Blog

Mrs. Lopes: Our Human Body

Posted on by Amanda Lopes

Do you remember wondering as a child how things worked in your body? Where does our food go? Why do we blink or sneeze? How do we get the hiccups? The human body is truly a mystery to the child’s mind and having an in-depth human anatomy lesson is a great way to explore these topics. Using Montessori materials is a wonderful tool for reinforcing the learning and expanding on a normally very difficult subject for children to grasp. Providing lessons like these to children is what sows the seeds for future scientists, doctors, and teachers!

This week your children were introduced to the wonders of our human body. We first introduced and named the parts of our body we can see from the outside. We then began to discuss how there are many parts of our body we cannot see from the outside. Your children were introduced to several of the major organs in our body and their purpose. The children enjoyed exploring and engaging in all the human body works on the shelf.  We have also started our unit on nutrition and the food groups.

On Wednesday, December 1, we celebrated Hanukkah in our classroom.  The children listened to the book Hanukkah Haiku and then shared a snack of latkes, applesauce, sour cream, and apple cider.  Thank you to all the parents who volunteered to contribute to this fun activity, the children really enjoyed it!

Lots of love and peace,

Amanda and Heather

Mrs. Wilson: ‘Tis the Season

Posted on by Cynthia Wilson

The last two weeks began the holiday season. With that comes many wonderful activities that bring joy laughter, and new skills to our environment. Our way of celebrating Thanksgiving is to bake bread. The children patiently waited for their turn to add the ingredients into the bread pan. The children were able to peek inside the bread machine’s window to observe the process of the ingredients mixing, kneading, rising, and then baking. The room was filled with the delightful smell of warm, fresh bread. During that time we all took part in turning heavy cream into butter. That sure was worth all the hard work of shaking the jar. The creamy butter was delicious on top of the bread, which we all sat together and enjoyed the very next day!

This week we started incorporating the next holiday, Hanukkah. We read the book My First Menorah by Salina Yoon. As we went through each of the eight days we added another candle to our classroom’s Menorah. The children used Hanukkah gelt to post inside a container decorated in the colors blue and silver, spooning blue, clear, and silver gems into bowls, and practicing using a dreidle. Each of these materials not only represents Hanukkah but also refines their hand development.

Food Tasting this week was Pomegranate Seeds. They especially enjoyed watching how I used a wooden spoon to wack the seeds out into a bowl. This is a great fruit to enjoy this time of the year as it is full of antioxidants. The pomegranate was a huge hit!

Mrs. Wilson

Middle School: Week in Review

Posted on by Michelle Lamb

What a great week in Middle School! We hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and time with your family and friends. Thank you to everyone who contributed to our bread baking last week. We had a lot of fun in the process, and the breads were delicious.

In keeping with the giving spirit, the 8th grade has adopted two Newtown families in need for the holidays. Their wishlists are posted in these Sign Up Geniuses. Thank you for taking time to help us help these families. Wrapped gifts from the SignUp can be sent in anytime by next Friday, 12/10.

Family #63

Family #9

Also, as it gets colder, we are asking parents to be sure that their Middle School child/children come to school with the appropriate outerwear for the weather, as we will continue going outside even as the temperatures drop. This includes a winter jacket, long pants, and gloves/hat (depending on the temperature). Thank you for helping the teachers with this.

Science

6th year Earth Science students are currently on the unit, Why Earthquakes Occur. Students were able to represent seismic waves by using slinkies throughout each class. Students were able to draw upon past knowledge of tectonic plates as it relates to the sudden release of pressure, resulting in earthquakes. The objectives for this unit are to describe how crustal deformation by plate tectonics causes earthquakes, model the crustal deformation of Earth that causes earthquakes, and explain how scientists study earthquakes and why studying earthquakes is important.

7th year Physical Science students are in the unit, Molecules. This week in class, students were able to represent their own molecule using manipulatives. Students artistically represented the difference between an atom/element, elemental molecule, and compound molecule. The objectives of this unit are to recognize that atoms and molecules are too small to be seen; identify examples of elements, compounds, molecules, and diatomic molecules; describe how the properties of a compound are different from the properties of the elements that form the compound; and, draw atomic diagrams of elements, compounds, and diatomic molecules.

8th year Life Science students are in the unit, Meiosis. Throughout this unit, students will be able to explain when meiosis occurs and in what organisms, describe how chromosomes change and move at each stage of meiosis, determine the number of chromosomes in the gametes of an organism given its parental chromosome number, and explain why meiosis allows diversity of characteristics in offspring, whereas mitosis does not.

