Denali Montessori

09/13/2026

Have you heard the term “SEL” and wonder what it means? SEL stands for social emotional learning. Though SEL is woven throughout the Montessori method, such as intentional multiage classrooms and providing students responsible freedom, targeted SEL lessons also help children understand their emotions, build healthy relationships, and make responsible decisions.

These pictures share some of the SEL moments in our school this past week. Check out the comments to learn more.

09/12/2026

We love sharing all the amazing accomplishments of our students at school and outside of school.

One of our new Lower El students recently submitted a couple a fully illustrated story books to Story Pirates and received feedback letters in return from them.

What a great program to encourage a child’s creativity!

09/12/2026

Montessori education includes multiage classrooms, such as 4th through 6th graders in one classroom. This provides natural opportunities for students to learn from peers, as well as our students to become teachers and leaders.

At Denali Montessori, we also practice this throughout our school with 1st through 6th grade Advisory groups and Upper El “buddies” supporting Kindergartners.

Pictures: Ms. Emma’s student big buddies with Ms. Sarah’s student little buddies

09/12/2026

Denali Montessori parents and families, are you finding new objects at your home and in your washing machine that you’ve never seen before and you don’t remember buying?

Those little golden beads used in our math curriculum. Mini “toy” cars and animals might be part of the “pink work” or sorting activities in Kindergarten (such as identifying which animals are found on land or in the sky, or which items have the “ar” sound).

We understand it is developmentally appropriate that interesting items might make their way into pockets and backpacks.

If you find these items, please return to your child’s teacher or the office. If your child is developmentally ready, you/we can support an apology when returning the item without shaming our students (we can even verify through an emailed picture that this truly is an educational material or a “gift” given by a peer). We will share gratitude that the items were found and returned to help everyone in your child’s class learn.

Thank you for helping us keep down materials’ costs and supporting your child with the Montessori Peace Values of “Truth” and “Do Right.”

Picture: one of our smallest pink cubes from a Pink Tower that was found in the parking lot with some damage

09/12/2026

Please share your feedback with Anchorage School District

LEARN: SHARE YOUR PERSPECTIVE

Tell us what matters most to you, what we need to explain better, and where we can improve.

What you share will help us learn and better understand the people we serve.

ASD Community Values Survey: September 8–29

www.asdk12.org/asdlistens

Listen. LEARN. Act. Report Back.

09/07/2026

As seen in the September Peace Bear Corner:

As part of The Alaska Reads Act, the State of Alaska requires that districts administer an early literacy screening tool three times a year to students in grades K-3 to identify potential reading difficulties in order to improve reading outcomes for students. Families can read more about this comprehensive K-3 reading policy at The Alaska Reads Act website: education.alaska.gov/akreads

mClass with DIBELS 8th Edition Assessments is the State of Alaska Department of Education’s and ASD’s Early Literacy benchmark screening and progress monitoring tool for students in grades K-3 in reading. mClass utilizes curriculum-based measures and is used by schools as part of the ASD Comprehensive Assessment System to support informed instructional decisions.

The Alaska Department of Education & Early Development explains the decision to adopt mClass as the statewide literacy screener here:

https://education.alaska.gov/Alaska-Reading-Resources/Statewide-Early-Literacy-Screener

mClass screening assessments will only be administered in-person during the benchmark window listed below:

BOY 2026: September 8-9 for Denali Montessori

Results for K-3 students that were assessed during a benchmark window, will be available in Parent Connect by October 2, 2026 ParentConnection Login Information and Reference Guide: parentconnect.asdk12.org
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MAP Growth is the ASD and State of Alaska required benchmark/interim reading and mathematics assessment for students in grades 3-9. Grades 10-12 students identified as needing Tier II and Tier III reading and mathematics support also take MAP Growth as part of the Anchorage School District's MTSS framework.

Alaska's Department of Education and Early Development (DEED) has partnered with NWEA to implement a creative approach to a balanced statewide assessment that connects fall and winter MAP Growth benchmark/interim assessments and the Alaska spring AK STAR summative assessment. AK STAR eliminates the spring benchmark/interim assessment window for grades 3-9 by combining the summative and benchmark assessment into one test that produces a spring benchmark score, which includes a growth measure. More information is available at the State of Alaska AK STAR website, education.alaska.gov/assessments/akstar.

MAP Growth is an online, adaptive assessment that provides each student a personalized testing experience with data that speaks to their individual progress and growth in mathematics and reading.

The MAP Growth reading and mathematics benchmark will be administered in person during the fall and winter benchmark windows. The spring benchmark will be embedded in the AK STAR summative assessment as outlined above.

Fall Benchmark 1: September 8 - September 18 (make-ups through September 25)

Winter Benchmark 2: November 30 - December 11 (make-ups through December 17)

Spring Benchmark 3: embedded in AK STAR administered during the summative assessment window: March 29 - April 9 (make-ups through April 30)

MAP Growth assessment only: Grades 10-12 identified as needing Tier II and III support

MAP Growth practice tests and tutorials allow students and families the opportunity to become familiar with the types of questions and tools available on the actual MAP Growth assessments such as the highlighter and calculator. An overview of these resources with links to the practice tests are compiled on the MAP Growth Practice Tests Quick Sheet.

09/04/2026

What happens in a Montessori classroom?

A lot of learning with a lot of choice.

Check out some students working today.