Our classroom continued to bloom with independence and curiosity last week as the children settled into their beautiful new lockers and explored fascinating new materials.

The children are adjusting wonderfully to their new lockers, taking pride in organizing their belongings and developing important self-care skills. We’re watching them grow more confident each day as they independently hang their coats, store their shoes, and manage their personal items. This growing independence is central to the Montessori philosophy of helping children become capable and self-reliant.

New materials appeared on our shelves this week, sparking curiosity and engagement. A flashlight with batteries invited the children to practice fine motor skills as they carefully assembled and disassembled it, learning how simple tools work. A matching game featuring flags from around the world opened conversations about different countries and cultures, expanding the children’s global awareness.

Our science explorations continued as we prepared for upcoming experiments with solids, liquids, and gases. The most popular work this week was our sensory bin filled with arctic animals and different types of penguins frozen inside ice. The children used pipettes to drip warm water onto the ice, carefully observing how much water it took to free each animal. The concentration on their faces as they worked to melt the ice and “rescue” the penguins was a beautiful example of purposeful, engaged learning.

Flower arranging made a delightful comeback in our classroom. By simply changing its location and adding a new dish to hold the vases, we reignited the children’s interest in this practical life work. They practiced careful cutting, arranging, and caring for living things—all while creating beauty in our shared space.

Our Kindergarten students embarked on a new writing project, creating “How-to” books. They’re learning to break down everyday tasks into clear, sequential steps—an important skill that combines literacy with logical thinking.

Extending Learning at Home

Support your child’s growing independence by creating a designated spot at home for their belongings. Have them practice hanging their own coat and placing shoes, hats, and backpacks in consistent locations. Involving children in these daily routines builds responsibility and self-confidence. You can also explore states of matter together—freeze small toys in ice cube trays or containers, then let your child work to melt the ice using warm water, just like our penguin rescue activity!

UPCOMING EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

This Week

• Monday, January 19
  No School, Martin Luther King Jr. Day
• Tuesday, January 20
  Remy’s Birthday Celebration

Welcome Back to Winter Wonder

It was wonderful to welcome the children back this week and hear about their winter breaks—the books they read, the movies they saw, and the special time they enjoyed with their families. The children brought back stories and experiences that enriched our classroom conversations and helped us reconnect as a community.

The snowy weather provided perfect opportunities for outdoor exploration. The children had tremendous fun playing in the snow this week, and we could see the pure joy on their faces as they experienced the winter landscape firsthand. These outdoor experiences naturally led us into our new study of solids, liquids, and gases. We began discussing the differences between these states of matter, and the children were fascinated to observe how the same substance—water—can exist in different forms depending on temperature.

Our practical life and art areas were hubs of purposeful activity this week. The pouring work, where children carefully transfer liquid from one vessel into three separate containers using a funnel, attracted sustained concentration. This work refines hand-eye coordination while building the control and precision needed for many daily tasks. In the art area, children created beautiful snowflakes using Q-tips as painting tools, exploring color mixing and pattern-making while celebrating the winter season around us.

The bagel spreading work has been particularly popular. Children practice the real-life skill of spreading cream cheese on bagels, developing their fine motor control and independence. Watching them carefully hold the bagel steady while using just the right amount of pressure with the spreading knife demonstrates the growing coordination that comes from repeated, purposeful practice.

January is proving to be a busy birthday month in our classroom—we have five birthdays to celebrate! This week, we gathered for our first Montessori birthday walk of the month to honor Ellis turning four years old. The children loved seeing the candle representing the sun as Ellis walked around it four times, once for each year of life. These celebrations help children understand the passage of time and their place in the world while building our classroom community.

UPCOMING EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

If you have not sent spare clothes to school recently, please send a full outfit to keep in your child’s locker. With all the outdoor play and hands-on work, having a fresh change of clothes available gives children the confidence to fully engage in their activities.

This Week
Wednesday, January 14: Birthday Walk for Hayes
Friday, January 16: All School Early Dismissal. Primary pick-up at 11:30 a.m.

Next Week
Monday, January 19: No School, MLK Jr. Day
Tuesday, January 20: Birthday Walk for Remy

This week brought the start of Hanukkah, offering a wonderful opportunity to explore this meaningful holiday with the children. We read both fiction and non-fiction stories about Hanukkah, helping the children understand the traditions and history behind the Festival of Lights. The children were particularly fascinated by the menorah, carefully placing candles into it and learning about the miracle of the oil that burned for eight days.