Math
In Transition class, students are concluding their learning for Chapter 5, which involves patterns in addition and subtraction problems. This class is continuing to work on how to solve equations in the form x+a< b or x+a=b. This class can also successfully substitute values in a table and use the triangle inequality property to find missing side lengths.
In Algebra class, students began a new chapter this week and are excited to be learning about simplifying algebraic fractions. This class learned about using rates to solve real world problems and can now identify congruent negative fractions. This class will continue to work on converting rates with multiple units and practice setting up complete algebraic fractions from word problems.
In Geometry class, students are able to label congruent figures on any 2D shape and can apply the segment congruent theorem to simple two-column proof statements. Students are confident with using different isometries in order to change or alter a given shape in space. This class concluded the week with a short quiz that tested their learning from Lesson 5.1-5.4.
 
Math Joke: Why can you never trust math teachers who use graph paper?…….Because they’re always plotting something.
Humanities
6th grade Humanities students began their independent novels this week. Students selected a novel and will be reading them until winter break. They have reading goals every few days along with a written assignment that will prepare them for our reading discussion. The class will keep track of each other’s plots and ask questions of each other. 6th grade students also completed a unit of vocabulary this week.
In 7th grade Humanities class, students continued reading their class novel, A Gift From Childhood by Baba Wague Diakite. This memoir is about traditional Malian upbringing but also gives glimpses of French occupation and independence from France. We looked at the colonization of the continent of Africa from 1450-late 1900s by European countries and talked about how cultural influences are present in the countries from languages spoken to traditions and city names. The novel also focuses on storytelling as a mode of education, using proverbs and metaphors. The class has recorded all of these as they have been read, and they will be used for a later writing assignment. Finally, the 7th grade completed a unit of vocabulary.
8th grade students completed and presented their career presentations this week! Due to Covid, this project was created as a safe alternative to our usual five-day internship. Students chose a profession, completed research about it, interviewed a professional in the field, and were given the option of visiting a place of business for two days. The topics were Mental Skills Specialist, Chef and Restaurateur, D1 College Coach, Librarian, and College Athletic Administrator. With the diversity of professions, the presentations were interesting and reflected the students’ personal interests. It was great hearing their reflections of the interviews as well! The 8th grade also began their class novel, If I Ever Get Out of Here by Eric Gansworth and began a unit of vocabulary.
Have a beautiful weekend!

Thanksgiving Celebration

Posted on by Kaoutar Semmah

Thanksgiving is a holiday when we think about our values such as gratitude, charity, and community. We read a book about gratitude, and we ask children about things they are thankful for. It is so adorable and precious to hear their answers for the things that they are grateful for. Last Tuesday, we baked two banana breads, one for our classroom and the other one for sharing at our school. The children were so happy to measure some of the ingredients, crack the slimy eggs, and mashed the bananas. Each one of the children had a turn to mix the ingredients with a spatula.  On Wednesday, the children joined the big table to enjoy the snack that they made with lots of love and joy, appreciating their friendship and adoring the company of each other.

Wishing you a peaceful weekend.

Kaoutar and Sara

Cocinando con FWM

Posted on by lizettegeudes

This month the middle school students had the opportunity to test their cooking skills and Spanish vocabulary. Last month they had a chance to learn more about a few Spanish speaking countries: the culture, cuisine, history, geography, and their main attractions.

As part of the cooking assignment this month, students chose a meal from the country they learned about and made a cooking video all in Spanish. They were so proud of what they were able to accomplish and the amazing videos they made. This gave them a chance to practice not only their vocabulary, but also their speaking, reading, and pronunciation skills.

We are also continuing with our avancemos curriculum and solidifying our learning with different exercises and activities. Students of all levels are enjoying learning some Spanish holiday songs “Santa es su Nombre,” “ Burrito Sabanero,” and “Linda Januquita.” Songs are one of the best ways to learn Spanish because they help with our listening, pronunciation, and vocabulary and are fun and catchy as well.

Happy holidays to all.

Lizette Guedes

Mrs. Hood: With my eyes, hands, and a thankful heart!

Posted on by Andrea Hood

Hand-eye coordination is one of the most important parts of the learning process. It helps your child track the movements of their hands with their eyes, which is essential for reading and decoding. Because your child also uses their visual system with hand-eye coordination, it can greatly impact their writing skills and handwriting as they use their eyes to guide, direct, and control their hand movements across the page as they write letters and words.

Our Toddler environment is set up in a specific way, looking to sharpen and challenge these skills while meeting your child exactly where they are developmentally. Each material is displayed in progressive order, from easiest to hardest, and from left to right. This logical structure encourages children to organize their thinking and to absorb the outcome of the material at their own pace. The left to right orientation of the materials also assists children with preparation for reading and writing, and is the way that the brain naturally processes information.

