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Mrs. Sargeant: Let’s do it again! .. and again!

Posted on by Christine Sargeant

Maria Montessori emphasized the importance of repetition in a child’s learning process. Repetition is a natural and essential part of the learning journey for children. It is through repetition that children internalize concepts and skills, building a strong foundation for future learning.

Montessori observed that young children have a natural inclination to repeat activities that interest them. She saw this repetition as a way for children to master new skills, gain confidence, and refine their understanding of the world around them. Each time a child repeats a skill, brain connections are being strengthened. Skills can only be perfected through repeated practice. Our classroom environments are set up to allow for repetition, providing children with the opportunity to revisit activities and materials at their own pace. Repetition refines the senses, encourages focus, fosters independence, and develops confidence. In addition, when a child repeats an activity, they learn how to fix errors and will make small changes in their task to get closer to success each time. 

A few tidbits about our week:

We tasted a rainbow of carrots – orange, white, and purple! I wonder which color your child liked best.

We found shadows in the classroom and on the playground. Some of the children played in the snow and discovered ice in the buckets. We’ve learned a few Spanish songs and some new words. It was another fun, productive week! We look forward to seeing everyone again on Tuesday. Warmly, Christine & Lizette

Mrs. Sargeant: Happy New Year!

Posted on by Christine Sargeant

Happy New Year! We were all thrilled to see each other again,  relishing the return to school after a rejuvenating break spent with our families during the holiday celebrations at home. 

The children seamlessly re-acclimated to their routines, displaying a keen enthusiasm for their independence. Alongside honing their fine and gross motor skills, they eagerly engaged in learning activities encompassing colors, shapes, counting, the concept of opposites, and the Spanish language.

We spent the week revisiting their favorite songs and books, as they’d make requests for their favorites each day.

Ms. Lizette brought one of her favorite snacks to share with the class – dried seaweed! The children were eager to taste it. The majority could not get enough of the salty, thin, green, crunchy snack. Food tasting is a fun way to encourage the children to try new foods, in addition to enriching their vocabulary.  

We sincerely hope you enjoy the weekend. Stay warm and healthy! -Christine & Lizette

Mrs. Hood: Welcome Back and Welcome Winter!

Posted on by Andrea Hood

Happy New Year, families! We trust you had a fantastic holiday break filled with relaxation and cherished moments with your loved ones. It’s been a joy to welcome your children back after the break. They’ve transitioned seamlessly and arrived full of enthusiasm, ready to explore the environment and the new activities awaiting them on our shelves.

With the arrival of winter, our focus is turning to the great outdoors. We’re excited to immerse ourselves in the unique experiences this season offers. The crisp winter air has started to transform our surroundings into a wonderland, and we’re eager to embrace it fully as the snow arrives! This month, we’ll be delving into the fascinating topic of water and its various forms, offering plenty of opportunities for hands-on learning and sensory exploration.

This week, we’ve been busy learning about the signs of winter and expanding our vocabulary with engaging materials and books. It’s been wonderful to see how the children have embraced these new concepts with such enthusiasm.

In other exciting news, we’ve introduced a beloved new addition to our classroom: a baby doll named Rosie. This has been a popular activity, allowing the children to practice grace, courtesy, and patience as they care for their new friend. It’s heartwarming to witness their tender interactions with Rosie as they read, sing, and cuddle her. Their nurturing instincts have truly shone through, and they’ve worked together to ensure Rosie feels loved and cared for.

In Practical Life, we introduced a lesson on how to clean a dry spill on a tabletop. As the children get more practice with this work, the crumber will be added as a tool for our snack and lunch procedures.

In the art area, the children were introduced to a new skill: using scissors. This activity requires a lot of concentration and dexterity, but your children seem to enjoy challenging themselves, and the pride they feel when they are successful and able to cut the card stock strips is obvious.

As a food-tasting lesson, we explored kale this week. Despite initial reservations, the children were pleasantly surprised to discover how much they enjoyed kale chips! If you’re interested in trying this at home, please feel free to reach out for the recipe.

Our favorite books this week have included The Itsy Bitsy Snowman by Jeffrey Burton, Winter is Here by Kevin Henkes, and What Can You See in Winter by Sian Smith.

Reminder:  Please provide a labeled tote bag with your child’s name and ensure that all winter gear, including snow pants, a winter jacket, snow mittens with clips, and a hat, are labeled and placed inside the bag.

We hope you stay safe and enjoy the first snowstorm of the season!

Warm regards,

Mrs. Hood and Ms. Mollie

January Family Connection Newsletter

Posted on by Karen Sankey

“Anyone who wants to follow my method must understand that he should not honor me, but follow the child as his leader.”
-Maria Montessori

I began my teaching career working at a public school where the focus was on the teacher leading. The belief was that children were empty vessels that needed to be filled with knowledge. When I transitioned to teaching at a Montessori school, it was an adjustment because the approach was different. In a Montessori classroom, the teacher’s role is to let the child lead. We observe and guide each child based on their individual needs. We act as a bridge between the child and the classroom environment, which is carefully designed to support their development. In this month’s Family Connection newsletter, you can read more about this concept of following the child in a Montessori classroom. I hope you find it informative.

