(EL PASO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT – Feb. 28, 2024) — Moreno Elementary School is celebrating Montessori Education Week by inviting families to the campus to learn more about the program.
The family friendly event begins at 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 29, in the Moreno cafeteria.
Montessori Education Week is celebrated worldwide during the last week of February. The week-long event is meant to celebrate Maria Montessori and the educational approach she developed to help benefit children in the classroom.
El Paso ISD introduced Montessori education to the region beginning in the 2023-24 school year. Initially, more than 80 children throughout El Paso County were randomly selected to enroll in the innovative program at Moreno Elementary School in Central El Paso.
The district recently held community meetings at Coronado and Franklin high schools to solicit feedback from parents and residents on the potential expansion of the Montessori program in El Paso ISD's West Side Zone of Excellence. Input can still be shared by those who couldn’t attend those meetings by completing the feedback form accessible through the following link.
The Montessori program utilizes a different approach from formal teaching methods. The Montessori classroom places an emphasis on hands-on learning and helps students develop real-world skills. It also emphasizes independence in a supportive learning environment.
The method of teaching was developed by Italian physician Maria Montessori in the early 20th century. She developed her theories through scientific methods with her students. Her philosophy has since been used in many parts of the world.
The Montessori program at El Paso ISD is free countywide for children ages 4-6, along with qualifying 3-year-olds. Families who are eager to learn more about the program should attend the Thursday gathering and will also be able to tour the learning environment at the Moreno campus.
To learn more about Montessori, visit episd.org/montessori