Blog

Art Studio: Kindergarten Radial Designs

Posted on by Jen Reid

For the past three classes in the Art Studio, Kindergarten artists have been exploring the concept of radial balance. We began by learning the definition of radial balance, which is any type of balance based on a circle with its design extending from center. We looked at a range of examples: a star, the iris in our eyes, a wheel with spokes, a mandala, a rose window, and a daisy flower are all examples of radial balance. We used words such as symmetry and asymmetry to describe the examples we looked at.

Students then created their own radial designs using pencil first, starting by drawing shapes in the center and then radiating outward with more shapes or lines. Students had the option to use shape stencils to assist in creating their design. Once their design was complete with pencil, each artist traced their design in black sharpie to create a bolder image. For the last step, color was added using crayons, sharpies, neon paint, and finally sparkly gems for extra pizzazz! Emphasis, balance, symmetry, color, contrast, space, and value were the elements and principles of art touched upon in this lesson.

Middle School: Photos! Trip to D.C. & 5th Year Visitors

Posted on by Michelle Lamb

It’s been a great week back after spending last week on our trip to Washington D.C. We were fortunate to have a wonderful tour guide, Dwight, who was incredibly knowledgeable of the city and its sites. One of the biggest benefits to having Dwight was the thoughtful discussions he led with our students and having them make connections between the sites. He offered questions before visiting memorials to have the kids figure out through observation and the prior knowledge he provided.

Additionally, as Chris noted in his reflection email, the middle school students were fabulous; there were no complaints, and they were flexible. We are incredibly fortunate and grateful to have a group like this middle school. It makes traveling fun!

Finally, this week the 5th years spent a morning attending our classes. They were excited to be immersed in the middle school and were great participants. We can’t wait to welcome them in the fall!

Upper Elementary: Moving Up Visits

Posted on by Brian Comstock

This week the fifth year students visited the Middle School while the fourth year students hosted the third years in our classroom. The fifth years returned midday to share their enthusiasm about the possibilities that lie ahead in Middle School. The fourth years were excellent hosts, showing the third years the ropes and welcoming them to our environment. We will miss the fifth years, but look forward to the incoming students for 2019-2020!

Ms. Kayser’s Class: “Stand Tall, Shine Bright”

Posted on by skayser

 

This week the primary level got to witness and be a part of a beautiful program called Isle of Skoo, from Ben’s Lighthouse. The director, Francine Wheeler, took our children on a journey to teach them kindness, compassion, and how to be beacons of hope and change.

Isle of Skoo is a beautifully choreographed puppet show that was both heart warming and interactive for the children and enforced the core principles that our children live by each and every day in the classroom.

Thank you Francine and the rest of your team for coming and giving us the opportunity to learn, grow, and shine bright.

It is hard to believe that we are heading into our last week of school. We are looking forward to the time we have left together this year and the exciting events we have to share as a community.

Ms. Kayser and Ms. Alli

Mrs. Carroll’s Class: A Beacon of Light

Posted on by Cindy Carroll
Friends are like lighthouses, with the source of light coming from their hearts.–Tom Baker

This past Tuesday your children were invited to adventure on the imaginary Isle of Skoo-Ben’s Lighthouse. Our very own Francine Wheeler provided the children with an opportunity to build social and emotional connections through her music and endearing puppet friends. Skoo, Shelly, and Sir Radio playfully exposed feelings, modeled compassion, and encouraged each child to “find and share their own light-to stand tall and shine bright.”  Thank you, Francine, for your bright light and this beautiful, extremely well received journey!

The end of the year is fast approaching. Please be sure to reference myFwm for upcoming events.

Until next week!

Cindy & Sharlene

Mrs. Doyle’s Class: Creating Harmony!

Posted on by Michelle Handibode

 

 

On Tuesday, all the Primary children came together to travel to the imaginary Isle of Skoo-Ben’s Lighthouse. Francine Wheeler provided the children with an opportunity to build social and emotional connections through her music and endearing puppet friends. Skoo, Shelly, and Sir Radio playfully exposed feelings, modeled compassion, and encouraged each child to “find and share their own light-to stand tall and shine bright.”  Thank you, Francine, for your bright light and this beautiful, extremely well received journey!