A huge thank you to Ivy and Gabriel’s moms for coordinating a special Hanukkah treat for the children. We enjoyed latkes and challah together, and the children made the connection that latkes are fried in oil—a reminder of the miracle we’d been learning about. These hands-on experiences with cultural traditions help the children develop a deeper appreciation for the diverse celebrations in our community.

Ava’s mom visited to share another beloved classroom tradition by reading “T’was the Night Before Christmas.” Thank you for sharing your time with us and for bringing the festive snack that made the morning even more special! These parent visits enrich our classroom community and show the children how much their families value learning together.

We had three rehearsals this week preparing for the Holiday Showcase, and the children’s excitement about sharing their songs with you was palpable. Their hard work and enthusiasm truly embodied the joy of working toward a common goal.

This week also brought special birthday celebrations. Two of our classmates turned four and a half, so we celebrated their half birthdays since we won’t be in school when they turn five in June. The Montessori birthday walk is always a meaningful way to honor each child’s journey around the sun.

We’re thrilled to share joyful news from two of our classroom families! Within the past month, Remy and Madison each welcomed baby brothers into their families. Congratulations to both families on this wonderful new chapter!

As winter settles in, the children have enjoyed a sensory experience that connects them to the season: making pomander balls with oranges and cloves. The delightful scent fills the classroom as they carefully press each clove into the orange, developing their fine motor skills while creating something beautiful to take home.

Extending Learning at Home

Encourage your child’s connection to winter traditions by:

• Creating simple sensory experiences with seasonal scents like cinnamon sticks, pine branches, or citrus fruits
• Practicing fine motor skills through holiday activities like threading beads, wrapping small gifts, or decorating cookies
• Exploring winter through nature walks, observing how plants and animals prepare for cold weather

UPCOMING EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

• Monday, January 5: School Resumes
• Monday, January 5: Evie has Flowers/Food/Sharing Bag

Please send appropriate snow gear for outdoor play: hat, waterproof mittens, snow boots, and snow bibs or pants. A large open-top bag works best for storage. Thank you to Ava’s family for sending extra snow bibs and mittens to share with the classroom!

Last week brought exciting new learning to our classroom as we embarked on a study of Antarctica, the frozen continent at the bottom of our world. The children explored different types of penguins and seals through books and photographs, learning about how these remarkable animals thrive in one of Earth’s harshest environments. We also discussed the scientists who travel to Antarctica to study this unique ecosystem, sparking conversations about exploration and discovery.

To support this cultural study, we introduced a large penguin floor puzzle that has quickly become a classroom favorite. The children work together to assemble it, developing both their problem-solving skills and their collaborative abilities. We also added cinnamon grating to the practical life area, which the children can then sprinkle onto the apples they cut—a sensory experience that brings warmth and comfort during our winter studies.

In our mathematics area, the children have been exploring geometry through hands-on materials. Using the Triangle Box, they discovered the names and properties of different triangles: equilateral (all sides equal), isosceles (two sides equal), and scalene (all sides different). They also worked with geometric solids, learning to identify and name three-dimensional shapes like the cube, sphere, cone, and rectangular prism.

Grace and Courtesy: Caring for Our Community

This time of year brings particular attention to health and hygiene practices. We have been encouraging the children to properly blow their noses and wash their hands thoroughly, and to catch their coughs in their elbows. When we notice a child needs to blow their nose, we guide them to the mirror where they can independently take care of themselves. This builds both self-awareness and confidence in managing their own health needs.

As a reminder, we kindly ask that children please leave all toys at home. This helps maintain our classroom community and ensures that children remain engaged with the rich Montessori materials available to them.

Extending Learning at Home

• Look at a globe or map together and locate Antarctica—talk about what it means to be at the “bottom” of the world
• Watch age-appropriate documentaries about penguins and polar animals
• Practice identifying triangles in everyday objects around your home (sandwich halves, road signs, roof peaks)
• Model and practice proper hygiene routines, making handwashing and nose-blowing part of your regular routine

ANNOUNCEMENTS & UPCOMING EVENTS
This Week

Monday, December 15: Hanukkah Reading and Latke Tasting
Tuesday, December 16: Kaiya’s Half-Birthday Celebration
Wednesday, December 17: Maaz’s Half-Birthday Celebration
Thursday, December 18: Arrindell Christmas Reading
Friday, December 19: Winter Showcase* (Buses begin at 9:15 a.m., Concert begins 10:30am), Half-Day Dismissal for All Students 11:30am
* All Primary children participate in the Winter Showcase. Please check the dashboard for more information.

