Ms. Handibode Pumpkins, Perseverance, and Parent Partnerships

Posted on by Michelle Handibode

 

Last week, our classroom transformed into a pumpkin patch, with pumpkins everywhere you looked! These vibrant orange gourds provided countless opportunities for the children to observe, explore, and engage with basic science and math concepts in meaningful ways.

In our Practical Life area, pumpkin-themed works flourished. The children practiced pumpkin spooning, pumpkin pouring, pumpkin scrubbing, and pumpkin grasping—each activity building coordination, concentration, and independence. In Science, we learned about the parts of a pumpkin and followed the pumpkin’s life cycle from seed to harvest. The children compared pumpkins and categorized them as small, medium, and large, developing their mathematical minds through hands-on exploration.

We used our five senses to discover what pumpkins look, smell, feel, sound, and taste like. After carving a pumpkin together, we celebrated with our Harvest Celebration. Each child had the opportunity to visit our classroom’s “pumpkin patch,” pick their own pumpkin, create a spooky craft, and enjoy a festive snack.

The kindergarten students worked together to prepare Skelly, our veggie skeleton. It was wonderful to hear children say they didn’t like certain vegetables and then watch them devour every bite! This experience reminded us that trying new things in a supportive environment can lead to delightful discoveries.

One kindergarten student captured the spirit of perseverance beautifully this week when they said, “This is the hardest thing I have ever done, but I did it all by myself!” These moments of determination and independence are exactly what we hope to nurture in every child.

We were grateful to have Eloise’s mom, Nicole, join us as a guest reader. The children loved listening to the fun story “Pumpkin Jack.”

All of the wonderful experiences we share with the children are possible because of parents helping behind the scenes. A huge shout-out to everyone for sharing their time and energy with us to provide these wonderful opportunities for the children. It takes a lot of time, effort, and organization for all of this to be possible, and we are truly grateful and blessed.

Extending Learning at Home

  • Encourage your child to try something three times before asking for help. This builds resilience and problem-solving skills.
  • Visit a local pumpkin patch or farm stand to explore different sizes and varieties of pumpkins together.
  • Cut open a pumpkin at home and explore the inside. Count the seeds, feel the stringy pulp, and roast the seeds for a healthy snack.
  • Practice sorting and categorizing with household items—sort laundry by color or size, organize toys by type, or group kitchen items together.

UPCOMING EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

This Week
Monday, November 3: Flu Cinic for 3 & 4 Year Olds and Nitzan Birthday Walk and Sharing Box
Tuesday, November 4: Buckens
Wednesday, November 5: Guest Reader–Hus
Thursday, November 6: Diwali Celebration
Friday, November 7: Fire Prevention Presentation-Fire Truck Visit

Next Week
Thursday, November 13:  Kindergarten Vision Screening

Mrs. Lopes: Celebrating Fall and the Life Cycle of a Pumpkin

Posted on by Amanda Lopes

Last week, the classroom was filled with excitement as the children explored the life cycle of a pumpkin. This study connected beautifully to our fall observations and gave the children a deeper understanding of how living things grow and change.

The week began with a thrilling pumpkin hunt on the playground on Tuesday morning. The children searched high and low, working together to find our classroom pumpkin. Their joy at the discovery was contagious! On Wednesday, we were grateful to have Kaiah’s mom join us to help carve our pumpkin into a spooky ghost. The children watched with fascination as the pumpkin transformed, observing the seeds inside and discussing how those seeds could grow into new pumpkin plants. This hands-on experience brought the life cycle concept to life in a memorable way.

Thursday brought our festive classroom celebration, complete with a special fall snack and a spooky craft project. The children took great care in creating their decorations, demonstrating the concentration and fine motor skills they’ve been developing throughout the year.

Extending Learning at Home

  • Plant a few pumpkin seeds in a small pot or cup with soil. Watch them sprout and discuss how they might grow into a pumpkin plant.
  • Take nature walks to observe signs of fall—changing leaves, cooler weather, and seasonal plants. Talk about how nature changes with the seasons.

