Journey to The Montessori Event 2022 – Ms. Zapata

Ms. Zapata, one of our upper elementary guides, is presenting at the largest Montessori conference in the world, the American Montessori Society’s Montessori Event. Ms. Zapata’s topic “Montessori Spelling in the Elementary Years” aims to reimagine how spelling is taught in Montessori classrooms. Read more about her topic and journey to the AMS conference.

This is your first time presenting at an AMS conference, what are you most looking forward to?

I am looking forward to being able to contribute to our Montessori community on a larger scale at The Montessori Event. I’ve always admired those that share their knowledge with me, and I had a personal goal to get to the point where I share my knowledge with others. It is an honor to be considered to have worthy information that other Montessorians can benefit from.

You are presenting the topic “Montessori Spelling in the Elementary Years”. Tell me more about this subject and why you are passionate about it.

This topic is about the spelling program that Ms. Hanks encouraged me to implement here at Starwood Academy of Frisco. It is about teaching spelling through the Montessori lens of observation and following the child. This presentation is focused on cultivating a vibrant literacy program at each school. I am equipping guides with tools and strategies to explicitly teach sounds and spelling patterns, along with the spelling stages that the student should be progressing through. By teaching spelling with our Montessori philosophy, students can discover spelling patterns that will not only help their encoding but decoding as well. This presentation gives insight on how to build a literacy program from the ground up, which allows for vertical and horizontal alignment between elementary classrooms in order to enhance a student’s reading experience, along with helpful suggestions on how to involve the parent and student community.

What does this opportunity mean for you in your Montessori journey?

This opportunity is a stepping stone for me to continue my research and specialization in literacy. I went to graduate school with a question in mind: what tools can I equip my students with to help them become fluent readers and writers? I am also curious to see what strategies could help struggling readers/spellers and if these same methods would enhance every child’s experience. This opportunity will allow me to connect with other presenters and like-minded individuals that may have more information to share with me to enhance a student’s learning experience. I hope to develop a new way of teaching and identifying struggles early so that no child is left behind.

At our Montessori school in Frisco, our highly qualified team guides students with gentle enthusiasm, always allowing them the freedom of exploration. To learn more about a private school education in Frisco, Texas that develops the qualities of successful leaders, contact our admissions team by inquiring online or calling (972) 855-8585.