This week in our classroom, there was a lot of curiosity and hands-on learning happening all around us. The children were fascinated watching our caterpillars transform into chrysalises, checking on them each day, and sharing their observations with excitement. We also headed outside for a fun scavenger hunt where the students searched for all kinds of insects and practiced noticing the differences between insects and spiders, especially the number of legs and body parts.

Inside the classroom, our kindergartners have been working hard on their autobiographies, drawing pictures, and writing about themselves, their families, and the things they love. Another favorite activity this week was working together in small groups to build Roman arches with blocks. The children experimented with balance, problem-solving, and teamwork as they discovered how the shape of an arch can hold weight and stay standing.

Strawberry slicing was a big hit this week. After washing the berry, they use a strawberry huller to remove the stem. Then they use an egg slicer to slice the berry and serve it to friends, followed by heading to the sink to wash and dry each item from the tray.

Please return your child’s Take Home Folder each week, otherwise they have no place to put their work during the week.

Extending Learning at Home

Invite your child to help in the kitchen — washing fruit, slicing with a child-safe knife, or setting the table are all great ways to practice the same practical life skills we work on in the classroom. You can also head outside together and see how many insects your child can spot, and ask them how they know it’s an insect and not a spider!

 

UPCOMING EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

Next Week

• Monday, May 18
  Rayna: Food, Flowers & Sharing Bag
• Tuesday, May 19
  Kindergarten Field Trip to Flanders Pond Study
• Tuesday, May 19
  Driscoll Playground Volunteer
• Wednesday, May 20
  Ava’s Birthday Celebration

Last week, we were so proud to share our classroom with grandparents and special visitors.

Back in the classroom, window washing has become one of the most popular Practical Life works this week. It may seem like a simple cleaning task, but it is so much more than that. Window washing supports independence and responsibility, builds coordination and fine motor skills, demands concentration and careful sequencing, and offers the deep sensory satisfaction of a job done well. When a child surveys a streak-free window that they cleaned themselves, that quiet pride is the Montessori approach at its heart.

Our insect study is well underway, and the caterpillars have been a source of daily wonder. We said a bittersweet goodbye to our chicks this week. If you would like to visit them or pick up some eggs and other goodies — Palmieri Farm is the place to go.

The week also brought a sweet treat: watermelon and kiwi were shared in the classroom, and many of the children tried both with great enthusiasm.

We are deeply grateful for the heartfelt cards, gifts, and delicious treats that made Teacher Appreciation Week so special. Thank you, sincerely, for your generosity and kindness.

Extending Learning at Home

• Invite your child to wash a low window or mirror at home — give them a spray bottle with water and a cloth, and watch their focus and pride in action.
• Look for insects together on a walk or in your backyard. Ask your child to describe what they notice about each creature’s body, movement, or habitat.
• If you visit Palmieri Farm, let your child lead the way — they may have more to share about life cycles than you expect!

UPCOMING EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

This Week

• Monday, May 11 — Eliana: Flowers, Food, and Sharing Bag
• Tuesday, May 12 — Jeannine: Recess Volunteer
• Wednesday, May 13 — Lacy: Guest Reader

Looking Ahead

• Tuesday, May 19 — Flanders Farm Kindergarten Field Trip. All children need a parent driver and chaperone — please respond to the earlier email regarding this.

Having an incubator in the classroom has been such an exciting and meaningful experience—watching the chicks hatch has been amazing, and it’s taught the kids so much about patience, responsibility, and the cycle of life. There’s nothing quite like seeing that moment when a chick finally breaks through its shell. Soon they’ll be heading back to Palmieri Farm, where we originally got the eggs, which makes the whole experience feel full circle. As if that wasn’t enough, we’ve also just received caterpillars to observe, and everyone is really looking forward to watching them grow and transform next.

Invite your child to look for signs of life cycles in your own backyard or neighborhood. Watch for butterflies, caterpillars, birds building nests, or seeds sprouting. Ask your child to tell you what they know about how a caterpillar becomes a butterfly — you may be amazed at what they can explain!

Our practical life work this week centered on carrot peeling and chopping — a purposeful, hands-on activity that builds fine motor skills, focus, and independence while connecting children to real food preparation.

UPCOMING EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

This Week

• Monday, May 4 — Corbett Flowers, Food & Sharing Bag
• Tuesday, May 5 — Lacy Playground

Looking Ahead

• Monday, May 19 — Kindergarten Field Trip to Flanders

Independence is built in small moments, and last week our classroom was full of them. Most of the children have now mastered opening their own snack bags—Pirate’s Booty, Goldfish, chips—using a technique we practice together: pinch, pinch, pull. It sounds simple, but watching a child succeed at something that once required adult help is a meaningful milestone. That quiet confidence carries into everything else they do.

