This week, something magical happened—our butterflies finally emerged from their chrysalises! We were lucky to observe them fluttering inside the butterfly house for a couple of days before we gently carried them to the butterfly garden. There, together, we opened the glass doors and watched in awe as they took flight—free, joyful, and fulfilling the very purpose they were created for.

In many ways, this moment mirrors what we’re witnessing in our classroom. As this school year comes to a close, our toddlers—once unsure and wobbly in their first steps—are now confidently spreading their wings. Just like our butterflies, they are ready for the next stage of life.

It’s been a year filled with laughter, wonder, and steady growth. From pouring water and finishing puzzles to making friends and mastering the rhythm of our days, your children have made remarkable progress. These seemingly small moments are powerful milestones that reflect growing independence, resilience, and confidence.

Our classroom has been more than just a place to learn. It’s been a safe, loving space where your children have explored with joy and felt deeply valued. We’ve celebrated the ordinary and the extraordinary, and every giggle, hug, and triumph has been cherished.

To each family, thank you. Thank you for trusting us, for supporting us, and for walking alongside Patty and me in this meaningful work. Your partnership has meant the world.

On a personal note, this farewell is especially tender for me. After eight beautiful years of supporting toddlers at this incredible school, it’s time for my own new adventure. As you know, my family and I will be moving to Oregon this summer, and while I am excited for what’s ahead, I will deeply miss this community, all the children and families I’ve been lucky enough to know, and the joyful rhythm of our days together. Thank you for the memories. I carry them with me.

Lastly, thank you for the thoughtful gifts on Friday—they meant so much to me. Please know that Patty feels the same way. We were both deeply touched by your kindness. I’m incredibly happy that Patty will be here next school year—her warmth, experience, and love for the children will continue to be a gift to the classroom and to the little ones returning for their second year in our toddler community.

Please enjoy the photos from our final Spirit Week and the three sweet birthday celebrations that closed out our year. Look closely—you’ll see the transformation, the growth, and the light that each child carries as they fly forward.

With deepest gratitude and a full heart,
Mrs. Hood

 

This week was bursting with creativity, celebration, and hands-on exploration.

One of the highlights of the week was Art Exploration Day in Mrs. Reid’s classroom. She created a beautiful environment that sparked curiosity and encouraged creative exploration. The children were given the freedom to choose from a variety of unique art experiences, each offering a different way to express themselves:

•  The “Art Cave”: A cozy space beneath a table where large sheets of paper were taped underneath, inviting children to lie down and draw above them. The children were fascinated by this new way of creating!
•  Rolling Art with Marker Cars: In this station, toy cars had markers attached to them, allowing children to race across large sheets of paper, leaving colorful trails behind. This playful technique introduced the concept of movement in art, turning motion into markings. It was a big hit and invited a lot of collaboration and giggles.
• Textured Easel Painting: Children explored different textures while painting on a wall constructed from recycled materials. They used brushes and even their hands to experiment with how paint behaves on different surfaces. It was a wonderful way to blend art with sensory exploration and environmental awareness.
• Clay Exploration: With a variety of fun tools, the children dove into working with clay. They discovered how to transform a simple lump into something entirely new. Clay work offers so many developmental benefits, from strengthening fine motor skills to encouraging focus and imagination.

We truly appreciated Mrs. Reid’s creativity in bringing this inspiring day to life!

The children also worked together on a very special class project—a collaborative piece that will be part of our Field Day dedication next Monday. Though we were so engaged that we forgot to take pictures, the children worked with such joy and focus. This meaningful piece will be placed inside a time capsule to be opened years from now as a reminder of this special time in their early childhood.

In addition to our artistic adventures, we had the joy of celebrating the second birthday of the youngest member of our class! Our little friend was beaming with pride as he walked around the sun, and we all enjoyed singing and sharing a delicious treat together.

For food tasting this week, we tried dragon fruit—and it was a total hit! The children were intrigued by its bright yellow and spiky exterior and speckled inside, and many came back for second (and third!) tastes.

Lastly, our butterfly habitat continues to be a source of excitement and wonder. The children are carefully observing the chrysalises each day, waiting patiently for our butterflies to emerge. We can’t wait to witness their transformation and celebrate the beauty of nature right here in our classroom.

As we soak in these final days of the school year, it’s been heartwarming to see the children so engaged, joyful, and connected. Each moment reflects just how much they’ve grown and how special our time together has been. Thank you for being part of this journey with us!

Warmly,

Mrs. Hood and Ms. Patty

Another couple of days have flown by, and I can hardly believe how quickly time is passing! Our days have been filled with discovery, joy, and the quiet wonder that comes from witnessing nature’s miracles unfold right before our eyes.

