Click here for more photos!

This week was full of so many memorable moments as our Lower Elementary community came together to celebrate the end of such a wonderful school year. The children have worked so hard this year and have grown in so many ways. It was so special closing this chapter together, focusing on community, connection, celebration, and pure fun.

Our days during the school year are so full. Mornings are busy with lessons and all the independent work the children are focused on. Afternoons are filled with specials, reading groups, and transitions. So, this week really felt extra special. We had the chance to slow down a little and make more time to just truly enjoy our final days together as one big Lower El community. It was a week of fun, laughter, and memory-making.

Field Day was a huge hit. The children had the best time doing relays, playing tug-of-war, and all the other awesome activities organized by Mr. Fisher. After lunch, we even had an incredible Dance-Off led by Mrs. Kirk. It was fun, busy, and full of energy, and incredible teamwork, school spirit, and friendly competition. We loved watching the children cheer one another on and enjoy such an awesome day together.

Tuesday was Pajama Day. PJ day is always the best; who doesn’t love being extra cozy at school? We loved seeing everyone’s different pajamas and getting to meet all of the special stuffed animals and cozy friends they brought along to keep them company during lunch and recess. We even had a chance to watch The Jungle Book during lunchtime. The children watched the movie as they enjoyed their food. It made for such a cozy and fun change of pace during the week. The highlights were definitely listening to the children compare parts of the movie to the mini musical they put on a few short weeks ago, and the whole group busting out in song when “Bare Necessities” came on.

Beach Day was another favorite. The classroom was filled with beach-themed fun work and lots of awesome beach day gear. Later in the day, we headed outside with our beach towels for a picnic lunch on the field, complete with popsicles. It was such a sweet way to enjoy one another’s company and soak up a little summer feeling before the year came to a close.

Our end-of-year Lower Elementary celebration was also such a blast. The children spent time outside playing outdoor games, enjoying treats (special thanks to Jocelyn and Jessica, Sully and Kai’s moms), and having fun together on the field. It was exactly what we hoped for: a chance for the children to laugh, play, and be together in an extra fun way. The excitement on their faces when they discovered the whole setup was for them was the best.

On Friday morning, we gathered for one last morning as our full class of 32. It was a special time to pause and take in the final days of this particular classroom community. This group has shared so much together, and it felt important to have that time all together before heading into summer and before some children move on to their next chapter. We gathered on the field and had some special fun with bubbles as we got ready to send our third-years off to their next adventure.

The Moving Up Ceremony was a beautiful way to end the year. A very special congratulations to all of our third-year students who are moving on to Upper Elementary. They have grown so much, and they will be deeply missed in Lower Elementary. We were also so happy to welcome the Primary third years, who are now officially part of our Lower Elementary community. It was a lovely way to honor both endings and new beginnings.

It has been incredible to watch the children learn, grow, and change throughout the year. I have loved not only seeing the way they grew academically but just getting to know each and every one of them, getting to chat, laugh, and spend our days together. This is such a special group of children, and I feel very grateful for the year we have shared.

As we close out the year, I also want to take a moment to thank all of our families for your partnership. Your kindness, gratitude, and support throughout the year, and especially during this final week, have meant so much. Thank you all for the beautiful cards, generous gifts, and thoughtful conversations, which have truly meant the world to me.

This year was a big transition for me, as I left a school community where I had built lifelong relationships with the whole school community, from families to administration. Coming to FWM was a huge leap of faith. I left a second home, a thriving classroom community, a place where I felt loved and appreciated, all to mainstream my life and work closer to my children. I had long admired FWM, especially after being part of the toddler parent course 7 years ago with my child, but I wasn’t sure what it would be like to be part of the community. It’s safe to say the risk was well worth taking. I am so grateful I followed the path that led me here. I am so very grateful to be part of this special community.

Thank you all for welcoming me into this community with such open arms this year. Thank you for sharing your incredible children with me and partnering to support them. Thank you for showing up, for being so eager to volunteer your time for anything and everything from field trips, to bread making, to mystery reading, you all show up every single time and we are so thankful.

We end this school year with full and grateful hearts. It has been a joy and a privilege to teach your children, to laugh with them, and to watch them grow. We hope each and every one of you has a wonderful summer with your children, filled with many special memories. We look forward to reconnecting at the beginning of the next school year. See you then!

Click here for more photos!

This week was full of so many memorable moments as our Lower Elementary community came together to celebrate the end of such a wonderful school year. The children have worked so hard this year and have grown in so many ways. It was so special closing this chapter together, focusing on community, connection, celebration, and pure fun.