Winter Break
Monday, December 22, 2025 – Friday, January 2, 2026
School resumes on Monday, January 5, 2026

Last week, the children demonstrated beautiful examples of grace and courtesy as older students naturally stepped in to help their younger classmates with zipping coats and putting on mittens. These spontaneous moments of mentorship show how our mixed-age classroom creates a caring community where children look out for one another.

The children are also showing impressive problem-solving skills during snack time. When they encounter a challenging package—whether it’s a bag of goldfish or a granola bar—they independently seek out scissors to open it rather than asking an adult for help. This simple act represents a significant step in their growing confidence and resourcefulness.

Holiday Traditions and Wonder

The children returned from Thanksgiving break eager to share stories about their family celebrations, sparking rich conversations about different traditions, customs, and holidays. We read about St. Nicholas and discussed how some cultures celebrate St. Nicholas Day on December 6th. The following morning, the children’s eyes lit up with surprise and delight when they discovered candy canes waiting in a pair of boots by the door!

The Art of Bubble Making

One of the most popular activities this week has been bubble making using soap and an egg beater. This seemingly simple work involves an impressive sequence of steps that require concentration, coordination, and care of the environment. The children put on their smocks, fill the pitcher at the sink, walk carefully back to their workspace, pour water into the bowl, and use a dropper to squeeze just the right amount of soap. Operating the egg beater takes considerable hand-eye coordination as they work to create satisfying suds.

Once complete, the children pour the soapy water into a bucket, carry it carefully to the sink to discard, then use a sponge and towel to ensure the work is clean and dry for the next friend. This multi-step activity beautifully integrates practical life skills with sensorial exploration and grace and courtesy.

Extending Learning at Home

• Building independence with outerwear: Leave extra time in the morning for your child to practice putting on their jacket independently without feeling rushed. We always tell the children to leave the gloves until last, as this helps them manage the process more successfully.
• Holiday traditions: Talk with your child about your family’s special holiday customs and traditions. Ask them what they’ve been learning about different celebrations at school.
• Multi-step activities: Encourage your child to help with tasks that have several steps, like setting the table or helping prepare simple snacks. These activities build executive function and independence.

UPCOMING EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

***Winter Weather Reminder: Please make sure your child has snow boots, pants, gloves, winter coat, and hat. It is so helpful if each piece of clothing is labeled! Also, please let us know if you would prefer your child’s snow gear to go home each day or stay in their locker at school.

This Week
Tuesday, December 9: Junia Playground volunteer
Friday, December 12: Marissa guest reader

Next Week
Tuesday, December 16: Celebrate Kaiya’s Half Birthday
Thursday, December 18: Liz A. reading
Friday, December 19: Winter Showcase (PA Breakfast 10am, Half-Day Dismissal for All Students 11:30am

Winter Break
Monday, December 22, 05 – Friday, January 2, 2026
School resumes on Monday, January 5, 026

Last week, we continued our focus on practicing gratitude and exploring what it means to be grateful. Each child made a special Thanksgiving placemat and shared with us what they are grateful for. Their heartfelt responses reminded us of the simple joys that fill children’s lives—family, friends, pets, favorite foods, and the freedom to play.

Ivy’s mom came to our classroom to bake pumpkin bread with the children, which will be our contribution to next week’s school-wide Thanksgiving bread-breaking ceremony. The children took turns measuring ingredients, mixing the batter, and learning about how heat transforms ingredients. This hands-on experience beautifully connected mathematics, science, and cultural studies while fostering our classroom community. We are so grateful to Ivy’s mom for her time and generosity.

New Works and Growing Independence

Several exciting new works appeared on our shelves this week. Yoga cards with a yoga mat invited children to practice mindful movement and body awareness. Cucumber cutting provided a wonderful opportunity to develop knife skills and hand-eye coordination. Soap grating engaged the children’s senses while building fine motor strength.

A stethoscope and matching miniature human organs captured the children’s scientific curiosity. They took turns listening to their heartbeats and learning to match the miniature organs to corresponding pictures, building vocabulary and understanding of the human body.

Adventures in Reading

Our older students were thrilled when we started a new book in the Magic Treehouse series: Afternoon on the Amazon. This chapter book introduces children to the Amazon rainforest through the adventures of Jack and Annie, building their listening skills, vocabulary, and knowledge of world geography and ecology. We even listened to the sounds of the Amazon on Spotify.

