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Mrs. Lopes’s Class: A Peaceful Classroom

Posted on by Amanda Lopes

” We shall walk together on this path of life, for all things are part of the universe and are connected with each other to form one whole unity.”-Maria Montessori

Peace truly begins in our homes and in our classrooms.  The basics of peace include providing day-to-day environments which operate under an understanding of respect, where our children can freely share concerns, feel safe, be productive, and enjoy one another.

As is tradition, Fraser Woods celebrated the International Day of Peace on Monday, September 21st.  Normally we would gather together as a school to sing the song “Light a Candle for Peace,” but this year we had to be creative.  We were so lucky to have Ms. Danielle Ulacco come into our classroom and teach the children how to sign the song.  The children really enjoyed signing along with her while listening to the music.

May we all work together to create a world where everyone everywhere is able to enjoy and exercise their ‘right to peace.’ And may we all help our children learn how to carry on this important mission.

Wishing you all strength and peace,

Mrs. Lopes and Mrs. Sharlene

Mrs. Wilson’s: More Apple Exploration

Posted on by Cynthia Wilson

We continued exploring apples this week. To go along with our language work, “Parts of an Apple,” the children had a chance to explore a real apple using a magnifying glass. We also introduced painting at the art easel. We started with red paint to go with the apple theme. It is great to see how nicely they keep the paint on the paper besides the occasional painting on their hands, arms, and a few color tests on nearby pieces of furniture!

While outside a few children discovered that they can see each other through the hole in the spool. Can you guess who the children are?

Another activity we did outside is we planted some cactus seeds. I can’t wait to see what kind of cactus grows.

It was great to see everyone who was able to make it to curriculum night. For those who were unable to be there I will send a link to the presentation soon.

Enjoy the photos and your weekend,

Mrs. Wilson and Ms. Sara

Middle School: Week in Review

Posted on by Michelle Lamb

Happy Friday! Thank you to parents who joined us for Curriculum Night this week! It is an exciting night for us to give you a glimpse into our upcoming year teaching your children.

Science

6th year Earth Science students have finished creating their representations of fossils in both plaster and amber. The next unit they will begin is titled, Earth’s Structures. By the end of this unit, students will be able to describe what plate tectonics are and that they have shaped and continue to shape our planet.

7th year Physical Science students are currently studying the unit Characteristic Properties of Matter. To start the unit, students are conducting experiments which highlight the characteristic physical properties of such items as wooden spheres and metal cubes. They test the density, malleability, hardness, and electrical conductivity. 

8th year Life Science students have continued to research their topic and fact check the opposing side’s warrants in preparation for their debate about stem cells. Students have done an excellent job collaborating with one another while taking ownership of their personal responsibility. 
Math
This week, all math classes started working through Chapter 2 of The University of Chicago School Mathematics Project Textbooks. In each class, students discussed the importance of staying organized as they move onto the next series of lessons. Students are encouraged to keep their graded worksheets in an appropriate section of their binder or store them in a safe place at home. The following is a summary of what each class accomplished this week.
In Pre-Transition class, students were able to identify place values in a decimal number and compare decimals using inequality symbols. Students can draw and measure lengths in the metric system, as well as round any decimal to the indicated degree of accuracy.
In Transition class, students were able to give an instance of a pattern described with variables. Students are learning how to evaluate an algebraic expression when given a value to substitute in. This class has also become comfortable with representing a relationship between two variables using a table.
In Algebra class, students were able to practice using the distributive property to simplify algebraic expressions. This class can now prove equations are equivalent by using graphing technology and solving by hand. These students have started to learn about the multiplication property of zeros and the importance of opposite values.
In Geometry class, students were able to distinguish between convex and non-convex shapes. This class can interpret a Venn diagram, write true conditional statements, and can apply properties of conditionals to real world situations.
Mathy Joke for Mathy Folks: Why is the obtuse triangle always so frustrated?……Because it’s never right.
Humanities
This week in Humanities classes, all completed vocabulary units. 6th year students also worked on their paraphrasing skills and  spent time learning how form in writing can dictate meaning using poetry by E.E. Cummings to demonstrate. The 7th year Humanities classes now understand the differences between capitalism, socialism, and communism, and what they look/have looked  like in the world. They looked at how the People’s Republic of China was established by Mao Tse-Tung’s takeover of Chiang Kai-shek’s regime. Finally, the 8th years used the book, An Indigenous Peoples’ History this week to read about the time in Europe during the Crusades that brought about the establishment of European cultural ideals which were later brought to the Americas during colonization.
Have a great weekend,
The MS Team

