Five Oaks Academy was honored to host Montessorian and Author Dr. Michael Dorer on Thursday, February 2. Dr. Dorer has been involved in many roles within Montessori education for over 45 years. He has taught in classrooms ranging in ages from 2 to 14, been the Director of Montessori education at St. Catherine University, educated adults about Montessori, and was the founder of a graduate level Montessori program at Westminster College, The Institute for Montessori Innovation. Dr. Dorer was internationally trained and holds many Montessori credentials including a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) from Argosy University. We invited him to Five Oaks Academy to speak with parents and teachers about his recently published article in Tomorrow’s Child Magazine and his latest book.
Dr. Dorer’s day began with a “Coffee and Montessori” event where he met with parents to discuss his article, “Ten Essential Montessori Principles (…plus one)”. Because Montessori is so different from what most people experienced during their schooling, many times it is hard to put into words exactly what it is (or is not). In his recent article, Dr. Dorer articulates ten essential principles of a Montessori program; respect, creativity, freedom of movement, freedom to choose, freedom to repeat, independence, mixed ages, holism, prepared environment, and planes of development (development occurring in distinct phases or levels) and why they are important to the Montessori philosophy. To read this article by Dr. Dorer, please view the January 2017 issue of Tomorrow’s Child Magazine, https://indd.adobe.com/view/d863b138-93c6-4738-ad26-fa03a3574752
During his visit, Dr. Dorer also met with our teachers for a discussion on imagination and abstraction as key components to learning during the elementary years.
To finish out his visit, Dr. Dorer met with the entire faculty and gave a presentation based on his new book, The Deep Well of Time. This book delves into the importance of storytelling for memory and learning. This lecture was both entertaining and thought-provoking as Dr. Dorer took on the persona of many characters and brought them to life.
We enjoyed Dr. Dorer’s time on our campus! Five Oaks Academy believes we are all a community of learners and we strive to have meaningful learning experiences for our faculty.
Congratulations to the 2016-17 Middle School Battle of the Books team for tying for first place in the SCISA State competition on November 30, 2016. The team, comprised of 18 students, began reading books in May to prepare for the Regional competition that was held on Nov. 9, 2016. This activity is completely managed by the students including; planning who reads which of the 20 books, running practices, and deciding who is onstage to answer questions each round. They were confident and showed great maturity when challenging the judges’ decisions on incorrect answers. We are so proud of the team and this impressive feat!
FedEx Day is an event the Middle School students look forward to all year. This is a day that they take on a project of their choosing with the goal of “delivering it quickly” just as FedEx does. Students plan their projects in advance but have to complete the projects in a single day. The following day they present it to the class.
On Dec. 12, students got busy executing their Fed Ex Day plans. There were several parent volunteers available to assist the students in creating their projects. Problem-solving, critical thinking, and creative thinking are all skills that are used on this exciting day. These important skills are also embedded in the Middle School program every day as we strive to cultivate original thinkers. Many times, students learn as much or more from their errors then they do from their successes throughout this fun and innovative day.
“Best Fall Festival ever!!!” was sung by students and parents alike during this year’s Fall Festival. This annual school-wide event brings FOA families, friends, students and teachers together to celebrate the Fall season, recognize harvest traditions worldwide, and enjoy socializing and laughing together.
The festival kicked off with student performances from each level as they showcased their World Music and Spanish curriculum. After the performances, everyone enjoyed crafts, food, pony rides, hayrides and great music by The Drover’s Old Time Medicine Show. New this year, we welcomed Robino’s Food Truck and the King of Pops popsicle stand. It was a delicious and fun way to celebrate a new season!
Thank you to our 2016-17 Five Oaks Academy Title Partners 
“Where do students attend high school after graduating from eighth grade at Five Oaks Academy? ” This is a question many prospective parents ask when considering FOA as a fit for their child and family. This very important question is answered by looking at the individual student. The Middle School (MS) teachers begin the conversation about high school options with students and parents early in the 7th-grade year. With the frequent changes in program options, the MS teachers maintain a relationship with guidance and admissions counselors from high schools in this area so they can help families navigate this important decision.
The FOA Middle School prepares students academically, socially and emotionally for the rigors of high school. Academically, students are guided in learning effective note-taking, developing organization skills, and refining time management skills. Students are taught to study for a variety of test formats and to use their time efficiently in doing so. Students are taught to focus on the importance of details and how to use textbooks effectively as a resource. Additionally, students are coached in developing their problem-solving abilities and resourcefulness. Students who are academically and emotionally prepared, are given the chance to earn high school credits in several areas of study.
The social and emotional development of our students is as important as academics in preparing them for the transition to high school and beyond. The MS teachers guide students in conflict resolution and clique-busting strategies to further develop their social adaptability. Students learn about the social components of attentiveness in their classes with techniques such as the SLANT strategy (Sit up, Lean forward, Activate your thinking, Name key information, and Track the talker). Students learn how to put their best foot forward each day by being introduced to the idea of “snapshots,” the impressions a teacher may get of them based on their behavior when only seeing them for a single class period. These impressions may alter the teachers willingness to help a student or give them the benefit of the doubt when grading their work.
Another integral part of the MS experience at FOA is the time our teachers spend guiding our students in exploring their unique interests and developing their individual strengths. Students take the Strengthsfinder Assessment to help them more formally identify and assess their strengths. Part of this exploratory journey involves participating in internships that allow students to experience different career options. Our 6th-grade students mentor throughout the FOA campus as they learn about the internship process. Our 7th and 8th-grade students go out into the Greenville business community three times a year and shadow business professionals in areas of interest to them. These internships provide students with valuable experiences to draw upon as they start the process of figuring out who they are and what their goals are in life.
On September 21 at 9:30 a.m., FOA students, teachers, and faculty (as well as students from all over the state of South Carolina) gathered together, joined hands, and sang a beautiful version of “Light a Candle for Peace” lead by World Music Director, Mr. Chris Cash. This song was sung around the world for 24 hours straight on this day in celebration of the International Day of Peace. The song was followed by observing a moment of silence and peaceful reflection. Five Oaks Academy students were thrilled to be a part of a worldwide event that was designed to strengthen the ideals of peace, both within and among all nations and people.
