, in front of judges. For example, the students in the image below are presenting a device called the Tree Locator, which would scan a forest area in a 10×10 grid through satellite imaging to identify trees that should be cut down, because of disease or quality, in order to reduce deforestation.

Students presenting their STEM Fair project about how to solve deforestation. — Students explaining how their Tree Locator would work.

Students from Grades 1-4 are judged upon their use of the scientific process, where they must observe something and try to hypothesize and explain why is has been seen. Grades 5-8 students are judged upon their use of the engineering process, which often times means designing a product (like a machine or computer code) that meets certain criteria and/or accomplishes a certain task to solve a problem. The students in the image below are showcasing their prototype of an Aquifer Forest Dome that will work to keep forest floors moist and reduce forest fires.

Students showcasing their prototype of an aquifer forest dome that will work to keep forest floors moist and reduce forest fires. — Students demonstrating their Aquifer Forest Dome.

Following the STEM Fair is a school wide Bake Sale and STEM activity day, organized by Grade 7 and Grade 8 students, where our Grade 4-6 students acted as tour guides (dressed as scientists), taking younger students to the Bake Sale and to the STEM learning stations. Money collected from our yearly bake sale goes towards the Science department.

Students selecting their Bake Sale items.

This year the STEM activities theme is about how to save the planet. Across the school, students will be trying to come up with new solutions to help protect and save our planet, will enjoy participating in various learning activities using recyclable materials, and will take time to consider the environment and the impact they play on protecting it for the future. This gives our Pre-Kindergarten Montessori to Grade 3 students a great chance to participate in exciting challenges that teach them about science, technology engineering or math. For example, one station taught students about magnets, and explained how there is metal on the ocean floor and gave them a chance to actually try to clean as much metal as they could out of a mock ocean, by using a bucket, magnets and metal items.

Students learning about the ocean floor and magnets.

Another station allowed students to make a DIY pinwheel completely from recycled materials, such a paper, newspaper, magazines, cardboard, split pins and straws. In this station, students tried to determine how many times they needed to blow air on the pinwheel before it would rotate ten times. At the Grow Green Eco-Pledge stations, students used a stencil to trace a footprint on to the tablecloth and wrote a pledge in the middle about how they will try to live an eco-friendly life. These are just a handful of the excellent initiatives that took place at the school to build awareness of the STEM approach to learning.

Students making a Grow Green Eco-Pledge.

To learn more about Rowntree Montessori Schools (RMS), continue browsing our website and ideally drop by any of our welcoming, friendly and family oriented campuses for a personal tour anytime Monday-Friday 9:30am-3:00pm. If you prefer, call to book an appointment for a personal tour anytime Monday-Friday 9:30am-3:00pm.

More details about Rowntree Montessori Schools‘ approach to education can be seen by clicking here .

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2018/11/21 by R.M.S.

4th Math Bowl Competition

At Rowntree Montessori Schools Academy campus, we recently completed the fourth annual Math Bowl Competition. This long awaited event brought our students together in the pursuit of healthy competition and academic excellence in mathematics. To start the competition off, Grade 1 to 8 teachers selected 10 students to represent the class through the results of a math activity. Then 10 students from each class moved forward to the next round and went head to head against 10 other students, answering questions related to math word problems and calculations. Questions posed to Grade 1 students primarily focused on addition and subtraction, while Grade 2 questions covered more complex addition and subtraction questions, and relied more heavily on the need to write numbers in expanded form. Grades 3 to 8 focused more on multiplication based word problems, and Grade 7 and 8 had the opportunity to do some advanced high school level mathematics problems. From each group of 10 students, a winner was selected, who then competed against the other winner in his or her grade, to find the top performing Math Bowl Champion, who earned a trophy in celebration of his or her win. All competitors are congratulated for their efforts, and were given a certificate to acknowledge their achievements!

$Students at Rowntree Montessori Schools private chool solving math problems during the 2018 Math Bowl Competition$

Students hard at work solving math problems

It was an absolute pleasure watching the different classes from Grade 1 to 8 compete and learn from one another. The students demonstrated remarkable knowledge and application skills to solve the questions to the best of their abilities. It was very rewarding to see our students working as a team, and at the same time seeing the progress in their math skills as a result of their dedicated practice. It was an experience that allowed our students to compete under pressure while using their passion for math in pursuit of being crowned Math Bowl Champion.

$Students at Rowntree Montessori Schools private chool solving math problems during the 2018 Math Bowl Competition$

Students supporting each other during the Math Bowl Competition

The Math Bowl is an event that brings our student body together, and it could not have been possible without the hard work of our faculty. Thank you to everyone involved. We experienced a day of excitement with students using their positive influence and energy to cheer on their fellow classmates. We are very proud of all our students who helped make the Math Bowl Competition a wonderful success. See you all next year!

