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Ms. Handibode: Math Carnival Magic and Matter Explorations

Posted on by Michelle Handibode

What a wonderful week of discovery and excitement! We ventured to the Middle School Math Carnival and dove deeper into our science explorations.

The Math Carnival was an absolute highlight. The Middle School students created engaging games based on mathematical concepts, and our children were thrilled to participate. One excited student declared it “the best day ever!” This experience gave our Primary students a glimpse into their future at Fraser Woods—seeing the mathematical thinking and creativity they’ll develop as they continue their Montessori journey through Elementary and Middle School. Watching our younger learners engage with the work of older students reinforced the beauty of our school’s continuum and the rich learning opportunities that await them.

Back in the classroom, we launched our science unit on states of matter. Matter is everywhere—everything we can touch, taste, smell, and see is made of matter. We learned that solids have a definite shape because their molecules are tightly packed and barely move. Liquids take the shape of their container because their molecules move around more freely. Gases spread out to fill any space because their molecules are far apart and move constantly.

Our experiments brought these concepts to life in spectacular ways. In the “dancing raisins” experiment, we watched raisins bob up and down in carbonated water as gas bubbles attached to them and carried them on a buoyant dance. We also inflated a balloon using a chemical reaction—mixing vinegar and baking soda in a bottle created carbon dioxide gas that filled the balloon without us even blowing into it!

Now we’re eagerly watching the weather forecast, hoping for snow. Our plan is to build a snowman, bring him inside, and observe as he transforms from a solid to a liquid and eventually evaporates into a gas. The children can hardly wait for this real-world demonstration of state changes.

Extending Learning at Home

Ask your child to show you how molecules move in each state of matter—they’ll love demonstrating their “solid,” “liquid,” and “gas” movements! You can also explore states of matter in your kitchen by observing ice cubes melting (solid to liquid) or watching steam rise from hot soup (liquid to gas).

UPCOMING EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

This Week
  • Monday, January 19
    No School, Martin Luther King Jr. Day
  • Tuesday, January 20
    Sharing Box and Flowers—Jaxxon S.

 

Mrs. Sargeant: Settling Into New Routines and Frozen Discoveries

Posted on by Christine Sargeant

Our classroom continued to bloom with independence and curiosity last week as the children settled into their beautiful new lockers and explored fascinating new materials.

The children are adjusting wonderfully to their new lockers, taking pride in organizing their belongings and developing important self-care skills. We’re watching them grow more confident each day as they independently hang their coats, store their shoes, and manage their personal items. This growing independence is central to the Montessori philosophy of helping children become capable and self-reliant.

New materials appeared on our shelves this week, sparking curiosity and engagement. A flashlight with batteries invited the children to practice fine motor skills as they carefully assembled and disassembled it, learning how simple tools work. A matching game featuring flags from around the world opened conversations about different countries and cultures, expanding the children’s global awareness.

Our science explorations continued as we prepared for upcoming experiments with solids, liquids, and gases. The most popular work this week was our sensory bin filled with arctic animals and different types of penguins frozen inside ice. The children used pipettes to drip warm water onto the ice, carefully observing how much water it took to free each animal. The concentration on their faces as they worked to melt the ice and “rescue” the penguins was a beautiful example of purposeful, engaged learning.

Flower arranging made a delightful comeback in our classroom. By simply changing its location and adding a new dish to hold the vases, we reignited the children’s interest in this practical life work. They practiced careful cutting, arranging, and caring for living things—all while creating beauty in our shared space.

Our Kindergarten students embarked on a new writing project, creating “How-to” books. They’re learning to break down everyday tasks into clear, sequential steps—an important skill that combines literacy with logical thinking.

Extending Learning at Home

Support your child’s growing independence by creating a designated spot at home for their belongings. Have them practice hanging their own coat and placing shoes, hats, and backpacks in consistent locations. Involving children in these daily routines builds responsibility and self-confidence. You can also explore states of matter together—freeze small toys in ice cube trays or containers, then let your child work to melt the ice using warm water, just like our penguin rescue activity!