In the kitchen last week, the children made ants on a log—spreading cream cheese onto celery and dotting raisins along the top. This kind of practical life work is purposeful on every level: it builds fine motor control, sequencing, and the deep satisfaction of preparing something real to eat and share.

We are also so excited to share that nine chicken eggs are now incubating in our classroom! Last week, the children began learning about the development happening inside the eggs, and the countdown to hatching—21 days—has been a wonderful anchor for daily observation and conversation about the life cycle of a chicken.

Extending Learning at Home

Invite your child to make their own snack at home using the pinch-pull technique, or try making ants on a log together. Let them spread, place, and prepare as independently as possible—resist the urge to step in! You might also ask your child what they observed about the eggs last week and what they are looking forward to seeing as the days count down.

 

UPCOMING EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

This Week

• Monday, April 13
  ⋅ Lucia — Flowers, Food, and Sharing Bag
  

• Tuesday, April 14
  ⋅ Ortner — Recess Volunteer
  

• Wednesday, April 15
  ⋅ Sasha J. — Guest Reader
  

Looking Ahead

• Friday, April 24
  ⋅ Parent/Teacher Conferences. Time slots are available throughout the week — please sign up if you have not yet done so.
  

 

Last week, the warmer weather brought an extra spark of energy to the classroom! The bead chains — both long and short — were a favorite on the shelves all week, with children working carefully to count, skip count, and explore number patterns. It was wonderful to see such focused, purposeful engagement with this material.

The spring concert is drawing closer, and we’ve been delighted to hear the children humming their songs during work time — a sure sign the music has found its way into their hearts.

A favorite book this week was Come Over to My House, co-written by Eliza Hull and Sally Rippin. This beautifully illustrated story explores the home lives of children and parents with a variety of disabilities. It sparked thoughtful questions and rich conversation, building awareness, fostering inclusivity, and cultivating the compassion that is so central to our community here at Fraser Woods.

A warm thank you to Otto’s family for sending in lavender for the children to use with the mortar and pestle — a wonderful practical life experience that engaged the senses in the most delightful way. Thank you also to Autumn’s mom for coming in to read on Wednesday, and to Kaiya’s mom for providing the springtime egg art activities now on the art shelf.

Extending Learning at Home

Bead chain work at home is as simple as counting small objects — buttons, coins, or dry pasta — in groups. Try skip counting by 2s or 5s together! You might also visit your local library to find more books that celebrate diverse families and abilities, continuing the important conversations your child began in the classroom.

UPCOMING EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

This Week

• Monday, April 6
  ⋅ Daly Family — Flowers, Food & Sharing Bag
  

• Wednesday, April 8
  ⋅ Gayle M., Guest Reader
  

A Week Full of Special Visitors, Shared Discoveries, and Kindergarten Curiosity

Last week, the classroom was full of energy as the children settled back in, reconnected with one another, and dove straight into purposeful work across every area of the room.

One of the week’s most memorable moments came from Lucia and her brother Enzo, who brought in penguin feathers collected all the way from Argentina. They shared remarkable facts with their classmates — including the astonishing detail that penguins drink ocean water and then sneeze out the salt! The class was completely captivated, and the photos they brought in made the lesson feel wonderfully real.

Our guest reader this week was Ava’s mom, who arrived dressed as a crayon to read The Day the Crayons Came Home — and brought handmade postcards addressed to our class. It was a truly special visit that the children are still talking about.

In the practical life area, we introduced the mortar and pestle this week by crushing cloves and exploring the wonderful aroma together. This work builds hand strength, concentration, and sensory awareness all at once. If your family has something at home that would be fun for the children to grind or crush — spices, dried herbs, or similar — please feel free to send it in!

Finally, our kindergarten students have chosen the animals they will be researching for their individual projects. Flamingos, pandas, komodo dragons, salamanders, and hammerhead sharks — we cannot wait to see where their curiosity takes them!

Extending Learning at Home

Try setting up a simple grinding or crushing activity at home — dried herbs, peppercorns, or even crackers in a zip-lock bag work wonderfully. Talk with your child about what they noticed: the smell, the texture, and how the material changed. If your kindergartener has chosen their research animal, encourage them to share what they already know — and wonder together about what they might discover.

UPCOMING EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

This Week

• Monday, March 30
  ⋅ Flowers & Food. Sharpe Family
  

• Wednesday, April 1
  ⋅ Guest Reader: Kochuba
• Friday, April 3
  ⋅ No School | Good Friday