Signing for Peace

Posted on by Karen Sankey

“We shall walk together on this path of life, for all things are part of the universe and are connected with each other to form one whole unity.” – Maria Montessori

This week we had our first class Community Meeting. These weekly meetings are led by the fifth year students and the agenda is set by the class. Over the next few weeks, the fifth years will be learning how to lead the meetings, each being assigned a job during the discussion. Community meetings provide opportunities for the children to learn the skills involved in having productive discussions about topics that matter to them. They learn to: give and receive appreciative and complimentary comments, brainstorm ideas – taking turns speaking and categorizing suggestions into logical groupings, keep to a timetable while discussing, keep the discussion on task, vote to get a sense of the meeting and then tweak solutions until they build consensus, and summarize the problem and the solution.

In language lessons this week, fourths learned about indirect objects and fifths continued with their advanced functions of words. For geometry, fourth years learned to classify quadrilaterals based on sides and angles and fifth years learned another way to prove equivalence of trapezoids and rectangles. Biology lessons continued, learning about the nutrition of plants. We had a lively discussion about the minerals and water that plants get from the soil and the carbon dioxide plants get from the air. In history, fourths learned about the Paleozoic era and the explosion of life which happened during that time. Fifths learned about another group of modern humans from the Upper Paleolithic, the Gravettians, who lived 29,000 to 22,000 years ago.

In keeping with the tradition of our school, and of Montessori schools around the world, this week we gathered to celebrate the International Day of Peace. Although we weren’t able to gather as a whole school community, and we weren’t able to lift our voices in song, we found another way. We gathered as a class and learned to sign the song, “Light a Candle for Peace.” The result was beautiful, and there was something very peaceful about signing along with the song, in silence.

 

Mrs. Doyle’s Class: Our Peaceful Classroom

Posted on by Michelle Handibode

Peace is what every human being is craving for, and it can be brought about by humanity through the child. –Maria Montessori

Peace education is a basic tenet of the Montessori philosophy.  In the 3-6 environment, studying the seven continents, including their people and cultures, provides a global view of our world. As Montessori teachers, practicing and teaching peace, kindness, and acceptance is a natural part of our day. Dr. Maria Montessori believed we should think of education as peace, not education for peace.  She also believed that young children were our hope for eliminating conflict and instilling peace throughout the world. Dr. Montessori, as always, knew that lecturing children would accomplish very little and that to truly understand peace they would need to discover it for themselves.

Typically to celebrate Peace Day, we participate in “Sing Peace Around The World.”  Beginning in New Zealand and ending in Hawaii, Montessori schools around the world sing “Light A Candle For Peace” for five minutes and during a specific time slot. So for 24 hours, this special song is being sung in a different part of the world by Montessori children. To keep the children and teachers safe, this year is different. We were so lucky that Ms. Ulacco came to our class to teach the children how to ‘sing’ “Light A Candle For Peace” in sign language.  Her video is shared below.

Wishing everyone a peaceful week!

Michelle & Lizette

A Peaceful Week

Posted on by Ashley O'Connell

What an eventful week Lower Elementary had! We kicked this week off by celebrating the International Day of Peace. This year, Ms. Ulacco organized such a beautiful way to recognize this special day, meanwhile keeping us safe. Instead of gathering as a school community and singing out on the field, the Lower Elementary gathered as a smaller community and learned the corresponding sign language to Light a Candle for Peace. This was such a special and intimate celebration in the class. The children were engaged and intrigued learning the new signs for the familiar song.