UPCOMING EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

This Week
  • Monday, January 19
    No School, Martin Luther King Jr. Day
  • Tuesday, January 20
    Remy’s Birthday Celebration

Middle School: Highlight on Math Carnival

Posted on by Michelle Lamb

Announcements:

  • MS ARRIVAL BEGINS AT 8am: As teachers enter the building and prepare for the day, supervision will begin at 8am. Please stay with your child/children until this time. Thank you for your help!
  • Monday, 1/26-Friday, 1/30: Immersion Week
  • Friday, 1/30 @ 7 pm: Middle School Play (call time and other details to come)
  • Check with your MS student(s) to make sure they have their refillable water bottle with them.
  • Please check for appropriate winter attire for the outdoors. Most students will go outside with their younger peers during Community Service each week.
  • MS Flower Schedule

This week, Middle School math students hosted the 7th Annual Math Carnival, and it was such an impressive event!

Throughout last week, students worked hard on their probability projects. They designed their own games, created rules, built the materials, and calculated the theoretical probability for each game.

The gym was filled with student-run games, lots of laughter, and steady lines of younger students and families excited to play. Middle schoolers did an amazing job explaining their games, running the stations, handing out tickets, and helping younger students feel welcome. It was really special to watch them step into leadership roles and feel proud of what they created.

A major focus of this project was probability. Now that the carnival has taken place, students have real data from people playing their games. This week, they’ll use that data to calculate experimental probability and compare it to the theoretical probability they predicted earlier in the project. It’s a great example of math coming to life in a real and meaningful way.

Growing Our Grammar Work in Lower El

Posted on by Ashley O'Connell

Our language work has been especially exciting lately as students across the classroom continue to deepen their understanding of grammar in very hands-on, Montessori ways.

The third graders have officially begun their work with pronouns, and the introduction was both memorable and a little silly in the best way. The lesson was told without using any pronouns at all, relying only on children’s names. As the story unfolded, the children quickly noticed how awkward and repetitive our language sounded without words like he, she, they, and it. This intentional approach helped them truly feel the importance of pronouns, rather than simply memorizing a definition. After this introduction, students followed up with work using the Montessori Grammar Box, allowing them to identify, build, and manipulate sentences that include pronouns. This concrete practice helps solidify an abstract concept and gives students ownership over their learning.

At the same time, third graders are expanding their understanding of language through sentence analysis, with a special focus on adverbial extensions. Rather than looking at sentences word by word, students are learning to view sentences as complete thoughts—examining how details like how, when, where, and why enrich meaning. This big-picture approach supports more advanced writing and reading comprehension as students begin to see how language works together as a system.

Second graders have launched a new study of prepositions, beautifully represented in Montessori grammar as a green bridge. The bridge symbol helps children visualize how a preposition connects a noun to the rest of the sentence—just as a real bridge connects two places. Whether something is under the table or between the chairs, students are learning how these small but powerful words show relationships in space and time.

To reinforce this work, second graders are also using the Grammar Box as follow-up practice. This allows them to review all previously learned parts of speech while adding prepositions into their sentence-building work. In addition, they enjoyed using the command cards, which are movement-based cards that invite children to act out directions such as moving under, between, or around objects in the classroom. This physical experience helps students internalize the meaning of prepositions before naming or symbolizing them, making the lesson both engaging and memorable.

Our first-year students continue their important foundational work with singular and plural nouns. This is much more than simply adding an -s! Children are exploring the many rules that come with nouns, learning that some plurals change spelling entirely, some stay the same, and others follow unique patterns. Through hands-on materials and repeated practice, students are developing a strong understanding of how language can change depending on the number and meaning.

In addition to their grammar work, our first graders have been working diligently in their weekly reading groups, focusing on reading fluency, comprehension, and phonemic awareness. Through consistent repetition, guided practice, and intentional small-group instruction, students are strengthening their confidence as readers. Each child is progressing at their own pace, and it has been wonderful to see them make independent strides, whether that’s reading more smoothly, understanding texts more deeply, or recognizing sounds and patterns with greater ease. This steady, focused work lays an essential foundation for lifelong reading success.

Mrs. Wilson: Celebrations

Posted on by Cynthia Wilson

This week, the children surprised me with the sweetest half-birthday celebration. I received such thoughtful cards and beautiful flowers. Thank you all so very much! We also celebrated another friend’s second birthday, so there was a lot to celebrate in our classroom.

We are also celebrating the arrival of our new cubbies! Each child now has their own space to hang coats and backpacks, along with a designated spot for indoor shoes. The children adapted very well to this change and quickly learned the new location for their belongings.

The area where the cubbies were previously located has now been transformed into our library and quiet space. We added family photos and worked to make it feel cozy and welcoming. We are very excited about these new changes and how they support our classroom community.