Extending Learning at Home

Talk with your child about what they are grateful for. Create opportunities for them to express gratitude to family members and friends. These conversations help children develop empathy and appreciate the kindness around them.

Upcoming Events & Announcements

This Week
Monday, November 24: Rayna’s sharing bag
Tuesday, November 25: Half-day, 11:30 dismissal AND Shafia Playground Volunteer
Wednesday, November 26 through Friday, November 28: No School—Thanksgiving Break

Next Week
Tuesday, December 2: Eliana Birthday Walk
Wednesday, December 3: Alex H. Guest Reader

 

Last week marked the beginning of an exciting new unit of study: the human body. The children’s eyes widened with wonder as they discovered X-rays showing the human skeleton from skull to phalanges. They carefully assembled these puzzle-like X-rays, learning the names and locations of major bones while developing their fine motor skills and spatial awareness. This study connects perfectly to Fraser Woods’ mission of helping children become “the best version of themselves”—understanding our bodies helps children appreciate the amazing capabilities they possess.

The sensorial area drew significant interest this week. Children gravitated toward the triangle box, knobbed and knobless cylinders, binomial and trinomial cubes, and geometric solids. These self-correcting materials allow children to refine their visual discrimination and develop their mathematical minds while building confidence through independent problem-solving.

Grace and courtesy flourished during our food preparation activities. This week, children carefully cut clementines, apples, and pears, then walked around the classroom offering the fresh fruit to their peers. These moments beautifully demonstrate compassion in action—children taking care to prepare something special and generously sharing with their classroom community.

We welcomed two middle school visitors this week who helped our children complete their work. The children loved receiving guidance from these older students, and our visitors were impressed by the focus and capability of our young learners. 

The children continued building their understanding of North American geography, learning the names and locations of countries while working with the map. We’ve also been reading books and having rich discussions about gratitude and the things we’re thankful for, perfect for this season of appreciation.

A bit of excitement arrived on Tuesday afternoon when a very quick snow shower blew through! The children rushed to the windows to watch the flurries dance through the air.

Extending Learning at Home

• Talk about body parts and their functions during bath time or bedtime routines
• Practice gratitude by sharing one thing you’re each thankful for at dinner
• Let your child help prepare snacks for the family, emphasizing the joy of serving others

 

UPCOMING EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

This Week

• Monday, November 17: Ellie’s flowers, food, and sharing bag
• Thursday, November 20: Bread baking

Next Week

• Monday, November 24: Rayna’s flowers, food, and sharing bag AND Shafia Playground Volunteer
• Tuesday, November 25: Half-day, 11:30 dismissal
• Wednesday, November 26 through Friday, November 28: No School—Thanksgiving Break

It’s starting to get chilly, so please make sure your child has a warm coat to wear outdoors!

Last week, our classroom community gathered with all the Primary classes for a beautiful Diwali celebration in the gym. The children listened intently to a story about this five-day festival observed around the world. They learned that Diwali represents new beginnings and the victory of light over darkness, good over evil—the triumph of righteousness and knowledge over ignorance.

The experience came alive through the sights, sounds, and colors of Indian culture. Ms. Paromita, along with several parents and students, wore traditional Indian attire, and the children were mesmerized by the beauty of what they witnessed. They tasted traditional foods—rice pilaf and gajar ka halwa—and each child decorated their own rangoli design to take home. We are deeply grateful to all the families who shared their culture with us!

Our kindergarten students continued their impressive work with Number Rolls, practicing linear counting, place value, and proper numeral writing formation. The anticipation is building—in June, we’ll take these down to the gym, unroll them, and see just how long they’ve become! This work beautifully demonstrates the mathematical mind at work, as children make abstract numbers concrete and visible.

Magnets joined our shelves this week, sparking curiosity and scientific exploration. The children discovered which objects attract and which don’t, developing early hypotheses about the properties of different materials.

We also welcomed the Botsford Fire Department, who taught us valuable lessons about fire prevention. The children asked thoughtful questions and learned important safety practices they can use at home.

Extending Learning at Home

• Celebrate light in your own way—light candles at dinner and talk about how light helps us see and feel safe
• Practice counting by ones, fives, or tens during everyday activities like setting the table or climbing stairs
• Explore magnetism using a refrigerator magnet—see what it sticks to around your home and what it doesn’t