Blog

Middle School: Welcome Back!

Posted on by Michelle Lamb

Welcome to the 2025-26 Middle School! It has been so nice to see everyone and have our group come together. We love having our incoming 6th graders and new students join the dynamic as if they have been here all along.

The weekly blog is a great way to find upcoming Middle School announcements and read about what is going on in some of their classes.

Here is what is coming up:

  • Wednesday, 9/17 8:45 am-12:15 pm: Field Experience w/ Catherine Violet Hubbard Animal Sanctuary. Please review the email sent on 9/11, complete the permission form, and view your child’s group for attire.
  • Thursday, 9/25 @ 5:30: Curriculum Night (adult-only event)
  • SAVE THE DATE: Friday, 10/24 @ 6:30 pm: Middle School Halloween Movie Night

Humanities

Grades 6 & 7 Humanities classes began by reviewing the year ahead. Next, students presented their summer reading work to their class. It was impressive to hear about all the wonderful books that were read. We all received some great recommendations! Each year, Humanities classes begin with Identity. The classes read the poem, “Where I’m From” by George Ella Lyon, and composed their own drafts inspired by the original. Afterwards, they reviewed strategies to enhance their pieces by examining descriptive writing, including word choice, figurative language (such as simile, metaphor, and personification), and imagery. Some students have begun the editing and revising process of their poetry using these techniques. Next week, they will complete this initial writing piece about themselves.

The 8th-grade Humanities class also began the year by reviewing what’s ahead. They also presented their summer work on one fiction and one nonfiction book. The students read some impressive novels. The 8th grade also began the year with identity, but more specifically, American identity. Looking at a multicultural and diverse human landscape, they read about and discussed what this means. Students began reading the young adult version of Ronald Takaki’s A Different Mirror. Finally, students ended the week by researching pre-contact civilizations in the Americas.

Science

FWM Middle School students had a very exciting start to the year. Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Grade classes started with general introductory Science concepts that are going to be used to understand science. The purpose of this week was to understand the very basic meaning of the common vocabulary for science class throughout the year. In addition, students had a broad introduction to the scientific method, which is a systematic process that scientists use to do research based on observation and data analysis to explain and test answers to questions that originated in nature. Also, students participated in class activities and classwork to help them understand these concepts. Additionally, students learned about observations, types of observation, data, types of data, what a hypothesis is, experiment, variables, types of variables, and their importance in Science. At the end of the week, Middle School students learned General Laboratory Safety Rules.

Math

It was a great first two weeks back in Middle School Math! Last week, all math groups completed a fun “getting to know you” activity. Students then completed the “show what you know” pre-assessment. This week, they dove into Chapter 1!

Pre-Transition: This week, students dove headfirst into Chapter 1 titled “Some Uses of Integers and Fractions.” Students can now write word names for decimals, indicate parts of trips completed as points on a line segment, and measure and draw lengths in customary units. They will take the Chapter 1 Quiz on Tuesday, September 16th, which will cover material from lessons 1-1 through 1-4.

Transition: The Transition crew jumped into Chapter 1 this week, titled “Reading and Writing Numbers.” This class can now convert powers and word names for numbers and decimals, and use > and < symbols to compare and order numbers. They also know the definition of a rational number and can multiply numbers by powers of ten. They will take the Chapter 1 quiz on Tuesday, September 16th, which will cover material from lessons 1-1 through 1-4.
Algebra: The Algebra class began Chapter 1 this week, titled “Using Algebra to Describe”. Students can now evaluate algebraic expressions, identify and apply the associative, commutative, and transitive properties, and use variables to describe patterns in instances or tables. The Algebra class is also an expert in determining whether two expressions seem equivalent by substituting values or making a table. To wrap up the week, students learned to create a scatterplot from a table or expression, use graphs to determine if two expressions are equivalent, and learned how to use a graphing calculator. They will take the Chapter 1 quiz on Tuesday, September 16th, which will cover material from lessons 1-1 through 1-5.
Geometry: This week, the Geometry class started Chapter 1 titled “Points and Lines.” Students can determine the distance between points on a number line, graph lines and points in the coordinate plane, and write and graph equations of lines. This class can also analyze networks and recognize and use undefined terms and postulates. They will take the Chapter 1 quiz on Tuesday, September 16th, which will cover material from lessons 1-1 through 1-4.
Algebra II: Algebra II is moving full steam ahead through Chapter 1 titled “Functions.” This class can now evaluate expressions and formulas, determine whether a given relation is a function, and use mapping and f(x) notation for functions. This class can also determine the domain and range of a function. They will take the Chapter 1 quiz on Tuesday, September 16th, which will cover material from lessons 1-1 through 1-4.

Enrichment at FWM

Posted on by Gina Tryforos

At Fraser Woods Montessori, enrichment classes—including Art, Performing Arts, Physical Education (PE), MakerSpace, and Spanish—play an essential role in supporting the whole child and enhancing the Montessori experience.

Art nurtures creativity, self-expression, and fine motor skills. By exploring a variety of media and techniques, students learn to think imaginatively and develop their unique artistic voices. Art also strengthens emotional intelligence, giving children meaningful ways to express their thoughts and feelings.

Performing Arts builds cognitive development, language skills, and spatial awareness while also enhancing memory, focus, and problem-solving. Through music, movement, and drama, students gain confidence, practice collaboration, and experience the joy of creative expression in a group setting.

Physical Education (PE) promotes health, strength, and motor development while encouraging personal growth over competition. In line with Montessori principles, PE emphasizes self-discipline, balance, and perseverance, which support students’ ability to focus and thrive in all areas of learning.