To learn more about Rowntree Montessori Schools (RMS), continue browsing our website and ideally drop by any of our welcoming, friendly and family oriented campuses for a personal tour anytime Monday-Friday 9:30am-3:00pm. If you prefer, call to book an appointment for a personal tour anytime Monday-Friday 9:30am-3:00pm.

More details about Rowntree Montessori Schools‘ approach to education can be seen by clicking here .

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2018/10/05 by R.M.S.

Learning Real World Mathematics

At RMS, we understand the importance of extending what is learned in the classroom to real world situations, especially when learning mathematics. Experts like S.Wuolle (2016) suggest that students who experience meaningful real world connections are better able to apply their mathematics knowledge and skills, and can adapt to new situations (Boaler, 1998). Additionally, the British Columbia Ministry of Education states that real world connections are necessary in order to build numeracy in students (2008). So what is real world connection? Simple analogies, analysis of real data, discussion of mathematics in society, hands-on representation of mathematics concepts, mathematical modeling of real phenomena, and even the classic word problem can be considered to be real world connections (Gainsburg, 2008). Therefore, our teachers at RMS do their best to bring real world examples into the classroom. Recently some of the Grade 3 students extended their learning experience of the mathematical concept of estimating sums and applied it to the real world situation of grocery shopping. Each group of students was given a grocery flyer and was assigned the task of preparing a grocery list and estimating the cost of the list. The students were very excited to see what is was like to walk in mom and dad’s shoes for a while, as they eagerly began picking out grocery items for a healthy, balanced grocery list and then rounding the amounts to add up the cost of their lists. Below is a video that shows our smart 21st century learners busy collaborating with their friends to stay on budget with groceries!

To learn more about Rowntree Montessori Schools (RMS), continue browsing our website and ideally drop by any of our welcoming, friendly and family oriented campuses for a personal tour anytime Monday-Friday 9:30am-3:00pm. If you prefer, call to book an appointment for a personal tour anytime Monday-Friday 9:30am-3:00pm.

More details about Rowntree Montessori Schools‘ approach to education can be seen by clicking here .

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2017/07/06 by Contributor

Real Estate Agents for a Day

Elementary math is not just about numbers and memorizing formulas. At RMS, we often use this subject in order to explain real-life scenarios, allowing students to live a day in the life of a certain profession. By doing this, we make this important and sometimes challenging subject relevant and fun. Recently each grade seven student took on the role of a real estate agent to sell properties to prospective buyers (other students) during the RMS Math Day.

The Grade Seven Real Estate Agents in Action

A lot of effort was put into each project, and by the time Math Day started, students were ready to display their work with pride. Students were very prepared for questions and to act the part, and as a result their clients were eager to purchase many properties. Aside from all of the hard work the students put in, teachers were able to see that the students really enjoyed stepping into the shoes of real estate agents.

The Real Estate Agents Selling their Properties

Students at the end of the day decided to write a song about their experience with Math: “Math is fun. When you learn math you get the job done. There are many types of math you need to learn. With these skills you will earn. A whole new level of education. And you don’t even have to be a mathematician.”

We look forward to seeing you and sharing with you the private school community of which we are so proud!

To learn more about Rowntree Montessori Schools (RMS), continue browsing our website and ideally drop by any of our welcoming, friendly and family oriented campuses for a personal tour anytime Monday-Friday 9:00am-3:00pm. If you prefer, call to book an appointment for a personal tour anytime Monday-Friday 9:30am-3:00pm.

More details about Rowntree Montessori Schools‘ approach to education can be seen by clicking here .

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2017/05/23 by R.M.S.

Successful Careers with STEM

Knowledge of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) prepares our private school students for the challenges that will arise in their future careers. Many business owners also understand that many aspects of their workforce’s day to day functions will change as technology evolves. As a result, many new jobs will be created to deal with challenges of the 21st Century. Thus students with training in STEM are better prepared to handle the uncertainty of the future. According to a recent special article posted by The Globe and Mail, “now more than ever, Canada’s economic future depends on brilliant, curious minds trained in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Whatever business you lead, it almost certainly will be stronger, more agile and better able to compete if its employees have been trained in a STEM discipline.”

Young students using Dash & Dot Robots

As STEM experts are in high demand but low supply in the workforce, we must continue to support our students today that show interest in these disciplines. As the article states, “just about any business today would benefit from the skills people acquire through STEM training.” So we prepare our students to handle the challenges of their futures from the day they walk through our doors. For example, we teach Kindergarten students coding and programming through hands-on use of Dash & Dot robots. We offer a Robotics Club that many older students participate in each year, and our students are completing mathematics at one grade level above the public school board.

