What Makes Sankofa’s Model Unique?
The Sankofa Way
At Sankofa Montessori, we BRIDGE standards based instruction with the Montessori approach. This means that we combine two educational methods to create a comprehensive learning experience. Standards-based instruction focuses on meeting specific educational standards or benchmarks set by our authorizer and the Georgia Department of Education. Our Montessori approach emphasizes student-centered learning, where students have more freedom to explore and learn at their own pace. It focuses on hands-on, experiential learning and encourages independence and critical thinking.
Our Curriculum
We utilize the Montessori curriculum and methodology for certain academic subjects but not others. We utilize the Montessori curriculum for science, social studies, and phonics instruction. We utilize the EL curriculum for our ELA instruction and utilize open resource for our Math curriculum. We supplement the curriculum with our Montessori materials for the subjects using a non-Montessori curriculum.
Multi-Age Groupings
Sankofa Montessori utilizes the multi-age grouping for first and second grade. Our third grade is a standalone grade to ensure that students are prepared to successfully transition to upper Elementary. Our fourth, fifth, and sixth-grade classes will be multi-aged with a mix of fourth, fifth, and sixth-graders.
A Child-Centered Learning Environment
Tailored Small Group Learning
We utilize small group instruction to enable educators to tailor lessons to meet each child’s academic needs. Small groups foster a cooperative learning environment, allowing children to work together, share ideas, and engage deeply with materials. This approach combines guidance and freedom, helping children explore concepts with teacher support while promoting autonomy.
Confidence Through Feedback
Our classrooms emphasize intrinsic motivation over external rewards. Feedback is designed to promote self-improvement and personal growth rather than competition. This approach respects each student’s pace, allowing them to build confidence and resilience without the pressure of external judgment.
Community & Responsibility
Classroom management in our school centers on creating shared responsibility. Emphasis is placed on community values, respect, and collaboration, helping students grow academically and develop social skills and empathy within a respectful, cooperative environment.
Freedom of Choice in Learning Within a Highly Structured Range of Options
This approach is closely aligned to individualized student data gathered from daily lessons, MAP data, and the Reading Remediation Pathway Phonics screener. By using this data, we are able to better align the activities within each center to meet the specific needs of each student, ensuring that every child receives the targeted support they need to be successful.
Freedom of Movement
Students have the opportunity to move as they transition between groups and classrooms (Lower Elementary only) and can choose flexible seating options, such as sitting on rugs, while completing their independent work. Our goal with freedom of movement is to help students develop the skills needed to transition between activities without disrupting their own learning or the learning of others in the classroom community and to ensure that students are continuously working on lessons that extend and/or enrich their learning.
Continuous Observation of Students
We consistently observe our students and use data to inform our instruction.