Our days during the school year are so full. Mornings are busy with lessons and all the independent work the children are focused on. Afternoons are filled with specials, reading groups, and transitions. So, this week really felt extra special. We had the chance to slow down a little and make more time to just truly enjoy our final days together as one big Lower El community. It was a week of fun, laughter, and memory-making.

Field Day was a huge hit. The children had the best time doing relays, playing tug-of-war, and all the other awesome activities organized by Mr. Fisher. After lunch, we even had an incredible Dance-Off led by Mrs. Kirk. It was fun, busy, and full of energy, and incredible teamwork, school spirit, and friendly competition. We loved watching the children cheer one another on and enjoy such an awesome day together.

Tuesday was Pajama Day. PJ day is always the best; who doesn’t love being extra cozy at school? We loved seeing everyone’s different pajamas and getting to meet all of the special stuffed animals and cozy friends they brought along to keep them company during lunch and recess. We even had a chance to watch The Jungle Book during lunchtime. The children watched the movie as they enjoyed their food. It made for such a cozy and fun change of pace during the week. The highlights were definitely listening to the children compare parts of the movie to the mini musical they put on a few short weeks ago, and the whole group busting out in song when “Bare Necessities” came on.

Beach Day was another favorite. The classroom was filled with beach-themed fun work and lots of awesome beach day gear. Later in the day, we headed outside with our beach towels for a picnic lunch on the field, complete with popsicles. It was such a sweet way to enjoy one another’s company and soak up a little summer feeling before the year came to a close.

Our end-of-year Lower Elementary celebration was also such a blast. The children spent time outside playing outdoor games, enjoying treats (special thanks to Jocelyn and Jessica, Sully and Kai’s moms), and having fun together on the field. It was exactly what we hoped for: a chance for the children to laugh, play, and be together in an extra fun way. The excitement on their faces when they discovered the whole setup was for them was the best.

On Friday morning, we gathered for one last morning as our full class of 32. It was a special time to pause and take in the final days of this particular classroom community. This group has shared so much together, and it felt important to have that time all together before heading into summer and before some children move on to their next chapter. We gathered on the field and had some special fun with bubbles as we got ready to send our third-years off to their next adventure.

The Moving Up Ceremony was a beautiful way to end the year. A very special congratulations to all of our third-year students who are moving on to Upper Elementary. They have grown so much, and they will be deeply missed in Lower Elementary. We were also so happy to welcome the Primary third years, who are now officially part of our Lower Elementary community. It was a lovely way to honor both endings and new beginnings.

It has been incredible to watch the children learn, grow, and change throughout the year. I have loved not only seeing the way they grew academically but just getting to know each and every one of them, getting to chat, laugh, and spend our days together. This is such a special group of children, and I feel very grateful for the year we have shared.

As we close out the year, I also want to take a moment to thank all of our families for your partnership. Your kindness, gratitude, and support throughout the year, and especially during this final week, have meant so much. Thank you all for the beautiful cards, generous gifts, and thoughtful conversations, which have truly meant the world to me.

This year was a big transition for me, as I left a school community where I had built lifelong relationships with the whole school community, from families to administration. Coming to FWM was a huge leap of faith. I left a second home, a thriving classroom community, a place where I felt loved and appreciated, all to mainstream my life and work closer to my children. I had long admired FWM, especially after being part of the toddler parent course 7 years ago with my child, but I wasn’t sure what it would be like to be part of the community. It’s safe to say the risk was well worth taking. I am so grateful I followed the path that led me here. I am so very grateful to be part of this special community.

Thank you all for welcoming me into this community with such open arms this year. Thank you for sharing your incredible children with me and partnering to support them. Thank you for showing up, for being so eager to volunteer your time for anything and everything from field trips, to bread making, to mystery reading, you all show up every single time and we are so thankful.

We end this school year with full and grateful hearts. It has been a joy and a privilege to teach your children, to laugh with them, and to watch them grow. We hope each and every one of you has a wonderful summer with your children, filled with many special memories. We look forward to reconnecting at the beginning of the next school year. See you then!

Our second-to-last week of school has been so full. The hive is still buzzing away, and as busy as ever. The room is filled with lively energy and the hum of the children deeply engaged in their work. Spring is such an interesting time in the classroom. It often begins with what we like to call “spring fever”, when the children’s energy rises, the days feel full of anticipation, and excitement fills the air. During this time, the steady rhythm of the classroom becomes especially important. Familiar routines, purposeful work, and gentle reminders help the children find their way back to focus, and before long, they settle beautifully into the work again. That is what we are feeling right now. The classroom feels deeply settled. The lessons are flowing, the children are moving through the days with purpose, and their work habits feel that much more mature than they did even a month ago. They are older, more grounded, and more confident in themselves. They are advancing through the curriculum with such eagerness and excitement, and are even more engaged and actively participating in lessons than ever.

