Blog

Mrs.Wilson: Building Confident Independent Humans

Posted on by Cynthia Wilson

This week, I came across a quote about self-esteem that really resonated with me, both in my professional life and personal growth. It came from a reel that Ms. Sara shared with me: “If you do too much for your children, you are increasing YOUR self-esteem by stealing theirs.” Wow—how powerful is that? This concept comes from the book Raising Mentally Strong Kids by Daniel G. Amen, MD, and Charles Fay, PhD. While I haven’t read the book yet, I happened to spot it on our Book Tree at school later that day. I plan to read it as I want to delve deeper into these ideas, both to better myself and to be a stronger guide for the children in my care.

This quote aligns with the values we aim to cultivate in the classroom. In a toddler Montessori setting, our role as guides is to foster independence in children. One of Maria Montessori’s quotes is: “Never help a child with a task at which he can succeed.” When a child is learning a new skill, we strive to sit back and observe, even though our instinct may be to jump in and help. Struggling with a task is part of the learning process. It leads to success, and success builds confidence.

We only intervene when a child specifically asks for help, and even then, we offer the bare minimum—either showing them the task first or providing verbal cues. Allowing children to struggle is crucial because when they eventually succeed, they start to believe in themselves and realize their own capabilities.

As a reminder, when they do become successful, it’s important to refrain from using phrases like “Good job” or offering other rewards for their success. Instead, acknowledge their effort by saying something simple like “You did it!” or “I hope you’re proud of yourself for working so hard.” By offering praise like “Good job” or “I’m proud of you,” we unintentionally take away their intrinsic pride. It’s important they learn to take pride in their own achievements, which builds lasting self-esteem and confidence.

Food Tasting: We explored and tasted roasted parsnip. It was a fun experience, and one child even found the word “parsnip” amusing as we all tried to pronounce it together. If you’ve never tried parsnip before, I highly recommend giving it a taste – it’s delicious! Most of the children seemed to enjoy it, and their positive reactions made it even more enjoyable.

Ms. Marissa: Weekly Update

Posted on by Marissa Frisk

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 are visual and hands-on manipulatives, aiding in the ability of a child to understand mathematical concepts concretely. After many repetitions and when the child is ready, we introduce the 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. We also know that the Practical Life activities have helped the child to develop order, concentration, coordination, and independence. Likewise, the Sensorial materials have allowed the children to recognize and extend patterns. Here’s the real secret behind the success of the Montessori math materials: the children truly enjoy them.

The Kindergarteners have started their daily Work Plans. We make a plan of all the work they need to practice for the week and word towards a goal each day. It is a great way (and a great time of year) to give our oldest students a guided checklist and a visual and tangible way of accomplishing goals! The younger students always watch our Kindergarteners with such admiration! It will be their turn one day.

Hope your week adds up to one filled with peace and love.

Warmly,

Marissa & Sue

This Week in Upper El

Posted on by Karen Sankey

Upcoming:

  • Tuesday, February 4: Field Trip to the Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum in Ridgefield, CT. We will leave school at 9:30 and return by 1:30. Please let me know if you would like to join us.

This week, we began preparations for our upcoming research presentations scheduled for the first week of March. Our focus is on introductory lessons about Ancient Civilizations. In Upper Elementary, we study these civilizations not only to understand them as an evolutionary stage but also to challenge the idea of a simplistic, linear progression of human development. Students will discover the significant events that shaped civilizations and explore their cultural contributions.

The goal is to spark each student’s curiosity for further studies on different civilizations. As we delve into how civilizations developed, we will examine how each group met fundamental needs, expressed basic human tendencies, and how they can be compared and contrasted. Each study will concentrate on geography, cultural activities, everyday life, and their political and economic systems.

Upper Elementary students will work in small groups, with each group focusing on a specific civilization. They will collaborate to complete their research at school. On March 5 at 5:30, they will present their findings to you and their peers. I will share more information with you as we progress!

This coming Friday at 9:00, we will make sandwiches for the St. Vincent DePaul Mission and Soup Kitchen in Waterbury. Here is the sign-up for ingredients donations. We’d love to have you join us on Friday as well!