Our Kindergarten children began working on their number rolls early in the school year. Number rolls are a tradition in a Montessori classroom. The children love being given the opportunity to make their number rolls as long as they want. The basic concept of the number roll is the child writing the  numbers in order, keeping place value as units, tens, hundreds, and thousands.  Typically we go outside to unroll them but this year the wind just would not cooperate.  After several failed attempts to unroll them in the back parking lot we decided to head inside and unroll them in the gym. It is always exciting to see how far each number roll stretches out.

Enjoy the week!

Michelle & Sonja

Elementary Students Performed ” Seussical Junior”

Posted on by Yun-Kyung Kim

 

All elementary students were in the school play, Seussical Junior, the musical based on the works of Dr. Seuss. Most people are familiar with the books of Dr. Seuss and enjoy not only the rhyming style of his works but the creativity of his stories. Among the many benefits to be in school play, one of them is that the students get to become part of a larger system working toward a common goal. It has been the culmination of weeks of practice, so the performance itself became a huge reward for all the hard work. Every single participating student did an amazing job!!

This musical weaves together many of his stories and brings a variety of his characters to life. “The themes in ‘Seussical’ are the importance of honesty, loyalty and friendship. But ‘Seussical’ brings additional messages that are so important to people of all ages.

In the play, the colorful bird Gertrude McFuzz is a friend to Horton the Elephant. However, she is unhappy with her one-feather tail. The story-line surrounding Gertrude touches on the difficulties people have with self-image and outward appearance. Horton, meanwhile, has to withstand peer pressure and being laughed at as he tries to save the Whos. While he is being chided as “the biggest blame fool in the Jungle of Nool,” Horton stands firm on principal and does what he knows is right, profoundly singing, “A person’s a person no matter how small.”

Underscoring the story is the relationship between Horton and the smallest Who in Whoville, Jojo. Jojo is a “thinker of great thinks” which unfortunately gets her into trouble. As she is sent off to learn discipline, she feels all alone. Similarly, because Horton is the only one who can hear the Whos, he laments the fact that no one is able to understand him. The result is a bond between Horton and Jojo and the duet “Alone in the Universe.”

Through much mayhem, Horton retains the ability to believe in himself. Even facing the possibility of jail, Horton states, “I meant what I said and I said what I meant. An elephant is faithful one hundred per cent.” Mayzie LaBird and Sour Kangaroo provide examples of the issues of right and wrong, and the Cat in the Hat reminds the characters facing difficulty to consider “How Lucky You Are.”

BRAVO to all our performers!!

Mrs. Hood’s Class: The Process of Normalization!

Posted on by Andrea Hood

“Normalization is the single most important result of our work.”

-Dr. Maria Montessori
(The Absorbent Mind, p. 204).

Normalization is a technical word borrowed from the field of anthropology. It means becoming a contributing member of society. Dr. Montessori used the term normalization to distinguish one of the processes that she saw in her work with the children at San Lorenzo in Rome. This process, the process of normalization, occurs when development is proceeding normally. She used the word normalization so that people would think that these qualities belonged to all children and were not something special just for a few.

This Normalization appears through the repetition of a three step cycle. The building of character and the formation of personality that we call normalization come about when children follow this cycle of work.

(1) Preparation for an activity which involves gathering together the material necessary to do the activity. The movement and the thought involved in the preparation serves to call the attention of the mind to begin to focus on the activity.

(2) An activity which so engrosses the child that he reaches a deep level of concentration. This step is what we as educators and you as parents recognize as important for education.

(3) Rest, which is characterized by a general feeling of satisfaction and well-being. It is thought that at this point some inner formation or integration of the person takes place.
In our Montessori environment, we see this third step as the time a child is putting away the materials, perhaps talking with friends, and is exhibiting satisfaction with himself and the world.

In our environment we facilitate the process of normalization by offering engaging, hands-on materials, uninterrupted work cycle and minimizing the disruption of concentration.

It’s incredible to see all that your children have accomplished during this period of time working with us!