Mrs. Lopes’ Class: A Walk Around the Sun

Posted on by Amanda Lopes

In the first two weeks of school we have already had two classroom birthday celebrations! Birthday celebrations are so special in a Montessori environment. For a child, one year is a significant amount of time relative to their life. As part of the Montessori tradition, we strive to celebrate birthdays in a way that is both meaningful and educational.

Our children in the Primary environment celebrate birthdays with a tradition called “a walk around the sun.” A walk around the sun can be different from school to school, but typically begins by lighting a candle representing the sun in the middle of our class circle. Labels for each month of the year are laid out around the candle. The teacher and class form a circle around the candle and the birthday child walks around the “sun” once for each year of their life, holding an Earth globe. We encourage parents to share a milestone from each year of their child’s life during their walk around the sun.

The Montessori birthday walk is more than just a birthday celebration, it’s a Celebration of Life, a lesson in science, astronomy, and grace, and a community building experience for the entire class.

This Friday we will be sending home a “Friday Folder” with your child’s work from the week. Please empty the folder and return it to school on Monday. Some children come home with many items each week, while others do not. Please remember that many of the lessons and materials in our environment are tactile, so even though your child may not be coming home with much “physical” work, our photos we share each week will show how they have been working hard in the classroom.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend,

Amanda and Heather

Mrs.Semmah – Transition to the New Classroom

Posted on by Kaoutar Semmah

Starting a brand new classroom is both exciting and meaningful.

It is essential to implement some special strategies for a successful start, feeling safe and secure, and experiencing a smooth transition.

During these first weeks, children are looking for teachers to give them a sense of security. Hugs, smiles, and kindness are our daily acts to respond to our children’s needs. Children have to trust that there is someone in the room who can be there for them. They may need a lot of assistance developing independence in the bathroom and with snack time. For them, feeling connected to their teachers who care and love them is the key to maintain a trusting relationship and feeling loved.

Throughout phase-in days, children come to school for just an hour and a half to two hours. We select a few familiar materials like puzzles, blocks, and crayons on tables or on floor mats for them to use. We greet children with a handshake, and we show them the arrival procedure. We give special attention to children who might be feeling separation anxiety.

On the second day, we still have materials on the mats, but we also open the practical life shelf that includes lessons of pouring, transferring, and bead stringing. Our main role is to supervise and support children as they move between activities. During circle time, we review a few items from our grace and courtesy lessons. Examples: circle etiquette, floor, and table lessons, and how to handle materials with care. We also try to give small group lessons of 4 to 5 children and showing them the complete cycle from beginning to end. Start at the shelf, show how to handle a tray, how to do the work, and how to put it away.

By the second week, children have picked up on some basic routines and have learned how to work with some basic lessons. We focus on mastering the routines and introducing a variety of lessons while opening a new area of the classroom every day during this week including sensorial experience, math, science, geography, peace corner, and language.

I feel strongly that devoting attention, affection, and support to new learners is very rewarding. It takes a lot of repetition of basic lessons consistently, so children can see the practice repeated until they master the new skills.

Enjoy these second-week pictures!

Mrs. Semmah and Mrs. Sara

 

 

 

Mrs. Doyle’s Class: One Step At A Time!

Posted on by Michelle Handibode

We know it takes time for the new rhythms of school days to become familiar. So, while we are taking one step at a time, it definitely feels like we haven’t missed a beat!

It just a few short days we as a class are learning:

  • how to navigate our way around the environment
  • how to wait for a lesson
  • the routines of our school day
  • how to prepare for snack and lunch independently
  • about being part of a large group meeting by listening and sharing
  • care of self and care of the environment

Our returning friends have been role models for our new friends.  It’s a wonderful opportunity for them to be a leader. It wasn’t so very long ago that they were new to the classroom themselves and they accept this new responsibility with excitement and confidence.

A question I frequently hear from parents is ‘what can I do at home to help my child be successful at school?’   One way to do so is to guide your child to become as independent as possible. This independence is guided by your child’s age and ability. So there are no hard and fast rules to follow.  A few important areas to focus on would be setting up and cleaning up their lunch, putting on and taking off coats and boots, toileting themselves, packing and unpacking their backpacks and carefully putting their toys away when they are done.  This process too is also one step at a time.

Here’s to new beginnings and a peaceful, fun school year for everyone!

Wishing you all a week filled with peace and love!

Michelle & Liset

Mrs. Semmah’s Class: Greetings!

Posted on by Kaoutar Semmah

Greetings!

We welcomed new friends and families this year (myself included!). The first week of the phase-in period helped the children with the transition to the new classroom. It is an absolute pleasure meeting your children, seeing their smiles, and getting some heart-warming hugs. This phase-in period is so helpful for a smooth transition for your children and for feeling safe in a new environment and getting to know their new teachers. The children were curious to explore the Montessori materials and share them with their friends. It was amazing to observe the children’s transition during this first week.

