robotics Archives - Rowntree Montessori Schools

2020/01/08 by R.M.S.

RMS’ Lego Legends and Robo Rebels Compete at First Lego League Regional Qualifiers

Nurturing Tomorrow’s Achievers Since 1969

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

This year, Rowntree Montessori students participated in one of the First Lego League (FLL) regional qualifiers at Tomken Road Middle School in Mississauga. This season was titled City Shaper, with the robot game and project topic centred around issues of urbanization. Rowntree fielded two teams of Grades 5-8 students, called the Lego Legends and Robo Rebels. Teams are expected to design and program a robot that can complete a series of missions, brainstorm and present a project, explain their robot creation, and complete a major teamwork task. Students prepared for over three months to compete at the regional qualifier with different schools from around the Peel Region. Both teams successfully completed all of their missions on the competition board, with the Robo Rebels being among the top scorers in both the project and robot design categories. FLL instills and reinforces the elements of the Engineering and Design process to help inspire students to explore further study and career choices in STEM fields.

To watch some highlights from the FLL Regional Qualifiers, please click 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 .

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.

2019/11/05 by R.M.S.

A Day in the Life of a 21st Century Grade 3 Student at Rowntree Montessori Schools

Rowntree Montessori Schools. Nurturing Tomorrow’s Achievers since 1969.

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

Students learn in a variety of different ways. Identifying teaching techniques that can accommodate different learning styles provides students with the confidence to take charge of their learning, feel secure and acknowledged in their learning environment and enjoy their academic journey.

At Rowntree Montessori Schools, our grade 3 students engage in a wide range of learning activities. From tactile tasks, to projects involving technology, to traditional pencil and paper creative writing tasks and art projects, this is a snapshot of Rowntree Montessori Schools’ vision for the 21st-century learner!

This video captures the true essence of Rowntree’s vision for the 21st-century learner. Students enjoying what they do and doing what they enjoy is the key to Rowntree’s success over the last 50 years! Creating a happy balance between traditional teaching and technology, our students thrive in a learning environment that immerses them in a variety of learning experiences enabling them to reach their fullest potential and achieve their personal best. For a great article on the various types of learning styles, please click 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 .

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.

2019/10/25 by R.M.S.

21st Century Learning and Coding in Grade 1

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

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

Our AHA! Moments are special learning and teachable moments that take place in our classrooms every single day. This past week, Storm, a Grade 1 student, surprised her teacher with a good morning message using coding skills she learned in the classroom. This moment demonstrated Storm’s engagement and interest in her Computer and Technology class, which allowed her to use these newly acquired tech skills outside of the learning space. Rowntree Montessori Schools supports 21^st century learning and ensuring that our students have strong tech skills that will help them prepare for their futures. 21^st century skills not only provide a framework for successful learning in the classroom, but also help to ensure students thrive in a world where change is constant and learning never stops. To learn more about the benefits of 21^st Century Learning, please click 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 .

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.

2019/10/18 by R.M.S.

A Teacher’s View on Robotics

Over the past five years, the education sector, including teachers and students alike, have shown a lot of excitement about the introduction of Robotics from the Kindergarten to grade 12 programme.

As more schools implement Robotics programmes and take part in competitions, students have the opportunity to exhibit their skills on a regional and sometimes national level. While we agree on the importance of having Robotics teams and dedicated Robotics programmes, it is even more important that educators begin to integrate learning about robotics into the regular day-to-day curriculum.

Picture of RMS Private School student in Brampton using Robotics

When teachers are asked to integrate technology into their lesson planning, it is often a daunting task. At first glance, it seems nearly impossible to implement Robotics into an English or History lesson. That being said, the actual building and/or programming part of Robotics is only one part of the big picture. A lesson on technical writing could easily accompany a programme completed in an after-school activity or technology-related class. Additionally, a history lesson on the evolution of Robotics can be delivered concurrent with students completing other technical tasks in a different class or programme.

Technology integration is not just about using technology in every class for every assignment. The technology should rarely, if ever, dictate what is being taught in the classroom. Robots used as a learning tool in an English or Social Studies setting should compliment and/or improve the traditional curriculum. Far gone are the days when learning about a particular topic is isolated to one class. Implementing Robotics outside the computer lab or an after-school activity is a great way to promote technology integration and spice up the subject matter.

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.

2019/10/07 by R.M.S.