UPCOMING EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

This Week
Monday, November 3: Flu Cinic for 3 & 4 Year Olds
Tuesday, November 4: Playground Volunteer– Regine Hooper-Campbell
Wednesday, November 5: Guest Reader– Jordan Dugbartey
Thursday, November 6: Diwali Celebration, Parker’s Birthday Walk
Friday, November 7: Fire Prevention Presentation-Fire Truck Visit

Next Week
Thursday, November 13:  Kindergarten Vision Screening

Ms. Rhodora: Exploring Our Senses Through Fall Festivities

Posted on by Rhodora Santayana

Last week, the classroom was alive with fall festivities and rich sensory exploration. The children delved into the sense of sight and the sense of taste, discovering the four basic tastes: bitter, salty, sour, and sweet. Watching their faces light up with surprise or scrunch up with uncertainty as they tasted each flavor was pure joy! This sensory work helped the children develop their vocabulary while tuning into their bodies and the world around them.

Our pumpkin activities provided wonderful opportunities for hands-on learning. A parent volunteer joined us for pumpkin carving, and the children were fascinated by the transformation. The highlight of our mathematical exploration came when we counted pumpkin seeds together—all 492 of them! The children worked patiently and collaboratively, taking turns counting and organizing the seeds. This activity strengthened their number sense and demonstrated the beauty of working together toward a common goal.

The children also had the chance to explore our pumpkin patch, selecting and examining pumpkins of different sizes and shapes. Another parent volunteer helped us create popcorn hands, which added a fun, tactile element to our fall celebrations.

Our pajama party brought smiles all around as the children enjoyed rainbow bagels with cream cheese in their cozy pajamas. The Harvest Celebration tied together all our fall learning beautifully, and the kindergarten students worked together to create a veggie skeleton that impressed everyone in the classroom.

We are so grateful for the parent volunteers who made these experiences possible. Your time and energy enrich our classroom community in immeasurable ways.

Extending Learning at Home

  • Explore the four tastes together at home. Try a lemon (sour), pretzel (salty), dark chocolate (bitter), and honey (sweet). Talk about which tastes your child prefers and why.
  • Practice counting with everyday objects—coins in a piggy bank, toys in a bin, or crackers before snack time. Challenge older children to count by twos, fives, or tens.
  • Use all five senses during daily routines. At mealtime, talk about what food looks like, smells like, feels like, sounds like when you bite it, and tastes like.

UPCOMING EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

This Week
Monday, Novembner 3: Flu Cinic for 3 & 4 Year Olds
Thursday, November 6: Diwali Celebration
Friday, November 7: Fire Prevention Presentation-Fire Truck Visit

Next Week
Thursday, November 13:  Kindergarten Vision Screening

Mrs. Sargeant: Celebrating Halloween and Exploring New Materials

Posted on by Christine Sargeant

Last week, the classroom was buzzing with fall celebrations and exciting learning experiences. The children were deeply engaged in both our special Halloween activities and the new materials that appeared on our shelves.

A new sifting spoon work joined our practical life area this week. The children use this special spoon to gently shake sand through tiny holes, transferring split peas from one bowl to another. Watching them discover this work has been mesmerizing—the careful concentration on their faces as they slowly shake and watch the peas separate from the sand is like watching them uncover hidden treasures!

We were so grateful to Ivy’s mom for carving a pumpkin with us. The children had the wonderful opportunity to see, smell, and touch the inside of a real pumpkin, engaging all their senses in this exploration. Our lit jack-o-lantern has been glowing in the classroom all week, adding to the festive atmosphere. Thank you to Gabriel and Madison’s families for supplying pumpkins and helping set up our pumpkin patch on the playground—the children loved finding and exploring them.

The Halloween parade brought pure joy to our classroom. The children were thrilled to see their mentors, book buddies, siblings, and former classmates in their costumes while proudly showing off the pajamas they wore for Pajama Day. We enjoyed a delicious Halloween cake baked by Ava’s family. Although we planned to celebrate outside, the rain had other plans! We moved our party into the Aftercare room, which turned into a fun adventure and a wonderful lesson in flexibility. Thank you to Autumn’s family for the pumpkin drink holder party favors.

A highlight of the week was watching all 21 kindergarten students work together to create a “veggie skeleton,” which they democratically voted to name Skelly. The children peeled and chopped vegetables with great care, and many of them tried vegetables they’d never tasted before—olives, cauliflower, and different varieties of tomatoes. The collaboration, fine motor practice, and willingness to try new foods made this project a true success.

Extending Learning at Home

  • Practice transferring skills using everyday kitchen tools. Try using a slotted spoon to separate pasta from water or a strainer to wash vegetables together.
  • Continue the vegetable exploration by visiting a farmers’ market or grocery store. Let your child choose a new vegetable to try and help prepare it at home.
  • Take advantage of the fall season by going on nature walks to collect leaves, acorns, and other natural treasures. Sort and classify them by size, color, or type.

