Education in America is in Crisis.... and as Sir Ken Robinson says, education is not in need of reformation... it is in need of Transformation. Desert Garden Montessori understands the importance of designing a school experience that allows each child to flourish intellectually, creatively and emotionally while learning through discovery.

1. education in america
is in crisis

2. public schools: a by-product
of the industrial Revolution

3. static and adult
controlled environment

4. standardized education,
rote learning, test-taking,
content driven

5. single-aged classroom

6. desk monopolizes classroom
and restricts movement

7. lack of empowerment
Students have to ask the teacher to go to the bathroom.

8. excessive homework
Most kids today are fighting
for their childhood. With
8 hours a day spent in
school, and 2 hours of
homework, the average
child does not have an
opportunity to create, play,
imagine, and have down time.

9. where has
this brought us?
What does education in America look like?
?

10. education in the u.s.
7000 students drop out of By the end of 8th grade, U.S.
School EACH DAY students are two years behind
U.S. ranks 21st against 30 other countries in math.
developing countries in science 68% of 8th graders can’t read
30% of students do not proficiently, and most will never
graduate high school catch up.
543 billion dollars were spent
on public school education in
2010, less than half reached the
classrooms and teachers in 2010

11. what does education look
like for our state?
?

12. state education rankings
The Best and Worst for Math and Science
Statistical Research Center at AIP

13. arizona’s education
Arizona ranks 50th in the Grade 4 Mathematics Rank, 44
nation for per pupil spending Grade 4 Reading Rank, 44
Arizona’s class size average Grade 4 Science Rank, 48
is second highest in the nation
Grade 8 Mathematics Rank, 37
Arizona ranks 40th in the
Grade 8 Reading Rank, 42
nation for on-time graduation
Grade 8 Science Rank, 46
Arizona is tied for 6th in the
nation for the percentage of
teenagers not in school

14. what did all this education
prepare us for?
The single life-long career is a thing of the past.

15. in the new world
change is constant
The next generation of business leaders will face a world that is
the most complex, dynamic and fast- moving in history. How do
we prepare students to meet these 21st century demands? The
answer lies not just in new approaches to teaching and embracing
technology. Our challenge requires a complementary spacial
response - education environments that inspire collaboration,
drive curiosity and foster leadership.
‒‒ University Grads Don t Make the Grade, by Jeffrey Holmes with Global Strategy Group (Global
Strategy Group, a prominent research firm, to conduct an online survey of 500 elite business
decision- makers across North America.)

16. changing the status quo
The fact is that given the challenges
we face, education doesn't need to be
reformed ‒ it needs to be transformed.
The key to this transformation is not to standardize education,
but to personalize it, to build achievement on discovering the
individual talents of each child, to put students in an environment
where they want to learn and where they can naturally discover
their true passions.
Ken Robinson, The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything

17. montessori has endured
through the test of time
To change the status quo takes time and courage;
it is happening slowly around the world as people
wake up … but it is difficult. Other schools are
opening up to this …Desert Garden Montessori
is already there.

18. montessori: founded and
created with nothing but
the child at the center.
It was by design, over 100 years ago.

19. cornerstones of
montessori education –
the paradigm shift

20. collaboration vs.
competition

21. integrated vs.
compartmentalized

22. empathy vs. apathy
(or antipathy)

23. reaching full potential
vs. making the grade
Achieving full
potential at DGM
Most schools
today are just
meeting the
benchmark

24. inquiry based vs.
teacher delivered

25. divergent vs. convergent
Divergent Thinking Convergent Thinking

26. desert garden montessori
For over 15 years, Desert
Garden has been delivering
this innovative approach
of education, an approach
that empowers and guides
children to reach their full
potential academically,
creatively and intellectually.

27. dynamic and empowering

28. independence and
intrinsic motivation

29. emotional intelligence
Emotional intelligence
cannot be prescribed;
It must be cultivated
over time – integrated
throughout the school.

30. the power of the village
DGM community
is comprised of
children, parents,
teachers, and
community
partners, all
working together
and supporting
one another.

31. academic, social, and
emotional strength
DGM kids maintain
their academic, social,
emotional strength
despite just utilizing
the “school day”.

32. academic rigor comes
from critical thinking
and open-ended learning

33. individualized, hands-on,
relevant learning

34. so much more than the 3 Rs

35. so much more than the 3 Rs

36. so much more than the 3 Rs

37. so much more than the 3 Rs

38. desert garden montessori
lower elementary
Desert Garden 9-years-old students (3rd graders)
Mathematics: Cultural and Physical Geography:
40% at 6th grade level 100% 6th–8th grade
60% at 4th grade level Map making introduced at 6th
(long division takes grade level. Geography standards
them to 6th) remain constant through 8th
Geometry: grade (for social studies, history
100% 5th–6th grade level changes, geography does not).

39. desert garden montessori
lower elementary
Desert Garden 9-years-old students (3rd graders)
Science: Engaging in the science fair
100 % at 7th grade level process take them to a 6th
Simple discussion of the grade level. Observing
solar system, lunar cycles others’ experiments
and impacts of natural satisfies this as well.
hazards on habitats is a Parts of the Earth not
5th grade standard. introduced until 7th grade.

40. desert garden montessori
lower elementary
Desert Garden 9-years-old students (3rd graders)
Biology: Language Arts:
100% at 4th–5th grade level 100% at 5–6th grade level
History: Parts of speech emphasized
100% 6th grade at 6th grade level
(for comprehensive list)

41. stand above and apart
from the herd

42. be a powerful voice
in your child’s education

43. where will your child
be in 20 years?

44. this?

45. or blazing his or
her own trail

46. montessori educated
Google Founders: Amazon Founder:
Sergey Brin and Jeff Bezos
Larry Page
CEO, The Washington Post:
Katharine Graham

47. Extraordinary parents make courageous
and exceptional choices.
Thank you for honoring us with your children.