Ms. Mollie: January Simplicity

Posted on by Mollie Smith

January is a time of simplicity yet full of great momentum in the classroom. Teaching about the winter months gives us the opportunity to reflect deeply on how we are modeling love and showing appreciation for the winter. As many of you know, I adore winter, the cold, the snow, and the reminders to slow down. While doing an observation this week, I enjoyed the quiet of watching the children, seeing where children are challenged, where they are having success, and where they need to be pushed to gain more skills. In our Montessori classroom, the children are concentrated, content, and joyful, which are all the things I am looking for. While our week was simple, it was filled with all the right stuff.

With Full Hearts

Ms.Mollie. Ms. Lizette and Ms. Anabelle

January Family Connection Newsletter

Posted on by Karen Sankey

“Growing is a succession of acquisitions of independence. At first they are physical acquisitions – teeth, walking, language – each one comes at the right time if the child is allowed to live naturally, for nature has assigned a definite order for these acquisitions.” -Maria Montessori

The focus of this month’s Family Connection Newsletter from AMS (American Montessori Society) is The Magic of Multi-Age Classrooms in Montessori Education.

The article discusses how Montessori education features a multi-age classroom structure that combines children of different ages in three-year cycles. This Montessori approach offers many benefits:

1. Peer Learning and Mentorship: Younger students learn from older peers, while older students reinforce their knowledge by teaching, fostering a powerful cycle of learning.
2. Individualized Learning: Children progress at their own pace, alleviating pressure to match peers’ performance.
3. Collaboration Over Competition: Emphasis on cooperation helps children focus on personal growth and develop strong interpersonal skills.
4. Stronger Bonds and Community: Long-term relationships with the same classmates and teacher create a trusting environment for risk-taking and growth.
5. Leadership and Responsibility: As children progress, they take on responsibilities, nurturing leadership skills and self-confidence.
6. Real-World Community Reflection: Multi-age classrooms mirror real-world interactions, teaching children empathy, patience, and adaptability.

This multi-age Montessori structure not only enhances academic skills but also cultivates social and emotional strengths for success beyond school. I hope you find the article educational and helpful.

Thank you for being a valued member of our Fraser Woods community!

Karen Sankey
Director of Montessori Education

Mrs. Hood’s Class: Copo de nieve!

Posted on by Andrea Hood

Happy New Year, Families!

We hope you had a wonderful holiday break filled with relaxation and meaningful time with your loved ones. It has been a joy to welcome your children back to the classroom. They transitioned peacefully after the break, arriving eager and ready to explore their environment and engage with the exciting new works on our shelves.

As winter is now in full swing, we’ve embraced the season in our classroom activities and lessons. This month, we are focusing on water and its various stages, offering rich opportunities for conversations and hands-on sensorial experiences.

This week, we introduced one of the most magical forms of water: snowflakes. Thanks to the weather, we had a chance to observe snow falling during playground time, and the children enjoyed trying to catch them with their tongues. We also observed snowflakes falling outside the windows, sparking curiosity and awe. (We’re hoping for more snow soon so we can enjoy it even more hands-on!)

Through simple and relatable language, we explained that while all snowflakes share symmetry and a hexagonal structure, each one is unique. This concept fascinated the children, who eagerly observed examples of snowflake structures displayed around the classroom. They spent time marveling at their differences and expressing their observations. This exploration of snowflakes feels like a beautiful metaphor for your children—each one unique, precious, and full of their own individual beauty. We feel so grateful to witness and support their growth every day.

To complement our lesson on snowflakes, we introduced a Spanish song called “Copo de Nieve” (Snowflake) by Super Simple Español. Using pretend snowflakes of various sizes, the children followed the song’s steps and acted out snowflakes falling from the sky. Along the way, they practiced naming body parts in Spanish, such as cabeza (head), nariz (nose), and mano (hand). We encourage you to add this delightful song to your playlist and sing along with your child at home—it’s a fun and engaging way to reinforce Spanish vocabulary together!

