Blog

Ms. Mollie: A New Classmate and Gratitude!

Posted on by Mollie Smith

This week, we were excited to welcome a new classmate into our toddler community. The children showed such gentle curiosity—offering toys, making space at the table, and helping our new friend learn the routine. It was a lovely reminder of how naturally toddlers embrace grace and courtesy when given the chance.

We have also been talking about Thanksgiving and the idea of gratitude in simple, concrete ways. During circle time, the children shared what makes them feel happy—family, pets, favorite foods, and special classroom materials. We read seasonal books and practiced using kind hands and thankful words.

The weather has been a big part of our conversations too. As the days grow colder and windier, the children are noticing changes during outdoor play—crunchy leaves, cloudy skies, and the need for warm jackets and hats. We took time to slow down and observe, giving the children language for what they see and feel.

It has been a full and joyful week in our toddler community. We look forward to more discoveries together!

Remember that unless you are signed up for early drop-off, please do not arrive before 8:30… we want to make sure the drop-off line is clear for our older students.

With Full Hearts,

Ms.Mollie and Ms. Lizette

Ms. Vicki’s Weekly Update

Posted on by Vicki Downs

This week, we added several new fall-themed activities to our shelves, giving the children fresh opportunities to build fine motor skills, practice sorting, and explore seasonal materials.

One of our new works invited the children to use their fingers to pull corn kernels off a dried cob. This activity was a big hit! It strengthens finger muscles, supports hand–eye coordination, and gives them a satisfying sensory experience as the kernels pop off.

We also introduced painted acorns paired with matching colored bowls. The children carefully sorted each acorn into the bowl with the same color, building visual discrimination, concentration, and early categorizing skills.

To support scooping and feeding skills, we added a tray with fall-colored glass stones. The children practiced scooping the stones and transferring them into different containers. This work helps develop wrist control, hand strength, and independence at mealtime.

The toddlers loved exploring their new fall activities, and it was wonderful to watch their focus, determination, and excitement grow throughout the week.

Reminders:

  • Next week, we have an early dismissal on Tuesday, starting at 11:15.

Mrs. Sargeant: Cultivating Gratitude in Our Community

Posted on by Christine Sargeant

Last week, we continued our focus on practicing gratitude and exploring what it means to be grateful. Each child made a special Thanksgiving placemat and shared with us what they are grateful for. Their heartfelt responses reminded us of the simple joys that fill children’s lives—family, friends, pets, favorite foods, and the freedom to play.

Ivy’s mom came to our classroom to bake pumpkin bread with the children, which will be our contribution to next week’s school-wide Thanksgiving bread-breaking ceremony. The children took turns measuring ingredients, mixing the batter, and learning about how heat transforms ingredients. This hands-on experience beautifully connected mathematics, science, and cultural studies while fostering our classroom community. We are so grateful to Ivy’s mom for her time and generosity.

New Works and Growing Independence

Several exciting new works appeared on our shelves this week. Yoga cards with a yoga mat invited children to practice mindful movement and body awareness. Cucumber cutting provided a wonderful opportunity to develop knife skills and hand-eye coordination. Soap grating engaged the children’s senses while building fine motor strength.

A stethoscope and matching miniature human organs captured the children’s scientific curiosity. They took turns listening to their heartbeats and learning to match the miniature organs to corresponding pictures, building vocabulary and understanding of the human body.

Adventures in Reading

Our older students were thrilled when we started a new book in the Magic Treehouse series: Afternoon on the Amazon. This chapter book introduces children to the Amazon rainforest through the adventures of Jack and Annie, building their listening skills, vocabulary, and knowledge of world geography and ecology. We even listened to the sounds of the Amazon on Spotify.

Extending Learning at Home

Talk with your child about what they are grateful for. Create opportunities for them to express gratitude to family members and friends. These conversations help children develop empathy and appreciate the kindness around them.

Upcoming Events & Announcements

This Week
Monday, November 24: Rayna’s sharing bag
Tuesday, November 25: Half-day, 11:30 dismissal AND Shafia Playground Volunteer
Wednesday, November 26 through Friday, November 28: No School—Thanksgiving Break

Next Week
Tuesday, December 2: Eliana Birthday Walk
Wednesday, December 3: Alex H. Guest Reader

Ms. Handibode: The Beauty of Gratitude

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.

Adeline
I am thankful for my family because they give me hugs.

Brooks
I am thankful for my house because it’s really beautiful.

Charlie
I am thankful for the Spiderman watch because it shows me numbers.

Charley
I am thankful for marshmallows because I like to make s’mores.

Connor
I am thankful for my scooter because they go as fast as a car.

Eloise
I am thankful for pancakes because I like to eat them for breakfast.

Hannah
I am thankful for my Mommy, my Daddy, and Luke because they give me lots of love.

