The Bridge Program
The Bridge Program at Bridgeview Montessori School
Bridgeview Montessori recognizes that every student learns uniquely. The Montessori method is ideal for students to learn at their own pace, through a variety of modalities, and in an arts and science rich environment. Our students who qualify for the Bridge Program receive specific, explicit and targeted instruction to help them develop as skilled learners and perform at their best. These services are delivered by a Learning Specialist who is highly trained to work with diverse learners.
In the Children’s House and Elementary I, we emphasize moving toward automaticity and mastery of foundational skills and concepts for literacy and number sense. We use the Orton Gillingham explicit reading instruction program for all age levels. We also support strength building, motor coordination and self-regulation skills. As children gain skills and progress through Elementary I and into Elementary II, we expand upon this foundation.
Our Bridge Program supports the specific needs of individual students to enhance and skill-build thinking, memory, and executive functioning. To develop and strengthen executive functioning skills, we provide instruction and strategy building for sequencing, organizing and planning. We further develop spatial, visual and time perception skills. To support social emotional skill development, we give students tools for understanding their place in the community, to advocate for themselves and to take the perspective of others.
The primary goal of the Bridge Program is to empower every student and promote confidence in their skills and their ability to persevere. The children are encouraged to take risks. Students in the Bridge Program are met where they are and supported to move forward. Levels of support are adjusted throughout the year, and lesson extensions are provided for the just right challenge resulting in engaged learning. The Bridge Coordinator works closely with our classroom teachers to help introduce strategies to be used daily in the classroom. Parent communication is key. Our Bridge Coordinator/Learning Specialist also attends all Parent Teacher Conferences and communicates with the families of our Bridge Students regularly.
During the Bridgeview Montessori application process, one of our goals is to determine whether Bridge Program services are appropriate. If a student is accepted into Bridgeview Montessori School and into the Bridge Program, there is an additional tuition to cover these additional weekly meetings which happen one on one or in small groups, in or out of the classroom.