This week, we continued to fill our work cycles with new lessons while also tying up loose ends and reviewing important core concepts. There is a lovely balance in these final days. New discoveries are still unfolding, while familiar work is revisited with greater understanding and independence. It is hard to believe this is all coming to a pause in one short week. In some ways, it almost feels wrong to disrupt this buzzing hive. The classroom is alive with purposeful work, deep focus, collaboration, and joy. Yet, it is time. It is time to move on to summer. It is time for the children to relax, play, be outside, and have fun making core memories with their families. It is time for slower mornings and the kind of unhurried joy that summer brings. It is time to close this chapter, prepare for the next, and look forward to September, when they will return a little older, a little taller, and ready for all that is ahead.

Next week, we will have a few final lessons during our last work days together, while making plenty of time for fun as we enjoy these final moments as a class of 32. What a full and meaningful year it has been, and what a gift it is to watch this hive continue to buzz right up until the end!


Reminders for Next Week-

As we head into our final week together, we have a fun-filled schedule ahead!

• Monday: Field Day
  The children will be divided into teams for a full day of outdoor fun. Each child will receive a Field Day t-shirt in their team color to wear for the day.
• Tuesday: Pajama Day
  Children are invited to wear their pajamas to school!
• Wednesday: Beach Day
  Wear your favorite beach day attire and accessories to school.
• Thursday: Unconventional Container Day
  Bring your belongings in something other than your backpack. We can’t wait to see their creativity!
• Friday: Moving Up Day
  Wear Fraser Woods colors or Fraser Woods merch. Friday will also be an early dismissal day.

The Moving Up Ceremony will begin at 10:00 a.m. While all students will participate in the ceremony, the spotlight will be on our students who are moving up to the next level. Parents of students who are moving up — T2S, Kindergarteners, 3rd graders, 5th graders, and 8th graders — are specifically invited to join us for the ceremony.

This week was filled with opportunities for the children to shine in ways that went far beyond the classroom. At the beginning of the week, many children from Lower Elementary participated in their very first cheer showcase and did an incredible job. What made it even more remarkable was that they were all brand new to cheer. They were brave, proud, focused, and quite honestly, skilled. So much credit goes to Ms. G, who is an experienced cheer coach and is clearly amazing at what she does. Her guidance, encouragement, and belief in the children were evident in the way they performed. The children deserve equal credit for their dedication, bravery, confidence, and grit. Even when something felt challenging or even a little scary, they persisted. They practiced, they trusted themselves, and they showed up with excitement and pride as they shared their routine with the families who attended.

On Thursday, our students had the opportunity to be part of the audience for the musical performed by the Upper Elementary and Middle School students. As always, our children were respectful, supportive, and engaged audience members. They were clearly inspired by the older children and excited by the thought of what is to come, both for their own mini musical the next day and when they, too, will be part of a full school production in Upper El and Middle School.

On Friday, it was so wonderful to welcome families to see the Jungle Story, a mini musical, performed by our Lower Elementary children. The children were absolutely incredible. Once again, we owe immense credit to Mrs. Kirk, who is clearly gifted, deeply loves what she does, and knows how to bring out the best in children. That love and talent were reflected in the children’s performance skills, joy, and enthusiasm. Every child was beaming on stage, and it was so evident that they were having a great time up there. They were confident, brave, and fully present. Even children who may sometimes be more timid showed up with such confidence and excitement. It was a beautiful reminder of what children are capable of when they are given the opportunity, support, and space to grow and gently encouraged to go outside of their comfort zone.

It is so valuable that the children are being introduced to performing, presenting, and expressing themselves at a young age. At this stage of development, children are usually more open, willing to try new things, and freer in their self-expression. They are still learning who they are and what they are capable of, and they have not yet developed the same level of self-consciousness that can come with age. By having these opportunities now, they are building a strong foundation of comfort and confidence. They are learning that it is safe to try new things and are invited to discover their hidden gifts and talents. As they grow older, moments like performing or speaking in front of others may begin to feel more intimidating, but these early experiences will already be part of who they are. They will have practiced being in front of an audience, and they will remember the pride that comes after doing something brave. They will know what it feels like to put in the work and contribute to something bigger than themselves, and the joy of shared accomplishment.

This is at the foundation of Montessori education and the way we nurture the whole child. The work we do is far beyond academics. It is about helping children develop confidence, independence, creativity, determination, focus, responsibility, and a strong sense of self. Whether a child is doing their work during work cycle, caring for the environment, collaborating with peers, or sharing during morning meeting, they are developing independence, confidence, and a true understanding of what they are capable of.

