Blog

The Power of a Multi-Aged Classroom in Lower Elementary

Posted on by Ashley O'Connell

One of my favorite aspects of teaching in a Montessori lower elementary classroom is the multi-aged environment.  One of the most remarkable benefits of this multi-aged setting is how it fosters mentorship. Older students naturally step into leadership roles, guiding and supporting their younger classmates. This dynamic offers a wealth of opportunities for both groups. Older children who take on the role of a mentor develop leadership, patience, and empathy. They solidify their own understanding of concepts by teaching and helping others. Younger students, in turn, benefit from the modeling of skills and behaviors from their peers, often finding inspiration in their mentors.

The multi-aged setup reflects real-world communities where individuals of different ages and abilities learn from one another. It encourages collaboration over competition and helps cultivate a deep sense of responsibility, as older students realize the positive impact they can have on their peers’ learning journey. In this nurturing environment, every child has the chance to be both a learner and a leader, ensuring growth and development on a holistic level. This mentorship model is a cornerstone of Montessori education, and its benefits extend far beyond the classroom.

Mrs. Wilson: Weekly Happenings

Posted on by Cynthia Wilson

This week, we surprised the children with a new addition to our class—a beautiful blue betta fish named Spider. One of our older students took the lead in naming our new friend, making the experience even more special.

For the month of October, our theme will focus on all things related to the color orange and pumpkins. In the Refinement of the Hands area, we are concentrating on activities that strengthen fine motor skills. The children will have opportunities to practice hand transfer, spooning, pouring, and posting with carefully selected materials that challenge their dexterity and coordination. To keep the Practical Life area fresh and engaging, we will update the objects with each season, ensuring that the activities remain attractive and relevant to the children’s experiences.

Food Tasting: This week, we received some garden-fresh bell peppers to taste. The children sampled an array of peppers in red, yellow, orange, and green.

Love and Light,

Cynthia and Sara

Mrs. Hood: From Apples to Pumpkins -A Week of Hands-On Discovery

Posted on by Andrea Hood

 

What a wonderful week we’ve had in our toddler classroom! One of the main highlights was a fun sensorial experience that wrapped up our apple studies. Your children dissected an apple, and oh boy, did they enjoy it! With their senses full of curiosity, they touched, observed, smelled, peeled, and cored a delicious apple. Using the handle of the peeler was fun, but the real magic happened when they saw the apple skin peel off and fall onto the napkin—it was like watching their eyes light up with excitement!

They also helped break the apple into pieces, which we placed in our crockpot to cook down into a delicious applesauce. The next morning, we gathered as a class to enjoy the fruits of their labor. They were so proud to share in the result of their hard work!

Food preparation is such a central part of our Practical Life curriculum. The benefits of including children in these tasks are countless. Not only does it help develop fine motor skills and build coordination, but it also encourages picky eaters to try new things. There’s something so special about tasting food you helped prepare! These activities also foster a sense of community and support learning in areas like nutrition, science, and math.

This week, we also started our study of pumpkins! The children were fascinated by the food-tasting lesson, where they got to try pumpkin, and they explored the outside and inside of a pumpkin in our classroom sensory bin. The new vocabulary—skin, pulp, strands, and seeds—was used to describe the different parts. We also talked about how pumpkins feel: cold, bumpy, and soft were words we repeated a lot, and of course, we talked about the color orange. Some children were excited to dig their hands into the pumpkin’s gooey insides, while others were more cautious, preferring to gently touch the seeds or skin. It was amazing to watch their individual reactions, from wonder and curiosity to skepticism and even a little bit of disgust!

In our Practical Life area, we introduced a new water transfer activity using a sea wool sponge. As simple as it sounds, this was one of the most popular activities of the week! The children were fascinated by the “magic” of watching the water disappear into the sponge and then reappear when they squeezed it out. They also learned two new vocabulary words, empty and full, which they loved repeating throughout the week. At the end of the activity, they took pride in cleaning up any spills with a towel.

Lastly, we celebrated another birthday, and we all had fun cheering our friend up and enjoying some yummy treats together!

We look forward to many more enriching experiences as we continue to explore the wonders of Fall! Thank you for your continued support, and please feel free to try these activities at home to extend the learning.