This week, the children also had the opportunity to taste clementines, which we used as a great food-prep exercise. After exploring the clementines together and watching me demonstrate how to peel them, each child received their own to practice peeling before enjoying their snack.

Love and Light,

Cynthia and Sara

Ms. Mollie: Listening, Observation and being Present.

Posted on by Mollie Smith

This week in our toddler community was a gentle one. While there may not be many photos to share, there were countless meaningful moments spent fully present with the children.

We noticed early on that the children were seeking more movement and fresh air, so we listened. By heading outside earlier in the day, we gave everyone the opportunity to ground, center, and reset. The cool air, open space, and natural rhythm of being outdoors helped regulate bodies and emotions, allowing the children to return inside feeling calmer and more connected.

Our days were guided by careful observation, watching how the children moved, how they communicated their needs, and how they responded to small adjustments in our routine. In Montessori, we follow the child, and this week was a beautiful reminder of how important it is to remain flexible and responsive.

These quiet days, filled with presence rather than documentation, are often the most meaningful. We are grateful for the time spent listening, observing, and supporting each child exactly where they are.

With Full Hearts,

Ms. Mollie and Ms. Lizette

This Week in Upper El

Posted on by Karen Sankey

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.” -Martin Luther King, Jr., Letter from Birmingham, Alabama jail, April 16, 1963

We had a fantastic week in Upper El! Our first order of business was introducing our new guinea pig, Porky, to Teddy. We gave them some time out of their cages to get acquainted. We discovered that Porky needs to learn some manners, so we are giving Teddy some time to teach him while we assist a little. Next week, we will continue to let the two spend short periods of time together.

On Tuesday, we attended the Middle School Math Carnival. We had a blast playing the games created by our sixth through eighth graders, winning tickets, and enjoying some delicious treats. Our fifth graders are very excited to participate in this annual carnival next year!

On Thursday, we made 120 sandwiches for the St. Vincent DePaul Mission in Waterbury. We are becoming quite efficient at Cafe Upper El, completing the sandwich-making and cleanup in just half an hour. Thank you very much for all the food donations, and a special thanks to Nick, Leslie, and Nora for volunteering their time.

We are making great progress on our autobiographies, incorporating our writing lessons into our work. Students are enjoying taking a stroll down memory lane as they write chapters about their younger years and learn so much about their families!

Mrs. Sargeant: Exploring States of Matter

Posted on by Christine Sargeant

Welcome Back to Winter Wonder

It was wonderful to welcome the children back this week and hear about their winter breaks—the books they read, the movies they saw, and the special time they enjoyed with their families. The children brought back stories and experiences that enriched our classroom conversations and helped us reconnect as a community.

The snowy weather provided perfect opportunities for outdoor exploration. The children had tremendous fun playing in the snow this week, and we could see the pure joy on their faces as they experienced the winter landscape firsthand. These outdoor experiences naturally led us into our new study of solids, liquids, and gases. We began discussing the differences between these states of matter, and the children were fascinated to observe how the same substance—water—can exist in different forms depending on temperature.

Our practical life and art areas were hubs of purposeful activity this week. The pouring work, where children carefully transfer liquid from one vessel into three separate containers using a funnel, attracted sustained concentration. This work refines hand-eye coordination while building the control and precision needed for many daily tasks. In the art area, children created beautiful snowflakes using Q-tips as painting tools, exploring color mixing and pattern-making while celebrating the winter season around us.

The bagel spreading work has been particularly popular. Children practice the real-life skill of spreading cream cheese on bagels, developing their fine motor control and independence. Watching them carefully hold the bagel steady while using just the right amount of pressure with the spreading knife demonstrates the growing coordination that comes from repeated, purposeful practice.

January is proving to be a busy birthday month in our classroom—we have five birthdays to celebrate! This week, we gathered for our first Montessori birthday walk of the month to honor Ellis turning four years old. The children loved seeing the candle representing the sun as Ellis walked around it four times, once for each year of life. These celebrations help children understand the passage of time and their place in the world while building our classroom community.

UPCOMING EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

If you have not sent spare clothes to school recently, please send a full outfit to keep in your child’s locker. With all the outdoor play and hands-on work, having a fresh change of clothes available gives children the confidence to fully engage in their activities.

This Week
Wednesday, January 14: Birthday Walk for Hayes
Friday, January 16: All School Early Dismissal. Primary pick-up at 11:30 a.m.

Next Week
Monday, January 19: No School, MLK Jr. Day
Tuesday, January 20: Birthday Walk for Remy