Blog

Location Data on your Mobile Devices

Posted on by Danielle Ulacco

When you purchase a device, many settings come already “set”- like location data. If you have an iPhone, did you know that it tracks your locations in a setting called “significant locations” (on older iPhones it may use the term “frequent”). Follow these instructions on this website to see if it is enabled or disabled on your phone. If it is enabled, your world might get rocked. Don’t worry, you can turn it off and disable any future data being stored.

Here’s an interesting article related to Android phones which worth reading, too: “Google location data tracking saw innocent cyclist become key suspect in burglary” At the end of the article they share tips for enhanced privacy controls on Android 10.

 

As one article states, “Like so much technology today, location history can be harmful or helpful, depending on who is using it and how, and whether you understand and control it, and whether you opt in to what you want to have tracked (and opt out of what you don’t want). Learning about location history on your device and how to view and control it is the first step.” If I can help at all- please feel free to stop by the MakerSpace or email me.

Mrs. Doyle’s Class: Today Is Your Day!

Posted on by Michelle Handibode

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” – Dr. Seuss

On Tuesday, we had fun celebrating Dr. Seuss’ birthday. Schools and libraries across the United States enjoy taking part in a nationwide reading celebration called Read Across America. This fun tradition is an exciting way to bring together children and books and is celebrated on Dr. Seuss’s birthday, March 2nd.

Here are few fun facts about Dr. Seuss:

  • Dr. Seuss’ real name was Theodore Seuss Geisel.
  • He has written and illustrated over 60  children’s books.
  • The book Green Eggs and Ham is made up of 50 sight words. Dr. Seuss’s editor bet him that he could not write a book using fewer words than The Cat in the Hat which had 225 words. Clearly, Dr. Seuss won that bet!

Here at FWM, the children enjoyed wearing their pajamas to school and bringing in a favorite stuffed animal. We read Green Eggs and Ham and then actually got to experience eating those two foods for snacks. We asked the children what their favorite Dr. Seuss book was and it was exciting to see their knowledge and love for his work. It was a close vote between Green Eggs and Ham and How The Grinch Stole Christmas.

We can’t say it enough but we are truly grateful for all the ‘behind the scenes’ help and support from all of you.  Some parents provide ingredients for cooking or crafts, some parents provide their time and some keep us all organized!!!! It truly takes a village and we are blessed to be part of an amazing one!

Enjoy the week!

Michelle & Jeannine

Launching Robotics and Movie Making

Posted on by Danielle Ulacco

This is a beautiful time of year in the MakerSpace for first grade students because this is when they begin to dive deeper into a few of our pillar programs: coding and programming, and digital movie making. First, students have graduated to a more complex robot, Dash. In pictures you will see students using his “launch” feature to launch colored balls at different objects and obstacles. This reinforces problem solving, creative thinking, collaborative communication skills, and perseverance. 1st graders were also introduced to iMovie’s Trailers to make mini-movies about their own interest and passions. We will share these movies with their classmates and applaud their hard work when they are all completed. Eventually students will transfer their digital movie making knowledge to bigger concepts like green screen, trick shots, editing tools, and more.

Mrs. Wilson: Sensory Exploration and Color Matching

Posted on by Cynthia Wilson

Some of our toddler children have shown us an interest in colors. This week I introduced a color matching work using colored frogs and colored dots. We started with a group lesson where the children picked a frog out of the basket. The child was asked if they knew what color it was and if they could put that frog on the matching dot. This lesson is now available on the shelf for the children to use.

Another fun activity the children enjoyed was splashing water and bubbles in the sensory bin. Some even thought it was fun to put bubbles on their faces. There was so much joy, laughter, bubbles, and water everywhere! This activity gave them the perfect opportunity to receive a lesson using the mop.

Food Tasting: Asparagus was not as big of a hit as the past foods they tried. Everyone tasted it but about five of the children asked for more.

To help with language and communication we implemented an old telephone into the classroom. This was a big hit and surprisingly the children knew what it was used for. It was fun to watch them hold the handset to their ear and talk into it.

Enjoy the rest of the photos!

Mrs. Wilson, Ms. Sara and Ms. Heather

Mrs. Carroll’s Class: In the Service of a United Whole

Posted on by Cindy Carroll

So in the child, besides the vital impulse to create himself, and to become perfect, there must yet be another purpose, a duty to fulfill in harmony, something he has to do in the service of a united whole. ~ Maria Montessori, The Absorbent Mind

Maria Montessori believed that children are the key to peace and empathy among humanity. This important belief is a foundation in our Montessori classrooms beginning with practical life lessons and continuing throughout childhood and beyond. I’d like to share how a “simple” lesson can provide the mechanism from which children in the classroom learn, practice, and express their empathy and love for their community.

