MGCS teachers are constantly improving their instructional practices and teaching methods. We support this through our ongoing commitment to provide teachers with researched based professional development. Offerings this year include…  

Charlotte Mason Internship
In November, Mrs. Pleasant, Mrs. Blevins, Mrs. Reid, and Mrs. Cartner  traveled to Ocala, Florida to participate in a three day internship with Ambleside Schools. The team

• gained a practical understanding of the philosophical principles and practices of British educator Charlotte Mason. 
• spent 16 hours in readings and discussions of Mason’s writings and six hours observing Ambleside teachers in their classrooms across a variety of disciplines at varied grade levels. 
• experienced classroom applications of this philosophy. 

Orton-Gillingham Training
In January, pre-k through 2nd grade teachers and tutors participated in 30 hours of Orton-Gillingham training. This onsite training provided an understanding of the Orton-Gillingham method and the tools necessary to apply it in the classroom. Topics included assessments, evaluations, and teaching children how to read, write, and spell proficiently with a specific focus on: 

• Phonemic awareness
• Multi-sensory strategies for reading, writing, and spelling
• Syllable patterns for encoding / decoding
• Reciprocal teaching for reading comprehension
• Multi-sensory techniques for sight words
• Student assessment techniques

Future opportunities for teachers will include additional training in classical education, experiential education, and outdoor learning. Learn more about our academic philosophy here.