Encouraging Girls in STEM

It goes without saying that females are underrepresented in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields. As we progress further into the 21st Century, this presents a real problem that educators and employers need to address. A lot has been said in the past decade about pay gaps and gender inequality in the workplace and making meaningful changes in STEM-related work environments can help bridge this gap. In neighbouring New York state, there are over 34,000 job openings in Computer Science, that is 4.7 times the state average demand rate. Here in Canada, data shows that 70 percent of bachelor’s degree graduates in Engineering and Computer Information Science found employment in related industries. This is good news for individuals who are naturally STEM-minded, but is the system flawed? How can we make sure to pay close attention to girls in STEM?

Girls using robotics at Rowntree Montessori Schools in Brampton

Female students showing interest in robotics at Rowntree Montessori Schools

Globally, female participation in STEM-related careers are drastically lower than that of males, despite more women graduating from universities worldwide. The World Economic Forum maintains the following: “The reasons for this systematic underrepresentation are multiple and complex, but three things seem to matter most:

1) Aspirations that are molded by social norms and parental expectations

2) Information failures that affect the decision to enter and stay in a STEM field

3) Institutional factors that constrain women’s ability to enter a STEM job.”

Educators have the most control over numbers two and three, but can also help influence social norms and parental expectations as they relate to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. That being said, elevating girls in STEM education should not result in diminishing boys interest in the same topics.

FIRST, the parent organizations of the FLL (First Lego League), has launched the Elevating Girls and Young Women in STEM initiative. Rowntree Montessori Schools is proud to participate in the FLL yearly and recently won the FIRST Core Values Award at the 2017 Provincial Qualifier. FIRST maintains that the, “initiative focuses on the advancement of girls and women in STEM, but it is not exclusionary of the contributions of boys,[o]r men..” What is unique about this program is that it focuses on the inclusion that is so vitally needed in STEM education, helping to drive more diverse thought, innovation and creativity across STEM fields.

Girls using computers at Brampton Private School

Female students using computers

In the last five years, we have seen technology absolutely explode in K-12 education. Not only do students have more access to technology than they ever did before, but they are learning how to use it in ways that were previously reserved for the college-level computer lab. Additionally, a number of companies are jumping on the EdTech bandwagon and introducing new and exciting high-tech, low-tech, and no-tech ways for young people to learn code. RMS’s Motto: Nurturing Tomorrow’s Achievers, recognizes that successful students of the future include all the boys and girls currently doing great things at our four campuses. We want to ensure that all students have a fair and equal shot at doing great things with STEM. As an organization, we recognize that this can only be achieved if we work together to create an environment where science, technology, engineering, and mathematics is genuinely intertwined with what we do every single day. Rowntree Montessori Schools is excited about striving to be the best 21st Century learning institution that it can be, and has introduced a number of new initiatives this year to ensure that STEM is at the forefront of its students’ everyday experience, regardless of gender.

To read more about girls and STEM, click here for an interesting read from Forbes magazine!

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.

2019/02/17 by R.M.S.

Robotics for Young Children

How are Kindergarten Students Learning about Robotics and How to Code at RMS?

At Rowntree Montessori Schools, our students start learning about Coding and Robotics as early as the age of three and a half years old in our Pre-Kindergarten Montessori classes. Students can begin to understand the basics of Coding and Robotics using unplugged coding materials, such as figurines (that represent robots), cards and grids (on which they will execute the various coding instructions). In the example pictured below, our students face the challenge of navigating the dinosaur “robot” from one place to another, while avoiding pitfalls such as snakes and other barriers. This type of activity teaches and reinforces computational thinking, such that our students learn to approach the problem (getting the dinosaur safely “home”). It is not simply a matter of getting the dinosaur “robot” from A to B, the students must break down and “code” each step within the solution.

Once students understand the basics of coding, they can more easily transfer their knowledge and skills to a combination of tablets, specialized coding apps and our Dash & Dot robots. That might involve the same size grids as pictured above, smaller versions of it or much larger taped versions which can take up almost the entirety of a classroom floor. Students are presented with increasingly complex challenges that require more sophisticated solutions which can involve not only directional commands, but also the blinking of lights and commanding their robots to speak.

Beyond computational thinking and the acquisition of basic digital literacy, coding and robotics in our younger grades promote collaborative skills and help nurture resilience among our students. From the most basic unplugged coding task to the solving of more difficult Dash & Dot challenges, our students are presented with difficult material that often requires extensive trial and error to master. Coding and robotics can be fun and exciting, but it can also be challenging and frustrating. We believe that success on difficult tasks leads to deep and more meaningful learning. It is predicted that many future jobs will require strong problem-solving skills and a resilient attitude. Learning the fundamentals of computational thinking and sequential thinking from coding and Robotics starting at a young age is a great way to give our students a head start. The students pictured below had just solved a complex Dash & Dot challenge. Their excitement was the result of having worked collaboratively to solve a complex and difficult task. At RMS, we aim to cultivate such moments through the application of rigorous academics which are delivered in a nurturing and supportive environment.