UPCOMING EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

This Week
Monday, Novembner 3: Flu Cinic for 3 & 4 Year Olds
Tuesday, November 4: Recess Volunteer: Jacob
Wednesday, November 5: Guest Reader: Ortner
Thursday, November 6: Diwali Celebration
Friday, November 7: Fire Prevention Presentation-Fire Truck Visit

Next Week
Thursday, November 13:  Kindergarten Vision Screening

Mrs. Lopes: Deepening Our Dinosaur Studies

Posted on by Amanda Lopes

Our dinosaur study continued last week, with the children diving deeper into these fascinating prehistoric creatures through books. We explored different types of dinosaurs, learned more about their unique characteristics, and discovered new facts that built upon what we already knew. The children’s questions grew more sophisticated as their understanding deepened, and they loved sharing dinosaur facts they’d discovered with their classmates.

Our Kindergartners embarked on an exciting literacy project last week: writing and illustrating their own books! This meaningful work allows them to apply their growing reading and writing skills while exploring topics they’re passionate about. Each child chose their subject, carefully forming letters, composing sentences, and adding detailed illustrations. The concentration and pride evident on their faces as they worked showed the deep satisfaction that comes from creating something uniquely their own.

This author work supports the development of fine motor skills, creative expression, storytelling abilities, and confidence as writers. Watching these young learners transition from readers to authors is one of the joys of the Kindergarten year!

Extending Learning at Home

Support your budding author by encouraging them to tell you stories and helping them write them down. Keep blank paper and crayons accessible so your child can create books at home, just like in the classroom!

UPCOMING EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

This Week

Tuesday, October 28: Playground Volunteer–Carina and Logan, Pumpkin Patch on the Playground, Nicolas’ Birthday Walk
Wednesday, October 29: Guest Reader–Katie and Classroom Pumpkin Carving
Thursday, October 30: Primary Pajama Day, Classroom Harvest Celebration & Kindergarten Veggie Skeleton
Primary students are invited to wear their favorite pajamas to school on Thursday, October 30! Please help us keep the day fun and focused by leaving stuffed animals, toys, and other special items at home, as these can be difficult to keep track of and may be distracting during our learning activities.
Friday, October 31: No School—Montessori Schools of CT Conference

Mrs. Sargeant: Geography and Community

Posted on by Christine Sargeant

Last week, the classroom was alive with geographical exploration! The children were captivated by our globe work, learning the names of the seven continents. They traced their fingers across the blue oceans and colorful landmasses, beginning to understand the vastness of our world. Many students progressed to the beautiful work of pin-pricking, carefully creating their own maps of the continents. This meticulous work develops fine motor control and hand-eye coordination while building early map-reading skills and spatial awareness.

We also touched upon the holiday of Diwali, one of the most important celebrations in Hindu culture. Diwali symbolizes the victory of light over darkness and good over evil. The children were fascinated to learn that Diwali is celebrated over five days and that people wear new clothes and exchange gifts during this joyful time. We will continue our exploration of this beautiful tradition with a special celebration early next month.

New Works in the Classroom

Two delightful new works appeared on our shelves this week. The rock “painting” activity uses only water and a thin paintbrush, allowing children to see how rocks change color when wet—a simple yet magical demonstration of transformation. The clementine peeling work supports independence and fine motor development while providing a healthy snack that the children prepared themselves!

Learning from Each Other

Our Kindergarteners took a field trip to New Pond Farm in Redding last week, where they visited a working farm and discovered the differences between dairy cows and those raised for meat. They explored the barn and chicken coop, cleaned wool from a sheep, and used tools to make wool bracelets. The children learned that sheep serve as natural lawn mowers and even got to practice milking a cow!

The kindergarten students were absolutely thrilled to share what they learned with their younger classmates. The most fascinating fact? Sheep have more than one stomach! This beautiful example of our mixed-age community shows older children building confidence through teaching while younger ones look up to their mentors with admiration.

UPCOMING EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

This Week
Tuesday, October 28: Pumpkin Patch on the Playground & Daly Playground visit
Wednesday, October 29: Classroom Pumpkin Carving & Driscoll Guest Reader
Thursday, October 30: Primary Pajama Day, Classroom Harvest Celebration & Kindergarten Veggie Skeleton
Primary students are invited to wear their favorite pajamas to school on Thursday, October 30! Please help us keep the day fun and focused by leaving stuffed animals, toys, and other special items at home, as these can be difficult to keep track of and may be distracting during our learning activities.
Friday, October 31: No School – MSC Conference

Ms. Rhodora: Sink and Float

Posted on by Rhodora Santayana

Last week, the classroom buzzed with scientific inquiry! The children were completely absorbed in our sink and float experiments, testing various objects in water and making predictions about what would happen. They observed, hypothesized, and discovered the properties that make some items sink while others float. This work develops critical thinking skills and introduces the scientific method in a concrete, hands-on way.

