Sea Pines Montessori Academy is hosting a Silent Journey & Discovery on Friday, January 7th and Saturday, January 8th.

The Silent Journey will take place on Friday evening from 7 to 9 pm, starting with a wine and cheese reception, and the Discovery will take place on Saturday morning from 9 to 11 am.

For educators, DSS hours are available and the cost is $30. Current SPMA staff and families are welcome free of charge and babysitting will be provided Saturday morning.

Please RSVP to Chris Harris by email or phone at 843-785-2534 by Wednesday, January 5, 2011. Space is limited.

What is a Silent Journey & Discovery?

This event is an exploration, in silence, of the full developmental continuum of prepared environments (Silent Journey) followed the next day by work with the actual materials laid out in each successive classroom from Preprimary through Middle School (Discovery). Participants can anticipate gaining greater insight into how SPMA students spend their day, developing a richer understanding of the Authentic Montessori materials and method, and understanding more clearly the crucial role environment plays in learning.

On the Silent Journey participants will go to Preprimary, Primary, Lower Elementary, Upper Elementary and Middle School classrooms for silent and guided observation. With the absence of children, the classrooms are the focus and the experience is of the Authentic Montessori prepared environment and how they engage the senses. During the Discovery participants are encouraged to interact with the Montessori materials in order to experience the intentional and inherent lessons built into their designs.

Parents who have attended a Silent Journey & Discovery event have said:

“I hated physics as a kid but I enjoyed the work today. Learning about geometry and thinking my daughter is going to learn this and have a much better chance of loving it and understanding it than I did.”

“I wish I had been educated in a Montessori school and I hope I will be able to impress upon my children the value of educating their children according to the Montessori way.”

“I will seek to be more observant and encourage my children to explain what they do rather than to tell them what to do.”