Warmly,

Mrs. Hood and Ms. Noelle

Reminders:

* October 16th- Toddler Pumpkin patch (if desired, dress your child Fall theme)

* October 23rd- Picture day

*October 25th- Parent-Teacher conference (please sign up if you haven’t done so yet)

Mrs. Sargeant: A Peek at the Week

Posted on by Christine Sargeant

When we introduce new concepts or materials to the children, we often do so using a three-period lesson. This is an important tenet of Montessori education, and it helps to move the child from basic understanding of a concept to mastery.

Period One is the introduction stage. In this stage we are isolating new vocabulary to the children. For example, if we are introducing the color tablets, we say, “This is blue.”  Repeating that statement and allowing the child to manipulate the blue color tablet are crucial during this stage.

Period Two is all about association and recognition. It is often a separate lesson. We do not ask the children to remember the vocabulary or recall the concept.  We are simply reinforcing the concept taught in Period One. We use words such as “Show me the blue tablet” or “Can you place the blue tablet on your lap?”

Period Three is the recall stage and the first time we ask the child to remember the concept independently. We ask them, “What is this?” when showing them the blue color tablet. We are careful not to begin Period Three until we know they are ready for success.

Every time a child masters a new concept, it builds the foundation for the next lesson or concept to be taught.

We have been talking, reading, and singing about apples. This week, we tasted and compared three varieties of apples: Macoun (red), golden delicious (yellow), and granny smith (green). We tallied the votes for favorites, and the Macoun apple was the most popular choice! I wonder which was your child’s favorite. Thank you all for supplying the apples!

Wishing your families a peaceful week, Christine & Fatima

Ms. Marissa: What is Oceania?

Posted on by Marissa Frisk

We had another very busy and productive week! We celebrated two birthdays, got our pictures taken, and continued to explore all the activities in our classroom.

Children have been sorting land, air, and water vehicles, looking at our globe that shows where the oceans and continents are by using smooth and rough materials to represent each, making Jack O’Lantern Metal Inset drawings, re-enacting our favorite October story, Room on the Broom, and getting our school pictures taken!
As we explore land and water on Earth, we talk more and more about each continent. In our classroom, the continents are color-coded so children can easily learn their general shapes and names. North America is orange, South America is pink, Africa is green, Asia is yellow, Europe is red, Antarctica is white, and Oceania is brown. We also have a very catchy song that we sing often!
Did you know Australia’s large land mass, including the thousands of surrounding islands and New Zealand, is referred to as Oceania? That is why we’ve included Oceania in our continent song.
North America,
South America,
Africa, Asia, Euroooope.
Don’t forget Antarctica,
Don’t forget Oceaniaaa.
North America,
South America,
Africa, Asia, Eurooooope!
Have a wonderful weekend!
Marissa & Sue

Middle School: Week in Review

Posted on by Michelle Lamb

The Middle School students had a great week. Here are some Save-the-Dates:

  • Friday, 10/18: Middle School pictures RESCHEDULED
  • Friday, 10/25,  6-8:30 pm @ FWM: MS Gathering: Classic Halloween Movie Night (Look for the upcoming Evite)
  • Thursday, 10/31: MS Halloween Party in School (Costumes welcome! Look out for more info next week)

Here is what went on this week:

Humanities

In 6th grade Humanities, students continue to read their class novel Becoming Naomi Leon and are getting used to regular reading assignments and expectations from Mrs. Lamb. Class book discussions are lively and showcase the students’ ability to relate to the text and make parallels. While students learned the parts of plot last week, they focused on conflict in literature this week. Using their class novel, they identified the different types of conflict that exist in the plot. With Ms. Sara, students worked on creating soap carvings just as the novel’s protagonist, Naomi, does.

7th-grade Humanities classes finished their first class novel, Tie That Bind, Ties That Break. With that, they have been studying 19th century China and the events that contributed to the fall of the Qing dynasty. They learned about The Opium Wars, the Taiping Rebellion, and the Boxer Rebellion. Students also used their annotation skills when reading articles surrounding each of these. Finally, the 7th graders completed a written discussion about cultural perspective.

The 8th-grade Humanities class worked on their Powhatan Confederacy picture book project that they had designed and planned. They completed all of the research surrounding the content of the book and are currently laying it out and drafting their pages. They also lead two tours and had discussions with vistors from Abbott Technical School and Northfield Mount Hermon School.