Recently, we welcomed some very special visitors into our classroom—tiny, just-hatched caterpillars that arrived safely and nestled into their new home. From the moment they arrived, the children were captivated. Eyes widened, voices hushed in curiosity, and tiny fingers pointed excitedly as they took in the delicate movements of our new friends. It was a moment of pure awe.

Since then, our learning environment has been beautifully transformed. With model objects, matching cards, artwork, books, and real-time observation, the children have been immersed in the enchanting life cycle of the butterfly. We’ve explored new vocabulary: egg, caterpillar, chrysalis, and butterfly. These words have echoed sweetly in our classroom each day, growing ever more familiar with every story, lesson, and conversation.

A highlight of our butterfly exploration has been reading one of our favorite books, The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. The children love watching the caterpillar munch his way through the pages, and the familiar rhythm of the story has added warmth and joy to our daily routine. It has also helped reinforce the stages of metamorphosis in a fun and engaging way.

One of the most magical moments came when the children noticed the caterpillars curling into graceful “J” shapes—nature’s quiet signal that change was near. Not long after, we watched in amazement as the caterpillars formed their delicate chrysalises, each one a tiny, golden-speckled promise of what’s to come. The energy in the room shifted as we collectively held our breath in wonder.

Now, we wait. With careful eyes and hopeful hearts, we watch and listen, eager for the moment when our butterflies emerge and the final stage of metamorphosis is complete. What a joy it is to witness not just the transformation of these beautiful creatures but also the growth and blossoming of the children themselves. In many ways, they mirror the butterflies—growing, changing, unfolding in their own unique rhythms.

To add to the magic, the children have also been learning a special butterfly dance! With twirls, flutters, and giggles, they’ve brought the beauty of metamorphosis to life through movement and song. I will share a video at the end of this note so you can enjoy a glimpse of their joyful dancing.

In addition to our butterfly exploration, we’ve continued to delight in new experiences around the classroom. For food tasting lessons, we explored fresh cherries and peaches. There’s something extra special about watching toddlers experience new flavors—their expressions say it all!

We also celebrated the birthday of one of our oldest friends in the classroom, marking another beautiful milestone and reminding us of the joy that comes with growing together in this space we share.

As we continue this journey, I’m grateful each day for the moments of wonder, discovery, and connection we share.

With warmth and wonder,
Mrs. Hood

This week, we took a closer look at some of the tiniest but most fascinating creatures on Earth—insects! We began by exploring the anatomy of an insect, using large models to help us see all the important parts up close. The children were introduced to the three main body parts of all insects: the head, thorax, and abdomen. We also learned that insects have six legs, antennae to help them smell and feel the world around them, and most have wings as well.

To help reinforce this new vocabulary in a fun and memorable way, we learned a new song set to the familiar tune of “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes”:

Head, thorax, abdomen, abdomen
Head, thorax, abdomen, abdomen
Eyes, antennas, wings, six legs
Head, thorax, abdomen, abdomen

The children loved singing and moving along, pretending to be their favorite insect and it helped solidify these big words in a joyful and age-appropriate way!

With a strong foundation in insect anatomy, we zoomed in on a specific insect: the ant. We learned about the ant’s life cycle, discovering the stages of egg, larva, pupa, and adult ant. These were exciting new words for the toddlers, and many repeated them throughout the week as we worked, sang, and played.

We also made exciting real-world connections as  some live insects visited our classroom—what perfect timing! The children were eager to observe them carefully and point out their body parts, matching what we had learned in our lessons.

Although spiders sparked a lot of interest too, we learned that they are not insects because they have eight legs and only two body segments. Still, spiders became a fun part of our exploration, and the children enjoyed watching them closely.

During outdoor time, we continued to observe and discuss other insects such as grasshoppers, ladybugs, dragonflies, flies, and bees. Using models and real sightings, the children are beginning to recognize patterns and characteristics that help them classify what is (and isn’t!) an insect. Next week, we will focus our studies in the majestic butterflies… the children are eager to see the live caterpillars finally arrive (they got lost in the mail) and watch their life cycle right before their very own eyes! We can’t wait!

For food tasting this week, we offered something fresh and juicy: kiwi! The children were curious about the fuzzy brown exterior and the bright green inside with its tiny seeds. Some dove right in, while others took cautious little nibbles.

We also had the joy of celebrating a very special birthday this week as one of our friends turned three years old!  The birthday child beamed with pride, and the whole class joined in singing and sharing in the joy of the moment, as always!

Finally, a heartfelt thank you:

• To all the parents who took time to meet with Patty and me during Parent-Teacher Conferences—we loved connecting with you.
• To the wonderful grandparents and special friends who joined us for Grandparents’ Day—your presence meant so much to the children.
• To all of you for the love and appreciation shown during Teacher Appreciation Week—your kind words and thoughtful gestures truly touched our hearts.
  
