Scientists like to classify things to make them easier to understand and study.  Animals are grouped into what we call a class.  The first class we studied this year was mammals.  We learned that mammals have certain traits that distinguish them from animals in other classes.   So what makes an animal a mammal?   Mammals are warm blooded, have live births, drink milk from their mother, have a backbone and have hair or fur.  Mammals can live on land or in the water.  The largest mammal is the Blue Whale and the smallest mammal is the Bumblebee Bat.  Learning that people are mammals is always a great source of enjoyment for the children!

Just a few gentle reminders as we begin the second half of our school year:

• We do go outside when the temperature is above 20 degrees.   To ensure that  each child is comfortable and safe,  please make sure they have snow pants, boots, warm coat, gloves and hat.  Extra socks are always good to keep in school as well!
• Please remember when you return the classroom linens to bring in a bouquet of fresh flowers.  The children enjoy flower arranging and decorating the classroom.
• We do not have a microwave in the classroom for lunch.  Please make sure that your child does not have a lunch that needs to be heated.  Lunchtime is comprised of a lot of transitions and often it is not possible for a teacher to leave the classroom to go heat up a lunch.

As always, please keep the communication between home and school open.  We love hearing from you and your insight is so valuable to us.

Have a great (and warm) week!

Michelle & Sonja

 

This week the children built upon their growing understanding of states of matter through several hands on experiments.  We used water to explore how matter can move from one physical state to another. Water is the perfect example of  introducing states of matter to children because it can exist in three different states: liquid, solid and gas. It always has the same chemical properties no matter which state it is in.  Our initial experimentation illustrated liquid changing into a solid.  The children placed water into the freezer causing  it’s molecules to slow down and change into a solid. Next, we took the solid cubes and placed them in the warm classroom environment. Once again matter changed. This time the molecules sped up and the cube changed back into a liquid. The changes where recorded and the children  correctly hypothesized that temperature was a catalyst for the change.  We will be introducing our most abstract change tomorrow as we boil a pot of water and observe it’s change into a gas, evaporation. Please ask your children to share their learnings. I am always amazed at their enthusiasm and interest in this subject matter.

Just a few gentle reminders as we begin the second half of our school year:

• We will go outside when the temperature is above 20 degrees.   To ensure that  each child is comfortable and safe,  please make sure that they have snow pants, boots, warm coat, gloves and hat.  Extra socks are always good to keep in school as well!
• Please remember when you return the classroom linens to bring in a bouquet of fresh flowers.  The children enjoy flower arranging and decorating the classroom.
• We do not have a microwave in the classroom for lunch.  Please make sure that your child does not have a lunch that needs to be heated.  Lunchtime is comprised of a lot of transitions and  it is not alwayspossible for a teacher to leave the classroom to go heat up a lunch.

As always, please keep the communication between home and school open.  We love hearing from you and your insight is so valuable to us.

Warm Thoughts!

Cindy & Samantha

 

 

 

We hope that everyone had a chance to relax over the course of the Winter break. The generosity shown to us in everyone’s gifts and cards was very touching. We are most grateful for all of your support.  The relationship between home and school is so important at this stage of a child’s school experience.  We are beyond blessed to have so many wonderful parents who make it easy to foster positive relationships with our families.

It is not uncommon to see an increase in children’s emotional, social and academic development after returning from the break. Our classroom routines are well established and each child is discovering their part in our classroom community.  We slowly begin to introduce longer and more involved lessons.   It really is an exciting time of the school year…well, for the teachers at least!

We are now studying Asia on our Geography/Cultural Shelf.  Asia is the largest continent covering one-third of Earth’s surface. It is also the biggest continent in terms of population, with over half the worlds people living in Asia.  We will be talking about animals found in Asia as well as climate, music, literature and land forms.  The most important fact for you to remember though, is that Asia is yellow on the Montessori map!!!

 

 

The holidays are behind us now and the New Year looms on the horizon as a time of hope and promise in our lives, our families and our communities. Your children’s smiles and laughter once again warms both our classroom and our hearts.  It is not uncommon to see an increase in children’s emotional, social and academic development after returning from the break. Our classroom routines are well established and each child is discovering their part in our classroom community.  We slowly begin to introduce longer and more involved lessons.  It truly is an exhilarating time of the school year!

Matter is everywhere! We have begun our study of the basics of solid, liquid and gas and look forward to illustrating how matter can change from one state to another: melting, freezing, boiling, condensation, sublimation and deposition.

Our classroom travels have taken us to the continent of Asia, the largest of the seven continents.  We look forward to exploring the various countries, customs, animals, foods, music and literature this culturally rich continent has to offer.

Thank you again for your thoughtful and generous holiday gifts.  Ms. Kayser and I are blessed to have such a warm, supportive classroom community.

In the Montessori environment celebrating holidays is an important component of our philosophy.  The children are introduced to the traditions and rituals of celebrations around the world.  There is a  gentle focus on how  each holiday is distinct and yet there are similarities as well.  Helping the children to learn about different holidays highlights the Montessori principals of peace and inclusion. Of course, we also use our globe and maps to locate where in the world these celebrations are taking place!