Some of the most popular works in our environment these days, sharpening these skills, are peeling, cutting, transferring, and serving a banana, the nesting forest animals, the shapes box, cranberry transferring, gluing work, matching pictures from children around the world, vehicle object to picture matching, and using a dropper to transfer water, along with many more. 

On another note, last week we had a great time baking banana bread. Children learned names of ingredients and had the opportunity to touch, smell, watch, and obviously taste the fruit of their work during our Thanksgiving celebration. Gratitude is definitely something we cultivate every day in our environment. We are conscious that showing gratitude is an important part of who we are as humans. It strengthens our relationships and our connection to our communities and even makes us happier and more compassionate people.

Although adults understand the worth in expressing gratitude, young children find it more difficult. Gratitude involves being sensitive and empathetic to others, and truly appreciating what others do for you. While children can quickly learn to say please and thank you, it takes time and guidance to help them truly learn to be grateful. Using The Thankful Book, we have had multiple conversations and it has been great to hear children start expressing thankfulness for things like mommies, daddies, siblings, and of course hair, shoes, ears, ice cream, dinosaurs, and “horsies”. 

During this time we also welcomed a new student and her family to finally complete our class, celebrated two wonderful birthdays – one of those mine (THANK YOU VERY MUCH!) – and explored sweet potatoes and pomegranates as a class. 

As always we couldn’t do this without your support so we honestly thank you for it and for entrusting your children to us every day! 

As we all prepare for the holiday season, we wish you joy, love, and peace. 

Enjoy the pictures, 

Mrs. Hood and Ms. Maria

Gratitude and Appreciation-Thanksgiving

Posted on by Gina Tryforos

“History should not be taught as a collection of dates and places. But rather be approached to arouse gratitude and appreciation. This gratitude should be aroused first to the law and order of the universe and the preparation of the environment into which human beings came.” ~Maria Montessori

In the United States, many of us celebrate and express gratitude in a holiday we call “Thanksgiving.”

For many, this marks the start of our winter holiday celebrations- a very fun and festive time of year. 

For me personally, I am reminded there is so much to be grateful for: family, friends, a roof overhead, good health, and so much more.  

Maria Montessori believed strongly in thanksgiving, making gratitude a strong presence in the Montessori classroom.

At FWM we look at gratitude and grace as something to be considered daily.

Beginning with Practical Life lessons of Grace and Courtesy in Toddler and Primary and continuing through the Elementary and Middle School Program, teachers model and children practice lessons that demonstrate positive social behavior which encourage students to adapt to life within a group and provide the knowledge of socially acceptable behavior. In the classroom, Grace can be how to politely get someone’s attention, how to give and receive a compliment, how to politely observe someone working or ask for help.  Grace and gratitude fill our community every day.

Wishing you all a safe, warm, and happy Thanksgiving! 

Mrs. Doyle: Giving Thanks

Posted on by Michelle Handibode

 

The education of even a small child, therefore, does not aim at preparing him for school, but for life. 

    –Maria Montessori

For many, the holiday season is a time for giving. Perhaps more than ever, it is so important for our children to understand that giving does not have to be a materialistic gift. Simple and heartfelt words of love and friendship will last much longer than most anything that can be bought from a shelf. It can be an amazing and powerful gift to our children, if in all the hustle and bustle of the holidays we take time to slow down and model being grateful.

This week we asked each child to share what they are thankful for. While their messages will make you smile and warm your heart, there is beauty in their simplicity.

Anchor–      My dog Sasco because I like to play with him.

Bodie–         My birthday trucks because I can play with them all day long.

Emma–        My sister Evie because she loves me.

Emma Jo–   For the calendar in my classroom.

Everly–         My dogs, Joey and Georgia because I love them so much.

Greyson–     My Mom and Dad because they always let me play outside.

Isla–              My brother Ewan because he shares everything with me.

Landon–      The Paw Patrol movie and I will get to watch it one day when I’m older.

Lily–              My Daddy because he is going to take me to work with him.

Luca–            Curious George because he makes me laugh and the movie Luca because it has the same name as me.

Marin–          My whole family because they make me feel so happy.

Micaela–       My Mom because she loves me so much.

Olivia–          Going to Maine because my whole family is there.

Saanvi–        My sister Simrin because I play with her all the time.

Stephen–     My Mommy and my Daddy because I love them.

Theo–            Star Wars the movie because I love the whole series so much.

Virginia–     My brother George because I love him.

Wilder–        I get to learn new things at school.

Zara–             My Mommy, my Daddy and my sister because I miss them when  I am not with them.

Liset and I are grateful for the time we spend with the children each day and for the relationships we develop with each of you.  Wishing you all a week filled with peace and love.

Michelle & Liset