Jasper
I am thankful I went to Chicago to visit my best friend, Ruby.

Jaxxon
I am thankful for my fireplace because it keeps me warm.

Johnny
I am thankful for kinetic sand because I can build a big castle with it.

Layla
I am thankful for my family because they teach me how to do everything.

Melia
I am thankful for my dog because he licks me.

Mila
I am thankful for my cats, Turbo and Diesel, because they let me pet them.

Morgan
I am thankful for blocks because I like to build towers with them.

Nitzan
I am thankful for my soft blanket because I sleep with it.

Olivia
I am thankful for my family because I eat dinner with them.

Remi
I am thankful for presents from Santa because they are so much fun to play with.

Wilder
I am thankful for my Daddy because he is so strong and he lifts me up high in the air.

Zaki
I am thankful for everything in the world.

Veda
I am thankful for my sister because I love her.

Zion
I am thankful for the playground at school because I love to play outside, but mostly I’m thankful for my family.

Maria, Marisa, and I are grateful for the time we spend with the children each day and for the relationships we develop with each of you.

Exploring the Animal Kingdom

The children were fascinated as we introduced the classification of animals as vertebrates and invertebrates. Through hands-on materials and discussions, they discovered that vertebrates have a backbone while invertebrates do not. This foundational understanding helps children organize their knowledge of the natural world and appreciate the diversity of life around them.

Extending Learning at Home

Please encourage your children to put on their own coats, hats, and gloves. We are working on buttoning and zipping in the classroom. It is so helpful if you label everything so we can ensure items make it home with the right child.

 

UPCOMING EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

This Week
Monday, November 24: Brooks M’s birthday walk, flowers, and sharing box
Monday, November 24: Bread Baking at 8:50 with Kate B
Tuesday, November 25: Half-day with 11:30 dismissal
Wednesday, November 26 through Friday, November 28: No School—Thanksgiving Break

Next Week

Monday, December 1:  Remi L’s  flowers

Wednesday, December 3: Guest Reader—Kendall H

Friday, December 5:  Remi L’s birthday walk and sharing box

Ms. Rhodora: Discovering South America

Posted on by Rhodora Santayana

 

The classroom was alive with cultural exploration this week as we began our study of South America, with a special focus on Colombia. The children learned about the Colombian people, their vibrant music, rich culture, and traditions. Through stories, images, and hands-on materials, the children developed an appreciation for how people live in different parts of our world.

As part of our Thanksgiving preparation, we welcomed a parent volunteer who helped the children make bread. This experience connected beautifully to our discussion of Thanksgiving history and traditions. The children took great care in preparing bread that will be shared during our school-wide bread sharing ceremony, embodying the spirit of gratitude and community.

Practical Life Explorations

The practical life area drew considerable interest this week. Children were particularly engaged with suds whipping, an activity that develops hand strength and coordination while creating fluffy, satisfying peaks. Pumpkin washing allowed the children to care for our classroom materials while exploring the texture and weight of real pumpkins.

Flower arranging continued to captivate the children as they carefully selected stems, trimmed them to appropriate lengths, and created beautiful arrangements. The geometric cabinet also remained popular, supporting the children’s visual discrimination and preparation for geometry. Additionally, new works appeared on the shelves, including yoga cards with a yoga mat, cucumber cutting, and soap grating—all designed to support the children’s growing independence and coordination.

UPCOMING EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

As the weather grows colder, please label your child’s clothing—mittens, gloves, caps, and hats. This simple step helps us ensure everything makes it home with the right child. At home, continue encouraging your child to put on their own winter gear, building the independence and self-care skills we practice at school.

This Week
Tuesday, November 25: Half-day, 11:30 dismissal
Wednesday, November 26 through Friday, November 28: No School—Thanksgiving Break

Mrs. Lopes: Journey Through the Solar System

Posted on by Amanda Lopes

 

This week, we started our exciting unit on the solar system. The children were captivated as we introduced the planets and their unique characteristics. We taught the children a special song to help them learn the names of all the planets in order from the sun. Through melody and rhythm, the children are joyfully memorizing Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.

We discussed what makes each planet unique—from Mercury’s proximity to the sun to Neptune’s distant, cold atmosphere. The children explored new planet lessons that appeared on our science shelf this week, allowing them to independently discover fascinating facts about our solar system. Their curiosity about space and our place in the universe continues to grow each day.

Community Connection Through Cooking

On Tuesday, Nicolas’s mom, Vanessa, came to our classroom to help us make pumpkin playdough. The children enjoyed mixing the ingredients together and then playing with the dough using rollers and cookie cutters. This sensorial experience allowed them to explore texture, develop fine motor skills, and practice following a sequence of steps.