Last Thursday, we celebrated St. Nicholas Day.  St. Nicholas was a  Bishop who had inherited a lot of money from his family.    He was also a very gentle,  kind man who lived by the virtues of personal generosity, charity towards those in need and taking care of the young and the most vulnerable.  We read a story about St. Nicholas and his random acts of kindness and then left a pair of boots outside our classroom door.  To our amazement, the boots were beautifully decorated and filled with candy canes the next morning.

On Tuesday, Jenny Crist spent time in our classroom sharing the story of Hanukkah and leaving on our snack table delicious Latkes and applesauce.  It is also amazing to watch children approach new food with hesitancy and before you know it, be asking for more!

On Wednesday, Kelly Macomber provided our class with a special treat for snack–gingerbread cookies, frosting and toppings.  We read a book about the Gingerbread Boy and then each child had a chance to decorate a cookie!

Today,  we spoke about Christmas.  Maddie and Jordan Rabidou came to spend some time with the children and read “Twas The Night Before Christmas.”  Everyone also had a chance to decorate delicious cookies to eat for snack.

Thank you to all of our parent volunteers for their time and effort whether it be in the classroom or behind the scenes.  It is always appreciated.

Sonja and I wish everyone a Holiday Season filled with peace, love and laughter.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our week began with the presentation of our World Passports!  As we have left North America and have ventured on to our study of South America, the children have been excitedly stamping their passports.  We also record the various works we have completed within each continent we study within our passports.  Friends are excited to receive these little treasures, so should you see any of these small booklets coming home, please return them with your child as they do remain in the classroom until the end of the year.  Thank you!

We were treated to a special presentation about Hanukkah this week by Noah’s grandfather, Jeff Ingerman.  Children enjoyed learning about the celebration of Hanukkah, playing with dreidels and sampling potato latkes.  Happy Hanukkah to all who celebrate!

There’s so much going on in a 3-6 classroom that is just below the surface. A knowledgeable observer (teacher, parent) will be able to recognize things like concentration and work diligently not to interrupt a child who is concentrating. It may appear as though they are isolating themselves from the group (or that they are indeed anti-social), but that is not the case. They are developing the ability to concentrate on work, and are actually creating their personhood as they work. This creation is a task suited almost entirely to independent work.

There is definitely socialization in a Montessori classroom, but it takes forms that are different from what people are used to seeing. For instance, there will be a great emphasis on community, and on things that children can do to serve the community. A child may take a work off the shelf, complete it, and put it back neatly without ever speaking to another child or adult – but socialization has taken place! How is this possible? The child, in putting the work back correctly, has shown care for the other members of the classroom. Their needs have been taken into account by the considerate actions of the child.
Montessori classrooms have different kinds of periods throughout the day, just as most schools do. During work-time, the emphasis may not be on child/child interaction, but there are other times when this occurs naturally. For instance, children may take a break from independent work to have a snack with a friend. At line time they will become familiar with group dynamics, and at lunch or recess they will have chances to talk, play games, and otherwise engage with other children.

Children within this age group are still becoming familiar with developing friendships and appropriate social interaction.  Using words to express feelings and frustrations is an ongoing learning process that often requires some adult intervention, but once children have seen appropriate behavior modeled repeatedly (ex. saying excuse me instead of pushing a friend), they will eventually internalize these behaviors and can independently perform them.  Children are soon encouraged to problem-solve with friends without the constant presence of a teacher, as children learn best from one another!
If you have not already done so, please send in appropriate clothing for outdoor winter play: snowsuit/snow pants, winter boots, hats, scarves, mittens/gloves, etc.  Children will bring these items home after outside time, as they may become wet and/or muddy.  Please return these items the following school day, as we often like to play in the snow as long as the temperature is above freezing!  Thank you!

Retrieving a mat, picking it up carefully, finding the ideal space to work, and rolling it out provides an opportunity to practice gross motor skills and body consciousness. Everything that gets placed on the mat thereafter becomes the responsibility (and privilege) of the child working on that mat.

Montessori work mats delineate a work space as the child’s own and sets an intention to “work”.  Not only does the child know that their lesson is exclusive to them (unless they invite someone to join them on their mat), they also have the responsibility to put their materials away when they are finished before they roll up their mat, and signal the end of their work session.

Our floors have been a sea of rugs this week!  Your children have skillfully maneuvered themself throughout the environment, careful not to disturb a friends work.  I continue to be amazed at their growing control, and respect for both friends and the environment.

We joyfully continue our study of Antarctica better known as the South Pole, and the Arctic or North Pole, where we have explored the climate, terrain and animals living in this harsh land.  Our study of hibernation, it’s definition and the who/why/how,  has offered comfort to those children worried about animals living in harsh winter conditions, and inspired many well thought out questions. The children have enjoyed singing hibernation songs, lessons and  even hibernating in a sleeping bag.

During this busy season, put away your mats (work) and take some time to hibernate, if only for an hour or two!

Until next time,

Cindy & Samantha

A gentle reminder to mark your calendar for the December 19th holiday concert.  We hope that you can join us for this remarkable performance!