Blog

December Family Connection Newsletter

Posted on by Karen Sankey

Children who are free to learn and explore at their own pace and on activities of their choosing for uninterrupted periods demonstrate remarkable self-discipline and concentration, a love for work and order, and a desire to work in solitude and with their peers. Montessori educators refer to this process as “normalization,” and it is the centerpiece of this month’s Family Connection newsletter. The newsletter discusses the role of teachers and the prepared environment in facilitating this process.

This month’s newsletter also highlights the concept of global citizenship, which is central to Montessori education. Montessori educators strive to foster respect and tolerance for others in their students, encouraging them to make choices that contribute to a better world. You can read this month’s newsletter from the American Montessori Society here.

This Week in Upper El

Posted on by Karen Sankey

 

“The hand is the instrument of intelligence. The child needs to manipulate objects and to gain experience by touching and handling.” -Maria Montessori.

Throughout their elementary years, Montessori students become proficient in math procedures and gain a deeper understanding of math concepts by starting their work concretely, using purposefully designed materials, before advancing to abstract concepts. The individualized work in the Montessori math curriculum prepares students for the challenges of later school years while promoting joy in learning and a willingness to take on complex problems. Upper El students have been enthusiastically participating in math lessons and progressing to new concepts in their individualized work this week. Collectively, many different math concepts are being learned in our class at any given time. Currently, our range of focus is:

  • Adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing fractions with unlike denominators abstractly
  • Reducing fractions and converting improper fractions to mixed numbers
  • Adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing decimal numbers with materials and abstractly
  • Finding the lowest common multiple of two or three numbers with and without materials
  • Researching factors of a number to prepare for learning to find the greatest common factor with materials
  • Using materials and factor trees to find the prime factors of numbers and finding the LCM and GCF
  • Learning and applying divisibility rules

Children can work independently or collaboratively on their assignments. Discussing mathematical reasoning with peers helps students to solidify their understanding of processes and solutions, leading to mastery of concepts.

To those who celebrate, Happy Hanukkah! We wish you prosperity, love, and laughter.

Have a marvelous weekend,
Karen and Krystin

Middle School: Chef Showdown!

Posted on by Michelle Lamb

Click here to view more photos from the show!

What a week! Chef Showdown! was a huge success. Students certainly put in the work, supporting each other every step of the way. It is amazing how much progress has been made in eight school days.

An incredible benefit of the immersion experience is that the students can see each other in a totally different light. There are talents revealed, as well as opportunities to step outside of comfort zones. All form new connections and reinforce those already existing between the MS students.

Thank you for coming and supporting our original Middle School production. Seeing the words that students write come to life on stage is always a highlight. All of their hard work with memorizing lines, remembering their blocking, creating the set pieces, and changing the set during the play all culminated in two successful performances. Additionally, it is a joy to listen to the students talk about the process of writing and executing the play in the question-and-answer segment following the show. The students saw every piece of what it takes to put on a show, including setting up and breaking the set.

Congratulations! Time for some R&R this weekend!

Ms. Marissa: Sewing Circles and Spritzers!

Posted on by Marissa Frisk

This past week we tried to have as many calm moments as possible with all the excitement happening next week! We really dug into our Montessori roots by creating new activities in the classroom that have extra points of interest and call for concentration from the children.

We have three new sewing works out in Practical Life. We have had many “sewing circles” this week around our large community tables. Even our youngest students have joined in on the fun! We have learned how to embroider, sew a button onto fabric, and make button-closed bracelets. All these activities include cutting, threading needles, and tying knots! Although many children will not master all of these skills, we create as many opportunities for everyone to complete at least part of the work. You may start getting many button bracelets at home this week!

We also enjoyed “apple juice spritzers” as our Food Preparation this week. If you ever want to get a child to focus on their work, include making their own snack as part of it! Our Food Prep table was ALWAYS busy, and the children really enjoyed mixing apple juice and seltzer water for a nice refreshing drink.

We also starting one of three books focusing on “social thinking” or social/emotional learning. This week’s book is titled “Thoughts and Feelings,” where we learned that we all have brains (our thought makers) that are connected to our hearts (our feelings keepers). We learned that the thoughts inside of our brains affect the feelings inside of our hearts. This helps children realize how their actions can affect others.

Next week we have such a fun-filled and busy week with Christmas reading and crafts, Hanukkah reading and crafts, our bi-weekly parent reader, our holiday concert, and a birthday celebration!