The hammering a pumpkin work was an instant favorite. Children used small hammers and golf tees to create designs on pumpkins, strengthening hand muscles and practicing careful, controlled movements. This seasonal practical life activity combines the joy of fall with important fine motor development.

The nuts and bolts work continues to draw focused attention as children practice the twisting motion needed to screw and unscrew various sizes. The geometric solids allow children to explore three-dimensional shapes and feel the differences between spheres, cubes, cylinders, and cones.

Extending Learning at Home

Continue the science exploration at home by gathering household items for your own sink and float experiment in the bathtub or a large bowl. Ask your child to predict first, then test their hypothesis!

Discovering Our World

Our geography work expanded this week as the children explored land and water forms, specifically learning about peninsulas and gulfs. Using our beautiful landform models, they traced the shapes with their fingers and poured water to see how land and water meet in different formations. We also began studying the state of New Jersey, including its location on the map and its unique features.

UPCOMING EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

This Week
Tuesday, October 28: Pumpkin Patch on the Playground
Wednesday, October 29: Classroom Pumpkin Carving
Thursday, October 30: Primary Pajama Day, Classroom Harvest Celebration & Kindergarten Veggie Skeleton
Primary students are invited to wear their favorite pajamas to school on Thursday, October 30! Please help us keep the day fun and focused by leaving stuffed animals, toys, and other special items at home, as these can be difficult to keep track of and may be distracting during our learning activities.
Friday, October 31: No School – MSC Conference

Ms. Handibode: Celebrating Culture and Stories

Posted on by Michelle Handibode

Last week, we had our first guest readers of the year! Veda’s mom and dad shared the wonderful story “Binny’s Diwali” with our class. The children learned about Diwali, the Festival of Lights celebrated by Hindu communities around the world. They discovered that families celebrate by lighting oil lamps called diyas, creating beautiful rangoli patterns with colored powders, sharing sweet treats, and gathering with loved ones. The story helped the children understand that Diwali symbolizes the victory of light over darkness and good over evil. This is such a special time that the children truly enjoy, and we are grateful to Veda’s family for sharing this beautiful tradition with us.

Our Kindergartners took a field trip to New Pond Farm in Redding last week. This working farm allowed the children to spend time with sheep, chickens, cows, and pigs. Each child then learned how to turn sheep’s fleece into yarn for knitting and weaving. They washed the fleece, hand-carded (combed) it, and then hand-spun it into yarn to make a bracelet.

“What the hand does, the mind remembers.” —Maria Montessori

Every Montessori classroom has a Sensorial area filled with materials that help children study their environment through their five senses. Maria Montessori believed that sensorial experiences begin at birth for every child and that refining these skills helps them understand their surroundings. The sensorial materials allow children to acquire precise information and classify things around them. They use their senses not only to create their own experiences and knowledge but also to help them process the different impressions each sense receives. The child is, therefore, a natural “sensorial explorer.”

Each material in this area has a built-in control of error so that, after an initial lesson, little teacher direction is needed. This control of error helps a child determine what needs to happen to complete the lesson successfully. The children can distinguish, categorize, and relate new information to what they already know. Each sensorial material isolates one specific quality, such as color, weight, shape, texture, size, sound, or smell. These materials emphasize this particular quality by eliminating or minimizing other differences. Many of the sensorial materials are also the basis of future mathematical concepts that the children will learn.

UPCOMING EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

This Week

Monday, October 27: Zion Flowers and Sharing Box
Tuesday, October 28: Playground volunteer Casey, Pumpkin Patch on the Playground
Wednesday, October 29: Classroom Pumpkin Carving, Guest reader Nicole and Zion’s Birthday Walk
Thursday, October 30: Layla Birthday Walk and Sharing Box, Primary Pajama Day, Classroom Harvest Celebration & Kindergarten Veggie Skeleton
Primary students are invited to wear their favorite pajamas to school on Thursday, October 30! Please help us keep the day fun and focused by leaving stuffed animals, toys, and other special items at home, as these can be difficult to keep track of and may be distracting during our learning activities.
Friday, October 31: No School—Montessori Schools of CT Conference