A Montessori classroom is a sanctuary dedicated to the well-being and development of children. Our primary focus, as adults within this space, is on what serves the best interests of the children. Consequently, we approach them with the utmost respect, safeguarding their right to concentrate on their work without disruptions from peers, entering adults, or even ourselves.

Maria Montessori’s wisdom guides our approach: “To assist a child, we must provide him with an environment that will enable him to develop freely.” In alignment with this philosophy, we recognize that children, as leaders in this environment, should not be hindered by unnecessary distractions from adults. Each child in the Montessori classroom is on a journey toward independence, and our role is to facilitate this process.

Success in fostering independence hinges on empowering the children to solve their own problems, establishing a consistent and predictable routine, and creating opportunities for independent work. Within our Montessori community, we prioritize the growth of independence in every child. Our goal is to cultivate an environment where they feel both comfortable and confident, trusting that adults will respect their surroundings. This commitment fosters independence, contributing to the children’s development and shaping their character as they progress.

Wishing you a joyous New Year filled with laughter, love, and exciting adventures!

It’ was heartwarming to hear the children’s enthusiasm and to watch their hard work in preparing their personal narratives. The publishing party  was such a special occasion for both the young writers and their loved ones. Your support undoubtedly made a significant impact on their confidence and sense of accomplishment. Encouraging and celebrating children’s creative efforts fosters a positive learning environment. Kudos to everyone involved in making this event a success!

The children have been working SO hard the past few weeks in preparation for the holiday concert. Many had pre-concert nerves and jitters but once they got up there, everybody performed liked the stars that they are. It was so nice to see so many of your faces in the crowd cheering on your kiddos!

Mary, Angie and I wish you all a healthy and happy holiday break! Enjoy this special time with your kiddos. See you in 2024!

The Lower Elementary had a busy week completing their work. The highlight of the week was attending the middle school play, “Chef Showdown.” Their support for one another truly embodies our school’s wonderful sense of community. After the play, they engaged with the middle school students for a Q & A session, asking insightful questions about the production and eagerly listening to the creative process behind it. One Lower Elementary student shared with the middle school, “You inspired Lower EL!”

In preparation for the upcoming holiday concert on December 14th, the students had a full school dress rehearsal on Thursday. Their hard work and dedication are evident, and we hope to see everyone there to support them!

The children have been working diligently preparing for our upcoming Publishing Party next Wednesday, the 13th. We hope to see all of you there!

Lower Elementary students participate in weekly class meetings. The purpose of class meetings is to identify problems brought up by the children and brainstorm solutions as a community to fix the issue moving forward. When children feel involved in brainstorming and creating solutions, they are more likely to follow them. For example, this week, the problem we discussed was that people were writing on materials in the class. After a discussion, the children voted that they would erase writing that does not belong on materials as well as give friendly reminders if they see a friend doing so. Class meetings allow students to learn valuable social and life skills, build good character, and develop a sense of community.

Below, I listed some more details.

• Our class meetings will take place 2-3 times per week.
• There are jobs during Class Meetings:
  • Facilitator (I do this): Keeps the meeting on track, moves the meeting along, facilitates respectful sharing
  • Time Keeper (child’s job): Keeps track of the timing of each meeting segment and lets us know when the time is up
  • Scribe (I do this): Records the brainstormed suggestions of the class on chart paper
  • Secretary (child’s job): Records the problem and solutions in a notebook, which is a permanent record of the meetings and is accessible to all students anytime
• There are four sections to the Class Meeting:
  • Compliments and Appreciations: This is a five to eight-minute opening where each person can give and receive a compliment or a thank you.
  • Review of a past agenda item: The secretary reads one problem and solution from a previous meeting with a quick discussion to review how it’s going.
  • Brainstorming: The person who added the agenda item being discussed shares it, and we take turns brainstorming solutions. After the brainstorming, we vote (if it’s a class problem), or the person who shared the item chooses a solution (if it’s not a whole-class issue).
  • Connection Activity: This is a fun closing where we share jokes, riddles, or two-minute mysteries.