Have a wonderful weekend,

Marissa & Sue

Mrs. Hood: Holiday Joy!

Posted on by Andrea Hood

 

Winter holidays are used in our environment as a fun way to keep children engaged, encourage the joy of learning, and help us to introduce the passage of time and seasons. Since they bring a sense of light and joyfulness to the long, dark winter months and create a sense of community, we welcome them wholeheartedly.

In addition to other new materials, some of the favorite holiday works in our environment have been placing little ornaments onto the Christmas tree, placing candles on the Menorah, spooning and transferring jingle bells and colorful ornaments, and flipping pretend latkes in the pan.  Furthermore, the little ones have been diligently working on a special holiday gift that promises to be a cherished keepsake

Holiday songs have also been present in our environment, and children have had some fun times playing instruments and dancing to famous holiday songs.

This week, we also introduced sweet potato for our weekly food-tasting lesson, and despite initial reservations, it was so great to witness each child giving it a try.

Moreover, our toddlers actively supported our middle school students in their creative endeavor—the production of a captivating play called “Chef Showdown.” It warms our hearts to witness the connection between the different age groups and our toddlers expressing excitement upon encountering the middle school students who generously share their time and creativity with us weekly. 

Looking ahead, we can’t wait for the upcoming holiday pajama celebration on Wednesday, December 13th. We invite you to send your child in their coziest pajamas as we come together to celebrate the joy of the season.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude for your ongoing support in making these events memorable for our students.

Wishing you and your family a weekend filled with joy and laughter.

Warm regards,

Mrs. Hood and Ms. Mollie

Mrs. Sargeant: A Peek at the Week

Posted on by Christine Sargeant

As you can see in the photos each week, the children spend a lot of time working with the Practical Life materials. These materials strengthen the coordination of small muscle movements, particularly in the fingers and hands. Developing fine motor skills in toddlers lays the groundwork for various essential skills they’ll need later in life. From writing and drawing to self-care tasks like buttoning clothes or tying shoelaces, these skills form the basis for many everyday activities.

Fine motor activities require precise coordination between the eyes and hands. As toddlers engage in activities like pouring water or threading beads, they refine their hand-eye coordination, which is fundamental for tasks such as reading and writing.

Strengthening fine motor skills empowers toddlers to become more independent in daily activities. Everyday tasks like feeding themselves, brushing their teeth, or getting dressed become achievable, boosting their confidence and fostering a sense of autonomy.

This week, we were invited to attend the Middle School’s production of Chef Showdown! The play was written, produced, and constructed by the 6-8th grade students. Our class was excited to walk down to the gym to be a part of the audience. 

Food tasting: We tried baby kale three ways. First, we each munched on a raw leaf. The next day, we tried homemade kale chips, seasoned with olive oil and salt (many thanks to Ivy’s family!) By week’s end,  some of the children opted to try the raw kale again, this time with a vinaigrette dip.

Wishing a Happy Hanukkah to those who celebrate! May the festival of lights fill your hearts and homes with happiness, hope, and peace. 

Warmly,

Christine & Lizette

 

Lower Elementary’s Week

Posted on by Ashley O'Connell

The Lower Elementary had a busy week completing their work. The highlight of the week was attending the middle school play, “Chef Showdown.” Their support for one another truly embodies our school’s wonderful sense of community. After the play, they engaged with the middle school students for a Q & A session, asking insightful questions about the production and eagerly listening to the creative process behind it. One Lower Elementary student shared with the middle school, “You inspired Lower EL!”

In preparation for the upcoming holiday concert on December 14th, the students had a full school dress rehearsal on Thursday. Their hard work and dedication are evident, and we hope to see everyone there to support them!

The children have been working diligently preparing for our upcoming Publishing Party next Wednesday, the 13th. We hope to see all of you there!

Mrs. Wilson: It’s The Holiday Season

Posted on by Cynthia Wilson

In the bustling month of December, our classroom is abuzz with activity. We started the month off with a birthday celebration. Amidst the joyous chaos, we dive into diverse holiday celebrations, including Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanza. From adorning trees to illuminating the room with wooden menorahs and unleashing creativity through Kwanzaa scratch art, the children immerse themselves in the spirit of each festivity. Amid these festive endeavors, a delightful surprise is in the works – a special gift crafted with love by the children, eager to share their holiday joy with you.

Food Tasting: The kids sampled raw kale, taking a couple of bites of this leafy green. While it didn’t win the popularity vote, it’s commendable that they tried it.