Thank you for all your support and we are looking forward to a wonderful school year!

Enjoy these back-to-school pictures!

As a gentle reminder, in order to streamline our dismissal process, we ask that you please stay in your car as a teacher is bringing your child over.  The teacher will assist the child into the car.  Please pull forward against the side of the building before exiting the car and buckling them in.  Thank you for your help!

Warm regards,

Mrs. Semmah and Ms. Sara

Mrs. Doyle’s Class: Swinging Into A New Year!

Posted on by Michelle Handibode

 

 

While our first week was a short one, it was also a very successful one. We know that the phase-in schedule can be difficult to manage but it really does allow us to set the tone for the year.  So, thank you for your patience and understanding.

It just a few short days, the children are beginning to learn how to navigate the environment as well as the routines of our day.  This is a work in progress and constantly evolving over the course of the year. We had a very smooth start and we are so excited to be part of this journey with all of the children and all of you!

The old adage “a picture speaks a thousand words” comes to mind when you see all the smiles on each child’s face.

As a gentle reminder, in order to streamline our dismissal process, we ask that you please stay in your car as a teacher is bringing your child over.  The teacher will assist the child into the car.  Please pull forward against the side of the building before exiting the car and buckling them in.  Thank you for your help!

Have a wonderful week!

Michelle & Liset

Mrs. Lopes’s Class: Off to a Great Start!

Posted on by Amanda Lopes

“A new school year means new beginnings, new adventures, new friendships, and new challenges.  The slate is clean and anything can happen.” -Denise Witmer

Even though our first week was short, you will see in the pictures how busy the children were!  We were impressed with how easily the children acclimated to the classroom environment, and the excitement of a new school year filled Ms. Heather and I with joy.  We look forward to working with you and your children this year!

As a gentle reminder, in order to streamline our dismissal process, we ask that you please stay in your car as a teacher is bringing your child over.  The teacher will assist the child into the car.  Please pull forward against the side of the building before exiting the car and buckling them in.  Thank you for your help!

Have a wonderful week!

Amanda and Heather

Mrs. Lopes’s Class: Happy Summer!

Posted on by Amanda Lopes

In the blink of an eye this challenging, as well as rewarding, school year has come to a close.  As we watch each child leave our classroom for the summer Mrs. Sharlene and I can’t help but remember their first days with us. It is always humbling to be a witness of the children’s growth and development throughout the school year.

While many of our children and families are returning, some will be moving on. To everyone, we wish you the best of summer and the best in the years ahead. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all your help and cooperation throughout this journey of a school year that has been unlike any other.  We are so thankful to have gotten to spend this time with your children and know they will always have a special place in our hearts.  I will leave you with a poem that sums up our feelings at the end of the school year:

I have worked with your flower, and helped it to grow.

I’m returning it now, but I want you to know

This flower is precious, as dear as can be.

Take care of it, and you will see

A bright new bloom, with every day.

It grew and blossomed, in such a wonderful way.

In August, just a bud, then January, a bloom, now a lovely blossom

I’m returning to you.

Remember, this flower,

As dear as can be.

Though rightfully yours,

Part will always be with me!

Wishing you a peaceful, restful summer full of unforgettable memories!

Love,

Amanda and Sharlene

Mrs. Doyle’s Class: What A Year!!!

Posted on by Michelle Handibode

The end of each school year is always an emotional time filled with wonder and pride at all that we accomplished and how much each child has grown.  This year it was nothing short of amazing!!!  The 2020-21 school year was a historic one and we all deserve a summer with time to just be. We wish all of you a summer filled with peace, love, happiness and the chance to make beautiful memories.  Enjoy the time with your loved ones and may you all have a chance to relax and enjoy a calmer time of year.  Thank you for sharing your children with us and thank you for all the behind the scenes help that made our year so much smoother!

We leave you with a poem that resonates deeply with us every single year.

Whose Child Is This?      

“Whose child is this?” I asked one day
Seeing a little one out at play.
“Mine,” said the parent with a tender smile.
“Mine to keep a little while
To bathe his hands and comb his hair
To tell him what he is to wear
To prepare him that he may always be good
And each day do the things he should.”

“Whose child is this?” I asked again
As the door opened and someone came in.
“Mine,” said the teacher with the same tender smile.
“Mine, to keep just for a little while
To teach him how to be gentle and kind
To train and direct his dear little mind
To help him live by every rule
And get the best he can from school.”

“Whose child is this?” I ask once more
Just as the little one entered the door.
“Ours,” said the parent and the teacher as they smiled
And each took the hand of the little child.
“Ours to love and train together
Ours this blessed task forever.”

—–Author Unknown

With much love,

Michelle & Lizette