It is also important that the experience participating in STEM activities is a positive one, with full support from our teachers in a nurturing environment. We do not believe a student will FAIL in any attempt to learn a new skill, but rather accomplish a “F” first “, “A” attempt , “I” in, “L” learning. As educators, we want to provide a well rounded education that prepares our students for the needs of the future. As teachers and parents, we must encourage them to continue to thrive at learning these disciplines well into their educational years!

We look forward to seeing you and sharing with you the private school community of which we are so proud!

To learn more about Rowntree Montessori Schools (RMS), continue browsing our website and ideally drop by any of our welcoming, friendly and family oriented campuses for a personal tour anytime Monday-Friday 9:30am-3:00pm. If you prefer, call to book an appointment for a personal tour anytime Monday-Friday 9:30am-3:00pm.

More details about Rowntree Montessori Schools‘ approach to education can be seen by clicking here .

Please kindly SHARE this post with others by clicking onto one or more of the icons below. We would appreciate it and thank you in advance.

2017/03/07 by R.M.S.

Math Made Fun

Many schools teach Math primarily through numbers and textbook work. However, we believe that as times change, so should teaching methods. Today is Math day at RMS! It is a fun and exciting day for all ages, and allows us to provide a meaningful educational experience, that offers students the ability to engage in multiple hands-on activities using measuring tapes, counting objects and graphing tools. Our students are very engaged and glad to have the opportunity to use the many different math resources that we setup in the classrooms and around the school! They work as a team to successfully solve each problem they are given, while having a blast learning!

Younger students using tanograms (geometric shapes) during Math Day 2017

Today the students completed over 10 activities throughout various stations setup around the school. They had the opportunity to attend a toy and book store where they used play money to purchase items, teaching them about currency, addition and subtraction. They also completed math trivia, multiple math games which included a fun physical fitness element in the gymnasium, and learned how to calculate real estate agent commission when purchasing a new home – among many other activities. These activities allow students to understand how math is not just a subject we teach, but a life skill that plays a vital role outside of the classroom, helping prepare them to solve everyday obstacles they may encounter.

Student purchasing books from another student using play money

Our elementary students study math at one grade level ahead (for example Grade 2 students study Grade 3 math). This keeps our student challenged by introducing new concepts and procedures in a timely manner. Our students are often asked to prepare and present solutions to their math challenges. For example, today we had junior students presenting their Real Estate projects to other students and teachers, explaining the sale price between agent and buyer, making sure to explain how commission rates are calculated.

A proud student explaining how commission is calculated when buying a new home

Our students were thrilled with their experiences on Math Day and will now engage in learning new math concepts from a different perspective – one that is both educational and fun!

We look forward to seeing you and sharing with you the private school community of which we are so proud!

To learn more about Rowntree Montessori Schools (RMS), continue browsing our website and ideally drop by any of our welcoming, friendly and family oriented campuses for a personal tour anytime Monday-Friday 9:30am-3:00pm. If you prefer, call to book an appointment for a personal tour anytime Monday-Friday 9:30am-3:00pm.

More details about Rowntree Montessori Schools‘ approach to education can be seen by clicking here .

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2017/02/12 by RMS

Event Reminder – MONDAY EVENING Open House at RMS featuring our Math Programme – Tomorrow night!

Come and discover the opportunity you can provide your child to succeed Now and in their Future.

Our Evening Open House is a perfect opportunity to tour our campuses and meet our teachers, particularly if you are unable to take advantage of our Open House ANYTIME opportunity. It’s your chance to see our campuses when it might be more convenient for you!

Take just a few minutes to come by our Open House on MONDAY February 13, 2017 (6:00 pm – 8:00 pm) at our welcoming, friendly and family oriented campuses and discover the opportunity and possibilities for your child to love learning and excel. Your visit could be your first step in empowering your child’s journey towards their dreams!

Apply NOW for September 2017! Click here to find out more.

Here’s a map which illustrates the locations of our welcoming, friendly and family oriented campuses.

We will gladly take the time with you and your family to:

Tour the facilities (typically takes 15-20 minutes)
Provide you with the opportunity to meet teachers and administrators
Outline our enriched educational programmes
Inform you about the wide variety of before and after school activities available
Discuss registration options for Pre-Kindergarten (starting at 2 years 8 months old as of September 2017) to Grade 8

…and of course, children are most welcome.

We look forward to seeing you and sharing with you the private school community of which we are so proud!

To learn more about Rowntree Montessori Schools (RMS), continue browsing our website and ideally drop by any of our welcoming, friendly and family oriented campuses for a personal tour anytime Monday-Friday 9:00am-3:00pm. If you prefer, call to book an appointment for a personal tour anytime Monday-Friday 9:00am-3:00pm.

More details about Rowntree Montessori Schools‘ approach to education can be seen by clicking here .