• And to all the amazing mothers in our classroom community—Happy Mother’s Day! Thank you for your endless love, strength, and the beautiful energy you bring into your children’s lives. We hope you feel celebrated and appreciated this weekend and always.

Warmly,

Mrs. Hood and Ms. Patty

Reminder: Please make sure your child bring rain boots and rain jacket/suit on rainy days! We will take advantage of outdoors adventures in all type of weather as much is possible.

Even with a short week, our toddlers had a wonderful time exploring, learning, and connecting with the world around them in so many meaningful ways.

Our chicken study continued to spark curiosity and conversation. This week, the children observed and compared the differences between a hen and a rooster. They noticed that roosters are often bigger, with more colorful feathers and a tall, bright red comb, while hens are usually smaller and more subtly colored. Using pictures and vocabulary cards, we talked about the different parts of a chicken, like the beak, comb, wattle, feathers, and feet, and we also practiced the sounds hens and roosters make—they seemed to really enjoy this!

As part of our study, we also introduced one of a chicken’s favorite foods: worms! The children were fascinated to learn about how chickens love to peck around for worms, and we brought that idea into the classroom with a sensory bin full of realistic, wiggly worm replicas. There was lots of laughter and pretend play as little hands explored the squishy “worms” in the soil.

Another hands-on activity this week involved learning to use a mortar and pestle to crush clean, dried eggshells. The children took turns gently grinding the shells into smaller pieces, then helped sprinkle them into the soil of our classroom plants. We talked about how eggshells give the plants nutrients, especially calcium, to help them grow strong. This was a beautiful example of caring for our environment and connecting life cycles—chickens, eggs, and growing plants—all in one meaningful activity.

For our weekly food tasting, we explored snap peas! Some children dove right in, enjoying the satisfying crunch and slightly sweet flavor, while others watched curiously before taking a brave bite.

We also celebrated a birthday this week! As always, a favorite activity in our environment, as it gives the birthday child a moment to feel seen and special. The class always enjoys singing together and hearing a few sweet moments shared about the birthday child’s journey around the sun.

As we wrap up the week, we want to wish a very Happy Easter to those who celebrate. May your weekend be filled with peace, joy, and time with loved ones.

Warmly,

Mrs. Hood and Ms. Patty

Welcome, Spring! Although snowflakes surprised us Thursday night, they left no trace by morning—just a chilly breeze and some puddles beneath our boots. Still, the lengthening days, cheerful birdsong, and gentle shifts in nature signal that spring is quietly and finally making its entrance.

In our Montessori environment, we guide the children to slow down and notice these changes with curiosity and care. Tiny buds on branches, soft sprouts emerging from the earth, and even the way sunlight lingers a bit longer in the afternoon are all invitations to observe, wonder, and connect with the natural world.

This week, we’ve been focusing on recognizing signs of spring. Whether it’s watching birds hopping across the playground, discovering early blooms, or feeling the cool air after an unexpected snow, the children are learning that change happens in small, beautiful ways.

Spring also gives us a perfect segue into one of our favorite topics: life cycles. Toddlers are naturally curious about the world, and the life cycle of living things sparks their imagination in such a special way. It helps them build early scientific knowledge, explore language through new vocabulary, and fosters a deeper sense of empathy and respect for nature.

This week, we kicked off our study of the life cycle of a chicken! From interesting eggs to fluffy chicks to full-grown hens, the journey from egg to adult is something toddlers truly enjoy exploring. So far, we’ve focused on two main ideas: chickens come from eggs, and a baby chicken is called a chick. The children watched a short, engaging video that showed the hatching process—it was magical to see their faces light up with curiosity and amazement.

We also learned that not all eggs have baby chicks inside. Some are meant to be eaten—and we did just that. As part of our food-tasting lesson, we explored the parts of an egg and introduced words like shell, egg white, and yolk. The children tasted scrambled eggs, and as an extension of the lesson, we practiced peeling boiled eggs, which turned into a wonderful hands-on activity. Peeling eggs helps toddlers develop fine motor skills and strengthens hand-eye coordination. It also teaches patience and focus—two beautiful qualities we see blossoming every day.

To bring in a little cultural fun, we also introduced a classic Spanish children’s song: Los Poll tos. In Spanish, the chicks say, “pio, pio,” instead of “chirp, chirp.” Just an interesting cultural bonus sent your way. 🙂 The children loved singing along and mimicking the sweet sounds of the chicks! You’ll find a link to the song at the bottom of this note if you’d like to enjoy it at home with your child!

Building on our recent color studies, we introduced the color purple and discovered how it can be made by mixing red and blue. The children were delighted to see the transformation happen before their eyes—yet another example of how wonder and learning go hand in hand.