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.

2018/12/20 by R.M.S.

Open House Sat January 19th (11am-3pm) featuring Robotics

Come and discover the opportunity you can provide your child to succeed Now and in their Future. Our Saturday Private School Open House is the 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! We will be featuring Robotics and Coding. Students will be demonstrating our Dash & Dot Robots and Lego Works Robotics materials with family, friends and staff.

Take just a few minutes to come by our Private School Open House on Saturday January 19, 2019 (11am-3pm) at our welcoming, friendly and family oriented campuses. 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!

Students at RMS private school in Brampton are working on a robotics project on a Google Chromebook in Brampton

Students collaborating with senior students on a robotics project

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.

2018/09/24 by Contributor

Why Choose RMS as the Private School for your Child?

At Rowntree Montessori Schools we offer a well-rounded academically-progressive private school education. We have four campuses in Brampton serving all areas of the city and surrounding vicinity. Each campus meets every criterion of being a top educational institution. From employing dedicated teachers who motivate students, teach them to think for themselves and offer individualized attention, to running a leading programme that emphasizes academic quality in a supportive, nurturing environment, we provide children with freedom in education and respect the fact that children as individuals are different from one another.

A STEM approach to learning is an element of the RMS curriculum that is based on the idea of educating students in 4 specific disciplines- science, technology, engineering and mathematics- in an interdisciplinary and applied manner. The subjects are taught as one cohesive approach, instead of teaching each separately. We use this approach in order to equip our students from an early age with the tools they need to solve real world problems that each student will inevitably face in their future careers. As educators, we constantly strive to prepare students with 21^st Century learning skills and computer programming/coding is just one of the many ways that we do that. At RMS we introduce Dash and Dot robots and the fundamentals of programming in Kindergarten Montessori (JK) classes. These robots can be easily programmed using tablets to complete a variety of tasks, while teaching children the basics of programming. By teaching students coding concepts from such an early age, we are instilling in them a curiosity and ability to problem solve and innovate that will benefit them in their future careers.

Our staff and management believe that a warm, loving, safe and welcoming school is the foundation for great academic and personal achievement and growth. With a focus on each individual student’s potential, we allow each child to explore, interact and collaborate with classmates for greater learning opportunities. Children in the Kindergarten Montessori programme are encouraged from a young age to express and develop their creativity. They are introduced to and guided towards mastering concepts in math, science, computers, language, robotics, geography, social studies, music, art and French. Each student is encouraged to achieve his or her goals, as our excellent teachers guide them in the right direction, doing so with positive reinforcement and praise. Building a strong foundation and exceptional character is the fundamental focus at RMS!

There could not be a better reason or time to enroll your child at Rowntree Montessori Schools!

Apply NOW! Click here to find out more.

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

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.

2018/08/14 by R.M.S.

OPEN HOUSE Tuesday August 28th, 6pm-8pm

Come and discover the opportunity you can provide your child to succeed Now and in their Future at our Award-Winning Brampton Private School! Our Tuesday Evening Open House is the perfect time 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! This will be an exciting opportunity for you to hear more about our STEM and Robotics programme.

Take just a few minutes to come by our Private School Open House on Tuesday August 28th, 2018 (6pm-8pm) 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!

Robotics Open House August 28, 2018 / 6pm-8pm

Apply NOW for September 2018! 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 2018) to Grade 8

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.

2018/05/04 by R.M.S.

Coding is Vital in Education

Hands on knowledge of how to code is becoming increasingly more important to employers, and as a result is a vital part of a well-rounded education. Coding skills are used in many different career paths, including Information Technology Workers, Data Analysts, Artists and Designers, Engineers and Scientists. According to a report written by Burning Glass Technologies, programming jobs are growing faster than all other types of jobs. Review the full report by clicking here.

Here at Rowntree Montessori Schools, we start teaching the foundation of coding skills very early in Pre-Kindergarten Montessori as part of the private school education. Our Kindergarten students use Dash and Dot robots to learn how to block code, by giving command instructions to robots, making them follow a path, light up different colours, throw a ball and complete other actions. Take a look at these Grade 4 students working on a challenging online game called Code Monkey. With this learninig game, the students solve problems on a map to the left of the screen by typing in the commands to the right. We use this to transition students from block coding in preparation for more complex coding languages that will be taught after Grade 4.

Grade 4 student at Rowntree Montessori Schools using coding application on a computer at his private school

Grade 4 student using coding game

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 .