In our language area, we’ve journeyed to the Arctic! The children have been learning about arctic animals, including harp seals, arctic foxes, killer whales, walruses, huskies, caribou, beluga whales, and, of course, polar bears. This week’s focus was on polar bears, sparking curiosity and excitement as we discussed their unique adaptations to life in the cold.

On another note, a new and thrilling addition to our classroom has been the new climbing structure with a taller slide and a swing. If you’re not familiar with the benefits of swinging for toddlers, it’s more than just fun! Swinging promotes physical exercise, enhances sensory integration, and improves balance. As children swing, they engage their vestibular system, which is essential for spatial orientation and coordination. It also provides proprioceptive input, fostering body awareness and control. The rhythmic motion has a calming effect, helping children relax and regulate their emotions. The children have been absolutely captivated by this new movement structure,  spending significant time climbing, sliding, and swinging with joy.

For our food-tasting activity this week, we introduced kale, and it was a resounding success! Every child enjoyed it, thanks to the magic of homemade kale chips. If you haven’t tried this yet, we highly recommend adding kale to your shopping list. Kale chips are easy to make and a wonderful way to introduce this nutritious vegetable to your family. Check the recipe shared by the Micas here.

As we look forward to all the fun this month has in store, we’d like to share a gentle reminder to ensure your child has the necessary winter outdoor gear. Please send snow pants, waterproof mittens with mitten clips, snow boots, a winter hat, and a jacket in a labeled reusable bag. These items will allow your child to fully enjoy outdoor play while staying warm and comfortable.

We are so excited to continue this winter journey with your children and can’t wait to share more wonderful experiences in the coming weeks. Thank you for your continued support and partnership.

Warmly,

Mrs. Hood and Ms. Patty

Ms. Handibode’s Happenings: A Normalized Classroom

Posted on by Michelle Handibode

“Social grace, inner discipline, and joy. These are the birthright of the human being who has been allowed to develop essential human qualities.”  —Maria Montessori

Normalization is a buzzword often used by Montessori teachers everywhere. So, what exactly does it mean, and more importantly, how do we achieve it? When children in a Montessori environment demonstrate deep concentration, self-discipline, social skills, and a true love of work, we describe this as a normalized classroom. Normalization is achieved by consistent and clear ground rules that everyone is familiar with. It is our job to ensure the environment is always well-prepared and designed to meet the needs of the children. As Montessori teachers, we are confident that if we do our job well and the children are free to experience the opportunities provided by the environment and Montessori materials, they will thrive.

After the winter break and upon our return in January, we often see noticeable growth in the children’s social and emotional development. They come back eager to learn and raring to go! In the first half of the year, they have become comfortable and confident with our classroom routines and expectations. They have developed deeper relationships with their peers and teachers. It is always an exciting time and sets the groundwork for the second half of the school year.

Wishing everyone a 2025 filled with much peace and love.

Michelle & Maria

Mrs. Lopes: A Look at Our Week

Posted on by Amanda Lopes


“Social grace, inner discipline, and joy. These are the birthright of the human being who has been allowed to develop essential human qualities.”  —Maria Montessori

Normalization is a buzzword often used by Montessori teachers everywhere. So, what exactly does it mean, and more importantly, how do we achieve it? When children in a Montessori environment demonstrate deep concentration, self-discipline, social skills, and a true love of work, we describe this as a normalized classroom. Normalization is achieved by consistent and clear ground rules that everyone is familiar with. It is our job to ensure the environment is always well-prepared and designed to meet the needs of the children. As Montessori teachers, we are confident that if we do our job well and the children are free to experience the opportunities provided by the environment and Montessori materials, they will thrive.

After the winter break and upon our return in January, we often see noticeable growth in the children’s social and emotional development. They come back eager to learn and raring to go! In the first half of the year, they have become comfortable and confident with our classroom routines and expectations. They have developed deeper relationships with their peers and teachers. It is always an exciting time and sets the groundwork for the second half of the school year.

Wishing everyone a 2025 filled with much peace and love.

Amanda & Hema