On Thursday, Hadley’s mom, Petra, helped us make bread for next Tuesday’s Thanksgiving Ceremony. Each child took part in adding ingredients and mixing the dough for the pumpkin bread we will be sharing with the school community. Through this meaningful work, the children learned about measurements, the transformation of ingredients, and the joy of contributing to a community celebration.

Extending Learning at Home

Point out the moon and stars with your child on clear evenings. Talk about how Earth is one planet among many in our solar system. If you have the opportunity, share stories about space exploration or look at pictures of the planets together.


UPCOMING EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

This Week
Tuesday, November 25: Playground Volunteer–Jason L.
Tuesday, November 25: Half-day, 11:30 dismissal
Wednesday, November 26 through Friday, November 28: No School—Thanksgiving Break

Mrs. Wilson: Baking Bread

Posted on by Cynthia Wilson

A special highlight this week was baking bread for our upcoming Thanksgiving celebration. This is a tradition we look forward to each year as part of our community-wide event. While we do not attend the Thanksgiving ceremony with the other students, we are always excited to participate in the bread sharing. This year, we chose a festive Cranberry Orange bread. The children gathered around with Ms. Alyssa and Ms. Melissa, eagerly helping to combine, whisk, and mix all the ingredients.

One loaf of this delicious bread will be shared with the whole school next week, while the second loaf will be enjoyed in our classroom alongside the homemade butter the children helped prepare. Turning heavy cream into butter takes plenty of shaking—and even more perseverance—which made the final result all the more rewarding for them.

A lovely moment from this week was introducing a prism to the children. Their excitement grew as beams of light scattered across the room, forming tiny rainbows on the walls and floor. The children eagerly moved around the classroom, trying to “catch” the rainbows as they appeared. It was a simple yet magical exploration of light, color, and movement.

For our food tasting this week, we explored a pomegranate. The children were fascinated as Mrs. Wilson demonstrated how to open it and remove the seeds. By cutting the top, slicing along the natural lines, and tapping the skin with a wooden spoon, the seeds fall out easily into a bowl. It certainly seemed that the children loved tasting the crunchy, juicy, bright red pomegranate seeds!

Love and Light,

Cynthia and Sara

A Week of Gratitude in Lower El

Posted on by Carlie Taveras

This week in Lower El, we shared “The Story of Numerals” (the Fifth Great Lesson). This story appeals deeply to the reasoning of the elementary child, who is eager to understand the origins of ideas and the human stories behind them. Rather than presenting math as a collection of fixed rules and symbols, the story traces the development of numeration through history, showing that mathematics is a human invention born of creativity, problem solving, and the needs of daily life. Early humans counted stones, made marks on cave walls, tied knots in cords, and used tally marks to track many necessary things for survival, such as food, seasons, and trade. As societies grew more complex, so did their number systems, including the Mayan base-20 system, the Mesopotamian base-60 counting system, the Greek numerals based on their alphabet, the Roman numerals in Europe, and many others. The children learned that all cultures have developed systems of counting, each uniquely suited to the needs of the people who created it. Numbers are not simply symbols; they are a language invented by humans to communicate ideas. Understanding mathematics this way helps children see that the work they do with numbers is connected to real people throughout history, people who observed, experimented, and collaborated to make life more organized and understandable.

The story also introduces the evolution of the decimal system and the essential role of zero. Far from being a simple placeholder, zero represents a breakthrough in abstract thinking that took centuries to conceptualize and accept. Its development opened the door to advanced mathematics, record keeping, and evolved communication. When children hear how zero emerged and spread across cultures, they begin to appreciate math as a living and evolving achievement rather than something static and fully formed.

By presenting numeration as a human journey, the lesson inspires gratitude for the countless individuals who contributed to our current number systems and reminds students that mathematical progress continues. It reframes math work in the classroom as part of a much larger narrative, making it more meaningful because it connects to human history and ingenuity. Many children had a great time exploring and working with Roman and Egyptian numerals as follow-up work. Through this great lesson, math becomes not just an academic subject, but a story of human adaptation and survival, one that students can imagine themselves continuing.

Speaking of gratitude, our hearts absolutely overflowed this week with all the acts of kindness and the tremendous showering of love we received for our birthdays. The day began with the warmest greetings, thoughtful cards, beautiful flowers, and so many sweet surprises, each one making us feel so special and celebrated. It ended with the biggest and most unforgettable surprise of all: the children’s performance of their own version of “Here Comes the Sun,” rewritten as “Here Comes the Fun,” filled with heartfelt lyrics and kind words about their teachers. Their joy, creativity, and love brought happy tears to our eyes and truly touched our hearts. We are so grateful for your incredible children and for the privilege of teaching them each day. We wish you and your families a very happy Thanksgiving and hope you enjoy your time together with loved ones.