Montessori Classroom News April 27, 2018

The peas we planted inside have sprouted! We are amazed each day to see how much they have grown. 

On Monday, the first few tiny sprouts had emerged

Every day we could see that the sprouts had grown taller and new ones emerged

Look what's growing in our garden!

This week we also filled our raised garden beds with soil so we can start planting in them next week! 

Everyone contributed to the project

We learn this poem as a song with motions 

A Little Seed 

By Mabel Watts

A little seed for me to sow

A little earth to make it grow

A little hole, a little pat

A little wish, and that is that.

A little sun, a little shower,

A little while… and then, a flower!

Language Tip of the week:

“What do you think?

Ask your child for their opinions & ideas in your conversations. When they ask a question, sometimes you can respond with “What do you think?” instead of answering right away. (e.g., questions like, “Where is that dog going?” or “Why do I have to wear a hat?”) You can also ask them what they think the weather will be outside, what they enjoyed doing that day, anything!

Benefits for your child: 

- build their mental comprehension and analytical skills, 

- practice speaking and explaining. 

You’ll also learn about your child’s perceptions of the world and what is important to them. 

With some rainy days in the past few weeks, we've discussed where the rain comes from and what happens to the rain on the ground. We talked about evaporation and set up our own experiment. The water level in the open cup is slowly decreasing as the water evaporates, but stays the same in the covered cup. 

Notes & Reminders 

Wed. May 23^rd– 12pm dismissal

Parent-Teacher Conferences 1:30-6pm

Wed. May 30^th– 10am Prayer Service in Honor of Parents

Our class is working with 3^rdand 7^thgrades to lead this prayer service for the school. Parents welcome to attend!

Friday, June 15^th

Montessori end-of-year program – 9am

Join us in the classroom for refreshments, a slideshow, and some of our favorite songs & poems from the year. 

This is our last day – no school for Montessori students June 18-20th

Parents with students in grades 1-7: 

We will finish our program by 10 so you can also attend the 10am awards ceremony in the church.

Montessori Classroom News April 18, 2018

A special activity we introduced this week was planting seeds. Everyone helped with different parts of the process

With a small wooden tool, the older children can make little pots out of newspaper strips

Ready for planting!

Demonstration of how to fill newspaper pots with potting soil

Filling the pots

Adding a seed to each pot

Watering

Cleaning up the spilled soil at the end of the morning

The Sound Game 

(“I Spy”) 

To become effective readers and writers, children need a strong awareness of the sounds that make up words. We play this game often in the classroom, with 4 levels to match to each child’s developmental stage. More practice at home is helpful, as long as it feels fun and playful for your child – the key is that they feel successful.

In the classroom we have a special box of objects
we use for the "I Spy" game

Level 1: You say the beginning sound of an object and the child identifies the object. 

Start simple! (“I spy something you’re holding that starts with ‘fff’” when a fork is the only thing in their hand) and gradually make it more challenging (”I spy something on your face that starts with ‘nnn’” )

Other variations to try at home:

1) Sound out the names of objects around your house and in your daily life with your child.

2) Sound out the name of an object without saying the whole word and have your child blend it back together to find what the object is (e.g. “ch-ee-z” or “sh-ir-t”)

Important Dates 

(some changes to the school calendar)

Friday, April 20^th– Half Day (12pm dismissal, no aftercare)

Wed. May 23^rd– 12pm dismissal

Parent-Teacher Conferences 1:30-6pm

Friday, June 15^th

Montessori end-of-year program – 9am

Join us in the classroom for refreshments, a slideshow, and some of our favorite songs & poems from the year. 

This is our last day – no school for Montessori students June 18-20th

Last call for Pennies for Peace

Send in any coins you have collected by Friday!

Montessori Classroom News Feb. 14, 2018

Ash Wednesday & Lent

Ash Wednesday (today) is the first day of Lent, the 40-day season of the church calendar preparing for Easter. There are 3 practices that are part of observing Lent: prayer, fasting, and generosity. In our classroom, we will sing a simple prayer song each day:

Breathe on me, breath of God

Fill me with life anew

That I may love as you have loved,

And do what you would do

We will hear several stories of Jesus and what he teaches us to do, and have a few small service projects as a class.

Enrollment for next year

Do you know families with 3 year olds who might be interested in enrolling next year? Please let them know to apply by Friday (2/16) for priority consideration! (Apply online at MontessoriSprouts.com)

Black History Month – Rosa Parks

Last week we read a story about Rosa Parks, who had the courage to break a rule that wasn’t fair. We talked about how God loves all people the same and wants all people treated with love and respect.

Notes & Reminders

 

Thurs. Feb. 15 – Valentine’s Celebration

Your child may bring in Valentine cards for their classmates. This is optional! If you choose to give cards, please have enough for every child (16 students). Each child will decorate a bag to be their “mailbox” for receiving Valentines. We will provide a special snack and do some group activities.

 

Sorting wood, foam, and plastic hearts

Mixing red and white paints at the easel

Each child decorated their own 'mailbox'  to receive Valentines from their classmates

Many children helped to make a special snack. Several took turns using the mechanical whisk to make whipped cream.

Others worked on washing, hulling, and slicing strawberries

Finally ready, with a little sprinkle of cocoa powder on top (after everyone had a chance to smell it!)

Friday, Feb. 16 – Love & Justice Prayer Service at 10am, led by 3^rd & 6^th grades. Parents welcome!

Friday, Feb. 16 – Half day (12pm dismissal for everyone)

Monday. Feb. 19 – President’s Day – NO SCHOOL

Montessori Classroom News Feb. 8, 2018

Before we read the book, "Shades of People," we all put our hands into the center of the rug to admire all the beautiful shades in our classroom

Black History Month

Through the whole school year, our goal is that the beautiful diversity of our classroom family and world is represented in our classroom materials, books, and curriculum. We talk about how we all have ancestors (people in our families who lived a long time ago) from different parts of the world. We all live in North America, but we have ancestors who lived in different continents. Black History Month is when we give special attention to the stories of people whose ancestors came from Africa. Through stories and songs, we celebrate Black history & culture.

Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday (Feb. 14 this year) is the first day of Lent, the 40-day season of the church calendar preparing for Easter. On Ash Wednesday, a custom for Christians around the world is to receive a cross of ashes on the forehead as a way of publically acknowledging that we have made mistakes. Our class will go to Sacred Heart Church to receive ashes. Beforehand, we talk about how all people – children and adults – make mistakes. When we make mistakes (such as hurting a friend or damaging something) we can say we’re sorry and try to change what we do the next time.

Notes & Reminders

Wed. Feb. 14 – Ash Wednesday

 

Thurs. Feb. 15 – Valentine’s Celebration

Your child may bring in Valentine cards for their classmates. This is optional! If you choose to give cards, please have enough for every child (16 students). Each child will decorate a bag to be their “mailbox” for receiving Valentines. We will provide a special snack and do some group activities.

Friday, Feb. 16 – Love & Justice Prayer Service at 10am, led by 3^rd & 6^th grades. Parents welcome!

Friday, Feb. 16 – Half day (12pm dismissal for everyone)

Monday. Feb. 19 – President’s Day – NO SCHOOL