This Week in Upper El

Posted on by Karen Sankey

We had a great and busy week after our winter break. We have a new member in our classroom until the end of next week, Miss Alyssa, a college student studying to become an elementary teacher. She is observing my lessons and working with students during our work cycle. The children welcomed her and enjoyed the extra attention.

We had productive daily group and individual lessons this week. The fourth graders learned about proving equivalence between a trapezoid and a rectangle in geometry. The fifth graders learned how to find the area of a parallelogram.

In biology, we focused on the vital function of circulation and learned that there are two types of circulatory systems: open and closed. We compared the open circulatory system to a fountain and the closed system to a radiator. During their independent follow-up work, students will learn which animals have an open or closed system.

This week, the fourth graders learned about common and proper nouns in grammar work. The fifth graders started their lessons on adjectives, focusing on descriptive, article, and numeral adjectives.

In Literature Circle, students are finishing their book and are excited to start their next book, The Wild Robot Escapes, next week.

In anticipation of snow on the ground when we return to school next week, students will need snow boots, snow pants, winter jackets, hats, and gloves or mittens to enjoy recess in the snow. We go out to play when the temperature is 20 degrees or above, and we love to play in the snow!

Mrs. Wilson: Winter Wonders!

Posted on by Cynthia Wilson

Happy New Year! As we enter into the fresh new year, we’re embracing the winter vibes. This month, our little ones will dive into exciting activities to expand their vocabulary on Arctic animals, winter weather, clothing, and sports.

Our revamped movement area introduces a new thrill with activities like navigating a stabilized bike. Some kids have already taken a spin, while those unable to reach the pedals are eager for a turn to sit. Those reaching the pedals are developing the art of making them move. In addition to the bike, there’s a designated space for tossing “snowballs” into a penguin basket.

The art shelf offers creative outlets with snowflake stamp painting and putty for building snowmen. Throughout the month, we’ll be enhancing the art shelf to fuel the children’s growing interest in artistic expression.

In the language area, engaging activities include arctic animal object-to-photo matching, winter weather clothing photo-to-photo matching, and winter sports photo-to-photo matching.

Food Tasting: This week, we tasted hearts of palm. A fun fact: Did you know that the hearts of palms are harvested from the inner core of palm trees? These were a fun vegetable to taste. If you haven’t tried them yourself, give it a go. They make a great alternative to rice and pasta. 

Lower Elementary: The Montessori Classroom

Posted on by Ashley O'Connell

A Montessori classroom is a sanctuary dedicated to the well-being and development of children. Our primary focus, as adults within this space, is on what serves the best interests of the children. Consequently, we approach them with the utmost respect, safeguarding their right to concentrate on their work without disruptions from peers, entering adults, or even ourselves.

Maria Montessori’s wisdom guides our approach: “To assist a child, we must provide him with an environment that will enable him to develop freely.” In alignment with this philosophy, we recognize that children, as leaders in this environment, should not be hindered by unnecessary distractions from adults. Each child in the Montessori classroom is on a journey toward independence, and our role is to facilitate this process.

Success in fostering independence hinges on empowering the children to solve their own problems, establishing a consistent and predictable routine, and creating opportunities for independent work. Within our Montessori community, we prioritize the growth of independence in every child. Our goal is to cultivate an environment where they feel both comfortable and confident, trusting that adults will respect their surroundings. This commitment fosters independence, contributing to the children’s development and shaping their character as they progress.

Wishing you a joyous New Year filled with laughter, love, and exciting adventures!

Mrs. Doyle: A Normalized Classroom

Posted on by Michelle Handibode

“Social grace, inner discipline, and joy. These are the birthright of the human being who has been allowed to develop essential human qualities.”  —Maria Montessori

Normalization is a buzzword often used by Montessori teachers everywhere. So, what exactly does it mean, and more importantly, how do we achieve it? When children in a Montessori environment demonstrate deep concentration, self-discipline, social skills, and a true love of work, we describe this as a normalized classroom. Normalization is achieved by consistent and clear ground rules that everyone is familiar with. It is our job to ensure the environment is always well-prepared and designed to meet the needs of the children. As Montessori teachers, we are confident that if we do our job well and the children are free to experience the opportunities provided by the environment and Montessori materials, they will thrive.

After the winter break and upon our return in January, we often see noticeable growth in the children’s social and emotional development. They come back eager to learn and raring to go! In the first half of the year, they have become comfortable and confident with our classroom routines and expectations. They have developed deeper relationships with their peers and teachers. It is always an exciting time and sets the groundwork for the second half of the school year.

Wishing everyone a 2024 filled with much peace and love.

Michelle & Maria