To deepen the students’ understanding of Diwali, our school organized a special presentation led by enthusiastic staff members and parents from the community. One highlight of the presentation was the dance performances. The students couldn’t resist joining in, their laughter and dance moves reflecting the sheer joy of the occasion. No celebration is complete without some food, and our Diwali festivities were no exception. Parents and community members generously contributed some delicious treats, allowing the children to get a taste of different cuisines.

Another highlight of the week was our class field trip to the CT Science Center. This place proved to be a treasure trove of knowledge and excitement for all ages. From interactive exhibits showcasing the wonders of space to demonstrations on the laws of physics, every corner of the center seemed to spark curiosity and amazement. The children, in particular, were captivated by the engaging displays and the chance to conduct their own experiments. Some other exhibits we explored were the Engineering Lab, Forces in Motion, Sight/Sound, and many more! Thank you again to the parent volunteers who came with us.

This week, lower elementary students embarked on an incredible journey delving into Maria Montessori’s Great Lesson on the creation of the universe. What made this learning experience particularly special was the active involvement of the third-grade students, who not only absorbed the lesson themselves but also took on the role of presenters. They guided their younger peers through engaging science experiments, showing the intricate concepts behind the formation of the universe. This interaction between different age groups fosters a dynamic learning environment where knowledge is shared, curiosity flourishes, and understanding is deepened. As the older students led demonstrations, the enthusiasm and wonder on the faces of the younger learners were palpable.

On Wednesday, we had a visit from the Botsford Fire Department. We learned about fire safety and prevention, how smoke moves through a house, and all of the equipment on a fire truck!

In our classroom, Halloween was an absolute blast this year! We dove headfirst into the spooky spirit with a lineup of thrilling activities that brought smiles to every face. From marching in the school parade in our most creative costumes to crafting and decorating pumpkins with a burst of artistic flair, our day was filled with joy and laughter. The classroom transformed into a hub of creativity as we delved into coloring crafts. The best part of our celebration was the hauntingly fun party where we enjoyed delicious treats, listened to spooky songs and participated in games. A heartfelt thank you goes out to the amazing parents who generously sent in an array of food and supplies, making our party a success. Here’s to a Halloween celebration that will linger in our memories for years to come!

With colder weather is approaching, please send your child with appropriate out door gear each day. We go outside in the morning and again in the afternoon everyday, with the exception of rainy days and days when the temperature is below freezing. Thank you!

To Maria Montessori, the teaching of grammar was at the center of her language curriculum for elementary-age children. Today, it still remains a critical element in the teaching of a complete language program in a Montessori environment. At this age, grammar is being presented at an impressionistic level, and later on, in their later elementary years, they will explore these concepts on a more formal level.

For our first-grade students, grammar is an exhilarating journey filled with discovery and adventure. The first years embarked on a mission to explore the world of nouns. Nouns are the essential building blocks of language, representing people, places, things, and ideas. To make learning about nouns engaging, the children went on a classroom scavenger hunt. This hands-on approach to learning not only made grammar fun but also helped students grasp the concept of nouns in a tangible way.

The second graders moved on to the dynamic world of verbs. Verbs are the action words that bring life to sentences. To help the students learn about verbs, we introduced grammar dice and grammar strips. These materials added an element of excitement to grammar lessons. Students rolled the grammar dice to select create a silly sentence. This interactive approach not only made learning verbs enjoyable but also helped students understand how verbs affect the meaning and structure of sentences.

In third grade, students enter the world of grammar with a solid foundation. To enhance their understanding of language concepts already learned, I introduced a new material called “Grammar Sense.” This work serves to reinforce their knowledge of various parts of speech, including nouns, articles, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, and prepositions. Grammar Sense expands on their existing knowledge by providing a holistic understanding of how these elements work together to create meaningful and well-structured sentences. This material encourages students to analyze sentences and understand the role each word plays in conveying the intended message.