This week reminded us that confidence is something that grows through experience. It grows each time a child tries something challenging. It grows each time they are supported and encouraged by adults who see the potential in them. It grows each time they do something new. We are always so proud of the children for the courage, joy, and dedication they show every day, and especially this week. They continue to show both themselves and us just how capable they truly are. When we remove traditional limitations and keep the child’s capabilities at the forefront, we create an environment where each child is given the freedom, support, and opportunity to reach their fullest potential.

As the school year begins to wind down, our days feel even fuller. Lessons continue to flow, routines stay steady, and the children will continue to learn and grow right up until the very end. We are focused on finishing the year with intention and making every moment count.

This time of year, despite it being what feels like the busiest time of all, invites a quiet pause to look back at the school year that is almost behind us. I consistently find myself in awe at just how fast the school year has passed and how much the children have grown and changed since the beginning of the school year. What once required sustained effort and careful guidance now unfolds with a sense of ease. There is greater independence, deeper concentration, and growing perseverance in the way the children move through their work cycles. In the midst of the daily rhythm of the school year, these moments can quietly pass by, but the end of the year creates space to pause and reflect.

Our visit to the Adventure Park this week was one of those moments where we had the opportunity to witness, outside of the classroom, how much the children have grown. The day felt like pure fun to the children, but it was full of so much meaningful learning under the surface. I chose not to participate in the climbing so I could remain available and observe the children more closely. I walked the grounds all day, and from that place, I was able to witness all of the children and their moments of pure joy, deep bravery, and the quiet ways they pushed past their limits.

The adventure course was so much more than a day of fun and an opportunity to work on balance, coordination, and strength. Each obstacle required the children to think, be patient, and persevere if something didn’t work out the first time. By the end of the day, you could see the children’s confidence grow so much. There were so many incredible acts of bravery and children confidently stepping outside of their comfort zones. By the middle of the day, many children who were initially hesitant were moving through the course with such a sense of trust in themselves and their abilities and pure excitement.

There was also a strong sense of community throughout the day. The children cheered for each other, offered encouragement, supported one another when challenges arose, and celebrated everyone’s successes. That kind of support is what we always encourage, but seeing it show up so naturally in a different setting was a beautiful reminder of how much it is part of our classroom culture.

As we keep moving through these final weeks, there will continue to be a lot of learning happening. We are finishing projects, introducing and reviewing important skills, and making sure the children are prepared for the upcoming school year. There is also so much fun ahead and time to celebrate the great year we’ve had together and all the growth and progress that has been made!

One of the many roles of the Montessori teacher is to guide children on their own individual journeys of discovery. We aren’t meant to teach in a traditional sense by imparting knowledge, but rather to guide children toward finding answers for themselves, recognizing patterns, making connections, and allowing them to come up with their own strategies. There truly is nothing better than witnessing that “aha” moment when a child lights up after making their own discovery.

The Montessori materials support this process by giving children enough sensorial experience to derive formulas, rules, and understanding from their own work. Through repeated experiences with the materials, children begin to build generalizations based on the patterns and relationships they discover for themselves.

The elementary child is naturally drawn to “big work.” Big work is work that completely absorbs the child in a large endeavor of time, space, or complexity. It may be physically large in size, deeply detailed, intellectually challenging, or all of the above! We provide the child with essential details and guidance, while we encourage them to go further and research, explore, and discover more on their own.

Big work can happen in any area of the curriculum; it is not limited to one subject or one type of material. It is really about the child entering into work that fully captures their attention and invites them to go further than what was initially presented. This week was filled with beautiful examples of big work unfolding naturally with math work in the classroom.

A group of children began working with multiples and quickly moved far beyond the scope of the original lesson. What started as simple follow-up work to a presentation they were recently given turned into an enormous mathematical investigation that required the children to work through every box of bead bars in our classroom. When we ran out, the children eagerly borrowed more from Upper El so they could continue the work. Their excitement only grew as new patterns emerged and they made new discoveries. The school day ended before their work did, and the children pleaded to leave the work out so they could continue discovering more multiples on Monday. Their concentration, collaboration, and pure joy in the work were a reminder that children are capable of far more than we often imagine when they are given the freedom to follow their curiosities.

Another child experienced a similar moment while working with test tube division. After successfully working through the material as it was presented, there was a sudden pause followed by an excited realization of being able to go beyond the material. That single moment led to an entirely new exploration. The child realized they could borrow the racks and boards from other test tube division sets in order to create dividends beyond the millions and divisors greater than four digits. This was a powerful reminder of how the materials are usually far more limited than the Elementary child’s reasoning mind.