Science

6th grade :
Students wrote and conducted their very own experiment this week.  They were provided with an observation, some students listen to music while working and report performing better on assignments and exams while doing so.  The basics of scientific method and experimental design were then reviewed before putting students to work on writing an experiment to investigate this problem.  Investigations were conducted on Thursday and Friday of this week in class.  Next week, they will work with analyzing their data and developing conclusions.
This week, students in all grades were given a literacy lab. This weekly homework assignment is handed out on Monday and is expected back by Friday. Be sure to ask your student for the details.
7th and 8th grade:
The classes have now moved on to the last topic of their introductory unit, data analysis, and graphing.  This week, students worked with data to develop visual representations.  They learned the importance of graphing in science and how it is used to show the relationship between two related values, the independent and dependent variables.  Students learned to look for patterns and speak to how entities are related to each other.  They also learned to distinguish what kind of graph is appropriate for different types of data.
Math
Pre-Transition: This week, students began their learning of Chapter 2, “Decimals and Percents.” They explored ways to identify place values in a decimal number and how to graph and read decimals on a number line. Students were eager to know and apply the Substitution Principle for decimals and percents, as well as multiply decimals by 1/10, 1/100, and so on. They will continue learning about decimals and percents next week and will write the Chapter 2 quiz.
Transition: This week, students wrote their Chapter 1 test and confidently demonstrated their understanding of all Chapter 1 concepts. The class then dove into Chapter 2, “Using Variables.” Students began exploring how to write descriptions of patterns using variables, how to represent a relationship between two variables using a table, and ways to write numerical expressions involving arithmetic. Next week, they will continue their learning by evaluating algebraic expressions and calculating variable expressions.
Algebra: This week, students began exploring Chapter 2, “Using Algebra to Explain.” The class practiced using the Distributive Property to expand and combine like terms and apply it to real-world situations. They also began exploring the use of Opposite Properties and how to test the equivalence of expressions using spreadsheets and technology. They will conclude the week by writing the Chapter 2 quiz.
Geometry: This week, the class discovered how to write the converse of a conditional statement, practiced and applied the properties of a good definition, and began using and interpreting union and intersection of two sets. They also became experts in using and interpreting Venn diagrams. Students will conclude the week by writing the Chapter 2 quiz.

Ms. Mollie: October Adventures

Posted on by Mollie Smith

What a wonderful week! There are so many new adventures and experiences; I know how lucky I feel to share them with your children. The children were so excited to make apple sauce together; it took three days till we could finally try it; the result was well worth it!  The children help in each step, cutting the apples, adding the cinnamon stick,  putting the apples in the crock pot, putting the apples through the sieve, and then eating them the next day! In the Montessori classroom, you will always hear teachers say, ” Your child is so capable.” Give the children the right tools, and they will show us how capable they really are. This week, we focused on the “Grace and Courtesy Lessons” by introducing statements for communication, “This is my work,” “No thank-you,” “Please don’t touch my work,” “Walk around,” “This is my mat,” giving those words and modeling how we use them helps the child to understand how to communicate while being respectful, and confident.  This is another way that we give our toddlers the tools for success!  This week, we also had our first classroom birthday, in which all the children shared joy with their friends with deep enthusiasm! Turning two is a big deal, and we all wish our friend a year of love, light, and growth!

With full hearts,

Ms. Mollie and Ms. Lizette

Ms. Mollie: Falling into October

Posted on by Mollie Smith

October is finally here!! It’s only been a few days, and we have been exploring and learning all about what “Fall” is.  The easiest way for young children to learn about nature is to give them many concrete experiences and allow for unlimited exploration.  Our school campus has provided many experiences to see what Fall truly has to offer; we have been holding insects, collecting leaves, and spreading milkweed seeds. The milkweed provided many tactile experiences, along with the pure magic of watching it float so high into the sky, with the hope that it will feed future monarchs for years to come. As a classroom we also got to all experience a ladybug crawling on a leaf and then flying away, the children had a range of emotions, joy, excitement, curiosity, and sadness when it took flight.

This week we also welcomed in our first cultural celebration and gratitude, we enjoyed learning about the traditions of Rosh Hashanah! The children explored a honeycomb, apples, and the sweetest honey…..but most of all, they loved eating our apples and honey together to symbolize the hope for a sweet new year! Rosh Hashanah is a time of reflection, future thinking, and gratitude! We wish all who observe a “Shana Tova”!  A special thank you to “Nini’ for gifting us honey and honeycomb from your very own bee hives! 

We will be focused on a variety of activities, many of which will include fall themes. We will be specifically emphasizing in our vocabulary what we see occurring in nature, leaves color changing, leaves falling, using words like Autumn, Fall, Halloween, Pumpkins, Corn and Acorn.

With full hearts,

Ms. Mollie and Ms. Lizette