Lily Field Christian Montessori Community

A few years into the growth of Lily Field, one of the biggest frustrations as a Guide was noting that the families of children attending only three days per week were still expecting their children to perform for first grade at the level of children who had been with us for full schedules. Some did, but there were children who arrived late consistently, or missed days to "be with us at home", or  who managed so minimal a schedule that they simply had not practiced the skills they would otherwise have made their own by attending the full week. In an effort to provide for students needing this shorter time span, I trained with reading specialists in the Riggs Method being employed with all ages and ESL students. The thorough practice of all sounds and phonograms and spelling rules helps the child to read independently, and to write stories before moving to the elementary level.

While not strictly a Montessori tool, Lily Field finds the Riggs Method of literacy education extremely effective.  Utilizing the Writing and Spelling Road to Reading and Thinking materials, students are taught the sounds and symbols of our language in a Montessori environment. After an initial two years of integrating the materials with timely Montessori guidelines, students began to keep more closely developed  in the skills that our full time Montessori students experienced.  Full time students experienced enriched development.  Changing some of our enrollment policies also brought the needed familiarity and understanding of the Montessori lifestyle, strengthening our entire program. This supportive process has served our usual Montessori approach and enhanced its exercises for all students. Materials also can be used into the upper elementary and high school years as references.

Instruction begins at a level challenging to primary students who find it fun and clearer than standard phonetics programs that emphasize a stressful , result-orientation over understanding the process of writing and reading. Montessori's approach to multi-sensory work as soon as they enter the school meets well with Rigg's use of this understanding to present the basics in a completer way, respecting the child over adult-decided factors.

Professional tutoring is available for phonetics, reading, spelling, and writing.

PARENTS Ordering Reading  Materials for Class Exercises

  Please go to the website for the materials after you have spoken with the Guide for your child's specific needs.  We will order as one if several students are ordering to save postage and handling. Riggs can be contacted at www.riggsinstitute.org.

New students:   English notebook, 3/8" lined paper, 1/2 ream minimum lasts through                                                                summer session

                               Revised Phonogram cards, with handwriting and spelling rules

                               Practice tape or CD are optional   Please read the description provided                                                               in the catalog list.