This week we started our physical science unit on sound. To begin, the children sat quietly outside for two minutes. Afterwards, we created a sound survey and listed the sounds we heard. Here are some of the sounds we discovered below:

• Jackets rustling
• Cars driving
• Crunching snow
• Airplanes
• Animals scurrying
• Wind blowing
• Dropping water

Afterwards, we brainstormed uses for sound and why it is important. I was very impressed with some of the uses the children came up with.

• Used for communication
• Protection from danger: fire alarms, horns, radio/TV
• Entertainment/pleasure
• Used for directions

The children have such enthusiasm for learning! It is a joy to watch!

It has been a quiet yet busy week in Lower Elementary. We started a new unit in Readers and Writers Workshop on nonfiction. In Writing, the students kicked off the unit by partnering up and teaching each other all about something they are experts in. In reading, the children are exploring how nonfiction readers learn facts while reading. The purpose of non fiction is to learn information. They are learning to slow down and absorb each page, using close observation skills when reading non fiction texts.

Next week, Tuesday through Thursday, the third year students will take a practice standardized test called the CTP5. This test is given to third through eighth grade students and is scored and reported to parents starting in fourth grade. We treat the third grade year as a true practice  year so the children have the chance to take the test with a little more help learning to navigate it this first year. For this reason, we don’t score and report it in third grade. As a Montessori school, we give this test to give our students the practical life experience of taking a test, to prepare them for future years in school.

Have a wonderful long weekend!

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday and break with your children! We are all happy to be back, working hard and having fun. It was a short but energetic week.

Maria Montessori’s primary goal for education was to bring about a better and more peaceful world. Staying true to this goal, we spend intentional time in our classroom on kindness and caring for one another. Focusing on this now will help the children to grow into peaceful, compassionate adults. The children in our class regularly and spontaneously help their classmates in need, from helping each other with challenging work, giving one another spelling tests, to cleaning up spilled test tube division beads.

For me, one of this year’s highlights was having the blessing of being part of your child’s journey of life. Each and every one of them has not only grown physically, but emotionally and intellectually.  I can’t wait to watch them blossom even more in 2022! Thank you for sharing your children with me this past year. Here’s to a great 2022!

I wish you the happiest of holidays and I hope you enjoy this special time with your children!

With love,

Ashley

The children had a great time playing in the light dusting of snow this week! As winter approaches, please make sure your child has the proper clothing for our outside play: warm coat, snow pants, hat, mittens or gloves, and boots. Thank you in advance!

The children are wrapping up their Writer’s Workshop unit on Personal Narratives. Each child had the chance to share his/her writing with the class and most of the children proudly read their stories aloud, showing their illustrations to their friends and teachers. They are very enthusiastic about their writing and often don’t want to stop when it is time to move on to another activity. It is so wonderful to see their enthusiasm blossoming and their growth since September!

Last week we had a lot to be grateful for. We spent last Tuesday baking bread together with the generous donations and help from our parents. On Wednesday, we shared with each other as a class that we are thankful for many things. Among the most mentioned were: family, friends, our homes, the Earth, food, and our school.  Also, we enjoyed the pumpkin and banana bread we made as a classroom community!

Our daily, uninterrupted work cycle has many benefits. It allows the opportunity for children to learn to concentrate, work on tasks until completion, and to participate in the planning of the work they will complete each day. They learn to work cooperatively with peers at their own grade level as well as younger and older children. This time also allows us to work individually with each child, giving lessons and providing guidance and help as needed with their work. It is also this work cycle that provides us with the ability to individualize math, spelling, and language lessons. The children have been hard at work this week, happily working with friends and independently.

The Montessori three year cycle in Lower Elementary provides the space and time for children to develop interpersonal skills by interacting with and learning among children of different ages.  The children learn how to cooperate with one another and to respect each other. First year students are the observers, learning from the second and third year students. Second year students are no longer the youngest, but are still learning from the thirds, while practicing for next year by helping younger classmates. This second year of the three year cycle is as important as the first and third year of their time in the classroom. This is their growth year. The third year students are the leaders; teaching the younger children while also setting a good example for them. Throughout this three year process the children gain confidence, competence and learn how to interact with a diverse peer group. They gain great social skills, preparing them for success many years down the road.

We have begun learning about the lives of children from around the world. It is so important for children to appreciate cultural differences. One way we have been doing this is by reading books which allow the voice of the culture to be heard. It is imperative for children to learn about some of the unique and amazing things that come from other ways of life.

Another way of promoting diversity is learning songs from across the globe. One song that the children learned this week is called “Senjua.” This is originally a Ghanaian song/story about a boy named Senjua. This piece has been taken up by students in Ghana and other surrounding countries, being sung as a victory song.

Dancing and playing singing games has a powerful effect on children. When we dance and sing together we become more alert, creative, happy, and connected to one another. Singing games and dances enable joyful human connection and create community. When children are happy and physically engaged, they become better students.