MakerSpace sparks innovation through hands-on exploration. Students tinker, build, and experiment, developing critical thinking, problem-solving, and design skills. This creative space fosters curiosity and empowers children to bring their ideas to life.

Spanish introduces students to the joys of learning another language and culture. Early exposure to Spanish strengthens memory, enhances communication skills, and broadens global awareness. Lessons often include immersive activities, songs, and games that make language learning engaging and natural.

Together, these enrichment opportunities expand the Montessori classroom by encouraging self-discovery, creativity, social growth, and cognitive development. They reflect our commitment to educating the whole child in a joyful, meaningful way.

Look out for weekly posts from each of our enrichment teachers to learn more about the experiences your child is enjoying!

This Week in Upper El

Posted on by Karen Sankey

Welcome to a new school year, Upper Elementary families! We had a fantastic first two weeks filled with getting to know each other, sharing experiences, and learning together.

This week, we began our small and large group lessons. In history, we are exploring humans’ closest living relatives and how humans fit into the classification of life. In biology, we will study the vital functions of animals throughout the year. We kicked off our biology lessons by examining the classification system and the five kingdoms of life.

In geometry, fourth-year students learned about the seven types of triangles, while fifth-year students focused on calculating the area of parallelograms. In grammar, fourth graders explored common and proper nouns, and fifth graders began their study of verbs, starting with pronouns and simple tenses. Our writing lessons began with an exploration of the difference between a sentence and a fragment. All students are already working hard and collaborating with friends on independent work and other assignments.

We’ve also enjoyed setting our routines, selecting classroom jobs, and playing on the field, playground, and in the outdoor classroom woods.

We look forward to seeing you on Thursday, September 25, at 5:30 PM for Curriculum Night!

Ms. Mollie’s Toddler Class Highlights!

Posted on by lizettegeudes

As we begin the second week of school, the initial anticipation has settled, and the careful preparation of our Montessori environment is supporting the children as they ease into their new routines. It is a joy to watch our returning students confidently re-engage with their activities and serve as positive role models for the younger children. We are so proud of them.

We are equally grateful to see our new students adjusting, exploring, and beginning to develop a love for their new environment. The children especially enjoy their time outdoors, which offers the perfect opportunity to build trust and connection with our toddlers.

As Maria Montessori beautifully expressed, “The child who has felt a strong sense of trust from the adult will develop a trust in the world around him.” This trust lies at the heart of our work and helps each child feel secure, confident, and ready to learn.

We are deeply thankful to the parents for entrusting us with their little treasures. It is truly an honor to be part of their journey of growth and discovery.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend!

Ms. Rhodora’s Class: Our First Week

Posted on by Rhodora Santayana

We welcomed a group of fabulous children to FWM! The children are off to a great start. Your children arrived with hardly a tear and are now busy settling in, making friends, and learning routines. Each day, they find their locker, hang up their backpacks, put on their indoor shoes, and put their snack and water bottles in the classroom.

During Phase in, we focused on safety rules, grace, and courtesy in our classroom. The daily calendar activities have captured their attention quite easily. We learned to line up properly and stand in line, respecting our friends’ space. This lesson helped the children practice following directions and using listening skills. Throughout the week, we also worked on saying ‘please’, ‘thank you’, and ‘excuse me’.
Thank you so much, Ms. Sankey, for visiting our class. We really enjoyed meeting Houdini. We appreciate you taking the time to come by.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Ms Rhodora & Ms Anabel

Welcome Back Lower Elementary!

Posted on by Ashley O'Connell

What an amazing start to the school year! Lower Elementary has been full of energy as we welcomed new classmates and reunited with familiar friends. To help everyone feel connected, we jumped right into fun activities like name games, bingo, and a classroom scavenger hunt. These games made it easy to learn each other’s names and sparked plenty of laughter, setting the stage for a warm and collaborative classroom community. We also tapped into our creativity by crafting peace doves and self-portraits to be displayed in the classroom as symbols of the harmony we’re building together this year.

Starting last week, you’ll also notice Friday Folders coming home with your child. Each Friday, your child will bring home a folder labeled with their name that contains some of the work they’ve completed during the week. Please take a moment to look through and enjoy their work with them, then remove the contents before sending the empty folder back on Monday. It’s important to note that the work you see in these folders is just a portion of what your child is doing in the classroom. Students also complete work in notebooks, workbooks, and through lots of hands-on, sensorial materials. The Friday Folders give you a small window into their week, and we really appreciate your help in keeping this routine going smoothly!

Looking back on this first week, it’s clear that we’re off to a wonderful beginning. The enthusiasm, creativity, and kindness already shining through make us excited for everything ahead. Here’s to a year filled with learning, friendship, and growth!

Ms. Vicki’s Phase-In and First Week

Posted on by Vicki Downs

We have had so much fun in class so far! We have been exploring our classroom and new materials, getting to know each other, and learning new routines. We have been learning about apples and farm animals. We have also been singing a lot of Old MacDonald Had a Farm!

Mrs. Wilson: A Beautiful Start to a Beautiful Year

Posted on by Cynthia Wilson

The past two weeks have been nothing short of magical, one of the smoothest phase-ins I’ve experienced in my 15 years. The children have adjusted beautifully to their new environment, teachers, and peers.

During the first week, our focus was simply on helping them feel safe and building trust in all the newness. By the second week, we began introducing grace and courtesy lessons such as using a work mat, returning work to the shelf, sitting to eat, and tucking in chairs.

In just two short weeks, the amount of learning and growth has been inspiring. I can already tell this is going to be a truly beautiful year!

First Birthday Celebration of the school year.

Love and Light,

Cynthia and Sara