Flower arranging work has a more important indirect aim than simply admiring nature’s work of art. It is an opportunity for little hands to contribute to the beautification of the environment. It is a tender moment when a young heart lays down a symbol of friendship, love, and peace on a table for someone else to enjoy. It is a brief yet integral step outside of oneself and one’s own needs. -The CHILD centered Blog

Flower arranging is only one of many classrooms works and activities sewing the seeds of compassion and empathy in your children.  Please remember compassion in your homes help your children do the same.

Just a reminder, next Tuesday, March 3rd we will be celebrating Dr. Seuss’s birthday!  On this day children are invited to wear their pajamas to school and bring a favorite stuffed animal to cuddle. We will celebrate with some fun activities and a snack of green eggs and ham!

Enjoy the week!

Cindy & Sharlene

 

Mrs. Lopes’s Class: Our Class Rocks!

Posted on by Amanda Lopes

“The land is where our roots are. The children must be taught to feel and live in harmony with the Earth.” -Maria Montessori

Have you ever noticed your child’s fascination with rocks found outside on the ground?  We have observed after playing outside on the playground some of the children will return to the classroom with pockets full of rocks as if they are treasures. You can imagine the children’s excitement when they learned that our new science unit for this week was the study of rocks!  We discussed the three main types of rocks – igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic, as well as how these rocks are formed on Earth. We added several new rock lessons to our environment, but the group favorite was a basket full of rocks with a magnifying glass.  The children enjoyed examining and classifying each of the rocks in this lesson.

Just a reminder, next Tuesday, March 3rd we will be celebrating Dr. Seuss’s birthday! On this day children are invited to wear their pajamas to school and bring their favorite Dr. Seuss book. We will celebrate with some fun activities and a snack of green eggs and ham!

Enjoy the weekend,

Amanda

Aprendemos Juntos

Posted on by Sara Hall

Students have been working hard in Spanish, applying what they know through a variety of methods. You may hear the lovely sound of your child singing one of their favorite tunes from our class, as all of them enjoy music in Spanish. In some cases we use music for brain breaks and in others, a song may be the core piece of our lesson. 

Primary students have been singing “Caminando por la selva” from Super Simple Español. They are learning about animals and have been using their prior knowledge to play charades and discuss what animals eat and where they live. 

Lower Elementary students have been creating their own games to practice colors and shapes in Spanish. They are practicing collaboration and developing leadership skills by working together to try each other’s games and cheering each other on in the process. 

Upper Elementary has taken on the task of learning as much about food in Spanish as possible before our upcoming field trip in March. They want to be ready to order their lunch in Spanish, and you can tell by the engagement and effort exerted during Spanish! This week, students began to generate books on Book Creator, expressing their likes and dislikes of certain foods and beverages. 

Middle School has been cultivating their comprehension skills as we read about important figures in Black History. We are specifically focusing on afrolatinx singers, politicians, actors, athletes, and authors who are a mixture of African and Latinx heritage. Additionally, 8th years are working on an amazing project which will be showcased shortly after the middle school play.

Mrs. Doyle’s Class: Montessori Math…It All Adds Up!

Posted on by Michelle Handibode

“Children display a universal love of mathematics, which is par excellence the science of precision, order, and intelligence.” ~ Dr. Maria Montessori

The Montessori math materials always begin with concrete, simple materials and lessons. When the child is ready, they are introduced to more complex and abstract concepts. We teach the process first because the goal is to develop a true understanding of mathematical concepts and not simply memorization. The materials are sequenced in a way that each success a child experiences is a building block for the next concept to be introduced.

Maria Montessori believed that all children have a mathematical mind and an internal drive to understand the environment around them. We know that the Montessori math materials are exact and precise and allow the child to have positive experiences in math right from the beginning. Here’s the real secret behind the success of the Montessori math materials though: the children truly enjoy them.

We have a busy week ahead. On Tuesday, March 3rd, each Primary class will be celebrating Dr. Seuss’ birthday. The children are invited to come to school in their pajamas accompanied by a favorite stuffed friend. Morning snack that day will be green eggs and ham! It promises to be a fun morning.

On Friday, March 6th, the Kindergarten children will be taking an afternoon field trip to Warrup’s farm in Redding. They will be exploring the process of making maple syrup.

Enjoy the week!

Michelle & Jeannine