This year, we have started to incorporate journal writing every day at the start of the work cycle. In their journals the children can write about their feelings, thoughts, things that make them happy or sad, a story, song, or poem. This is a safe place for students to express themselves. Studies have show that journaling about our experiences, thoughts, and feelings can help lower stress levels and boost problem solving abilities. The act of reflecting and expressing feelings privately can help children recognize their emotions and regulate them. Sometimes I provide prompts for the students to encourage them to self-reflect. This week we wrote about what we were grateful for, something we are proud of, and made positive “I am” statements.

Mrs. Wilson’s Class: Apples and the Nature Around Us

Posted on by Cynthia Wilson

In a toddler Montessori environment we base our “works” on the seasons. The materials on the shelf represent the season we are in, or about to be in. In the next couple of weeks, we will explore all things apples. In the language area, the children can explore language lessons on parts of an apple: skin, flesh, core, seeds, and stem. They also have language cards that show a small, medium, and large apple.

On the refinement of the hands shelf, the children have the opportunity to use lessons such as pouring, spooning, tonging, and transferring red items such as artificial apples, pompoms, and colored water.

We also extended the materials on the art shelf. The children can explore art materials such as dot painting an apple, drawing with a red crayon or chalk, and also using watercolors.

On Wednesday we set up a flower arrangement work outside using wildflowers that grew at school. The children had the opportunity to add flowers to a vase that we used to beautify their environment inside.

On our way to the playground on Thursday we found a baby turtle. The children were so excited to see this little fellow walking around.

Please have your child to wear something BLUE on Monday, September 21 to recognize and celebrate the International Day of Peace.  Blue is the universal color of peace.

Enjoy this week’s photos!

Mrs. Wilson and Ms. Sara

Mrs. Hood’s Class: La Vaca Lola!

Posted on by Andrea Hood

 

Have you heard of La Vaca Lola? Maria Montessori believed that the initial six years of a child’s life are crucial for a child’s language development; that from birth, a child must receive appropriate stimulation. This is also widely recognized by many specialists in language, also when referring to learning foreign languages.

Research shows that learning a second language boosts problem-solving, critical-thinking, and listening skills, in addition to improving memory, concentration, and the ability to multitask. Children proficient in other languages also show signs of enhanced creativity and mental flexibility. This is why one of our goals is to offer a Toddler Spanish immersion experience in our environment.

La Vaca Lola (The Cow Named Lola) was a song introduced this week to our students! And, oh boy! They loved it! Based on our farm theme, children have been learning names and sounds of different farm animals through books, object to picture matching works, games, puzzles, outdoor sensory activities, and movement.

Animals are a great source of encouragement for language development! This week we focused on one of the most beloved farm animals: the cow. Some new vocabulary words were given: Head, back, tail, horn, eye, hoof, udder, white and black.  Children also had fun practicing mooing around the classroom as we learned the sound the cow makes.

At the end of the week we also had a fun sensorial experience that resulted in a magical art project. For this we used food coloring, cotton swabs, dish soap, and of course, milk. As milk has fat in it, the food coloring can float on top of the fat. When you add the dish soap to the milk, the fat separates and moves, making magical milk art! The smiles on the faces of the children were priceless! At the end of the experience we placed watercolor paper in the milk and captured a print of the art they made.

Moo Brown Cow by Jakki Wood, Busy Farmyard by Betina Ogden, and The Farmyard Jamboree by Barefoot Books were the favorite books this week.

As we are looking to encourage language, I highly recommend you to take advantage of this beautiful weather and visit a farm near you! Practice naming all the animals and their sounds with your child and encourage him/her to repeat after you. And here, just in case you also want to join us in the fun, I will leave you the musical video of La Vaca Lola. Go ahead, turn up the volume and enjoy with your little ones.

Please have your child to wear something BLUE on Monday, September 21 to recognize and celebrate the International Day of Peace.  Blue is the universal color of peace.