Lastly, the children poured their hearts into a beautiful collaborative masterpiece with Jen Reid, our amazing art teacher—and we’re thrilled to announce it will be featured in the live auction at Springfest on May 3rd! This one-of-a-kind creation is a true reflection of their creativity, teamwork, and joy. We can’t wait for you to see it! Your participation not only supports our school but also celebrates the incredible spirit of our community. Let’s come together and make this event unforgettable! We hope to see you there! 🎉

Have a great weekend,

Ms. Hood and Ms. Patty

This week, we continued our exploration of the colors of the rainbow, diving into the magical world of color mixing! Our focus was on the color orange, and the children were amazed to discover that combining red and yellow creates this warm, cheerful hue. At the easel, they observed this transformation firsthand, blending the colors and watching different shades of orange emerge on their paper. It was a joyful experience filled with curiosity and creativity!

To extend this learning, we tied our color studies into nutrition by recognizing fruits, vegetables, grains, protein, and dairy foods by their colors. During snack and lunchtime, the children were excited to share the colors of the rainbow they found in their food containers. This activity not only reinforces color recognition but also highlights the importance of a balanced diet. You can try this at home by encouraging your child to identify the colors on their plate and talk about the benefits of eating a variety of colorful foods!

In addition to colors, the children have been fascinated by zoo animals! We’ve talked about the difference between pets and wild animals, and some of the class favorites include the lion, elephant, zebra, cheetah, and giraffe. The children have enjoyed learning about their habitats, characteristics, and unique features.

As we soak up the last cool days before spring is in full bloom, we’ve been spending extra time outdoors exploring nature. Watching them run, jump, and observe the changing environment has been a delight, and we look forward to fully embracing the beauty of springtime in the coming weeks!

This week, our food-tasting lesson introduced the children to plantains. The children were definitely intrigued by this fruit, which looks like a banana but tastes quite different. They sampled both soft and chip-style plantains, discovering a new flavor that many of them enjoyed.

To wrap up our week, we engaged in a magical Sensorial art project using food coloring, cotton swabs, dish soap, and milk. The children watched in awe as the dish soap reacted with the fat in the milk, causing the food coloring to swirl and dance. Their expressions of wonder were priceless! To preserve this moment, we placed watercolor paper onto the surface, capturing beautiful and unique prints of their milk art.

Thank you for sharing in our adventures… we can’t wait for more fun ahead!

Mrs. Hood and Ms. Patty

Colors are everywhere, and recognizing them is an important milestone in a child’s cognitive development. Beyond just naming colors, children use them to sort, categorize, compare, and organize, which are key skills for early math and communication development. While colors are always part of our classroom experience through materials, books, songs, and activities, this week, we took a deeper dive into the magical world of colors, focusing on the colors of the rainbow!

We kicked things off with a fascinating walking rainbow experiment. Using cups of water, paper towels, and red, blue, and yellow food coloring, the children watched in amazement as the water traveled through the paper towels, mixing to create new colors like orange, green, and purple. Through this experiment, we explored capillary action, the same process that helps water travel from a plant’s roots to its leaves. The children were captivated by the transformation, with plenty of “Wows!” and giggles as they checked on the progress throughout the week. For our older toddlers who have already mastered primary, secondary, and tertiary colors, we also introduced the concept of different shades and tones, adding an extra layer of discovery to our rainbow exploration.

Our color celebrations continued with a vibrant introduction to the Indian festival of Holi! Holi marks the arrival of spring and is known as the festival of colors, symbolizing joy, love, and new beginnings. We read the beautifully illustrated book Festival of Colors by Kabir and Surishtha Sehgal, which helped the children understand the meaning and traditions of this special celebration. Then, the real fun began! We took to the field for our very own Holi celebration, where the children joyfully threw colorful powder into the air—and at each other! Laughter, excitement, and bursts of color filled the space. It was truly a sight to behold!

A huge thank you to Keerti Murari for introducing this beautiful cultural tradition to our class and for providing the colorful powder that made our celebration so special. And a big shout-out to Shannon Turkett for her generous donations that helped make our Holi festivities extra fun! We are so grateful for your support!

We also had the joy of celebrating a special birthday in our class this week! Our little friend proudly walked around the sun while we all sang and celebrated her special day. Afterward, we shared a delicious treat together, making it a simple yet joyful moment for everyone.

To top off our colorful week, we explored pineapple as our featured food tasting of the week. The children enjoyed observing, touching, and tasting this yummy fruit.

From science and culture to celebrations and food, this week was a perfect blend of hands-on learning and joyful experiences.

Enjoy the pictures of your happy children,

Mrs. Hood and Ms. Patty

Read the March 8 blog post here.