In the beginning stages of working with a material, we often need to support the child in creating equations or problems that are appropriate for their level of understanding. However, once a child has developed a solid understanding and a strong level of independence with the material, it becomes important to step back and allow them to create their own problems. This is often when the most meaningful learning happens. This allows the child to take greater ownership of their work and a much deeper connection to it.

It is common for elementary children to create elaborate work and extensive mathematical equations that are far beyond what an adult may have assigned. To the second plane child, the bigger the work, the better. When work comes from their own interests and ideas, they take a much greater sense of ownership in it. They are more invested, more connected, and more motivated to see the work through to completion.

This self-directed approach to learning, paired with thoughtful guidance from the adult, is at the heart of the Montessori elementary environment. While our role is to ensure balance across subject areas and support children in meeting academic expectations, it is essential to protect the child’s freedom to engage deeply in meaningful work. Within this balance, children develop independence, confidence, concentration, and a genuine love of learning.

 

This past week was full of connection, collaboration, and community, which are among the most important things that make our school such a special place.

Parent conferences gave us such a valuable chance to sit together and talk more deeply about each child. It was so meaningful to share the work they have been doing and to look at how much progress they’ve made this spring. They have learned and grown so much this year, not just academically, but in their abilities to manage their day-to-day responsibilities, to navigate friendships, and to work collaboratively and cooperatively with others. These conversations are always such a valuable way to connect home and school.

We were so happy to welcome so many family members and special friends into the classroom on Friday. It was truly special to meet the people who are such an important part of the children’s lives. The children were beyond excited to share their work and spend time with their special visitors in the classroom.

The concert was a lovely way to end such a meaningful and special day. The children put in so much effort, and it really showed. Watching the children stand up there so confidently and comfortably in front of such a large audience was amazing. What stood out the most was how much the children really seemed to enjoy it. The way they were smiling and truly having fun made it even more enjoyable to watch.

In the classroom, our first-year students are beginning to wrap up their personal timeline projects. This has been such a meaningful experience for them. They have been so proud to share parts of their lives, and the other classmates have been so genuinely interested and engaged as they listen. It has been so much more than a way to build confidence with speaking in front of a group; it has also helped support and foster the incredible classroom community we have as the children connect and learn more about one another.

Moments like these are a reminder that so much of what we do together goes beyond academics. It lives in the relationships we build and the experiences we share. Thank you for being such an important part of it.

Poetry has quietly found its way into our classroom over the past few weeks, weaving itself naturally into the work the children are already doing. Rather than treating poetry as something separate or abstract, we have introduced it as another way to play with language, notice patterns, and express ideas. It has paired especially well with our grammar work, giving children a meaningful and creative way to explore parts of speech and sentence structure.

Our first-year students have been stepping into poetry through sound and rhythm. They have been working with rhyming words, listening closely to how language fits together, and beginning to notice patterns in words. Alongside this, they have been exploring pattern writing. In these lessons, children are given a prompt that is started for them and invited to complete it with their own thoughts, ideas, and feelings. This work supports them in finding their written voice. It helps them generate ideas, express themselves, and explore, in a very concrete way, how sentences are built. These early experiences with language are laying the foundation for children to discover their own literary and poetic voice eventually.

Second-year students have begun to look more closely at how poems are structured. They have been identifying parts of speech within poems and thinking about how words work together to create meaning. They have also worked with logical sequence, taking lines of poetry and arranging them in an order that makes sense. Rhyming continues to be explored at this level, and students have been introduced to cinquain poems, which give them a simple structure to follow while still allowing for creativity. The cinquain is a patterned poem that complements their grammar work, as it requires them to follow a clear structure while thoughtfully choosing specific parts of speech to build meaning.

In the third year, poetry has become a space for deeper self-expression and analysis. The children began with “I Am” poems, which allow students to reflect on who they are, what they feel, and what they experience, supporting both self-awareness and confidence in writing. They have also been introduced to alliteration, first by creating sentences, then by building alliteration pyramid poems. In addition, students have been analyzing poems written by famous poets, identifying parts of speech and representing them using Montessori grammar symbols. This work brings together their knowledge of grammar and their growing understanding of how language can be used intentionally and creatively.

As we move forward, the children will continue to explore poetry in a variety of ways. They will have opportunities for free writing, where they can experiment and express themselves openly, as well as structured experiences where they follow specific patterns and learn new types of poems. It has been enjoyable to watch the children engage with this work, noticing patterns, playing with words, and beginning to see language as a tool for creativity and self-expression.