One of our goals at FWM is to create caring, empathetic students who are capable of thinking beyond themselves. Dr. Montessori’s vision was that a peaceful world, starting with children, would make the world a better place. Social Impact is a program led by Middle School students and one of our Montessori strategies to help develop and educate the whole child. Students learn the joy of giving of themselves and develop compassion because of these real, practical life volunteer experiences.

Once a week, middle school students visit our environment and work with our toddlers. They do so by reading and working with the different materials on our shelves. They assist your children in how to put on their shoes and jackets, how to clean their face and hands, they look for ways of comforting their younger peers when they are having a hard time, and they love to join in the fun when we sing, dance and play games together. They are great role models, and your children LOVE when they enter our environment and get to spend time with them.

On another note, in continuation with our apple studies, we explored a yellow apple for our food-tasting lesson this week. We also closed this unit with a fun Sensorial experience. Each of your children dissected an apple, and oh boy! They really seemed to enjoy it!

With senses full of curiosity, children touched, observed, smelled, peeled, and cored a delicious apple. The children found it very fun and interesting to use the handle of the peeler, but their eyes sparkled, and their smiles bloomed when they watched the skin of the apple peel and fall on the napkin. They explored the core and the seeds in it. They also helped break the apple into pieces and place it inside our crock pot to be cooked and turned into a delicious apple sauce! The next morning, we gathered as a class, and the children enjoyed the fruits of their work. Most of them kept asking for more!

Food preparation is one of the main areas in our Practical Life curriculum! There are many benefits to involving children in food prep. Even the pickiest of eaters have been known to be more willing to try things when they have had a hand in preparing them. These works also help develop fine motor skills, build coordination, create a sense of community, and increase knowledge of nutrition, science, and math. We will continue to provide individual and group experiences like this throughout the year.

We encourage you to make experiences like this available at home as well. Here are just some examples of how you can include your toddler in food preparation at home:

• Scoop cereal into a bowl
• Add milk to cereal
• Wipe up spills with a small towel
• Take the plate to the kitchen
• Prepare a sandwich
• Spread sun butter/jelly/cream cheese on crackers
• Peel and slice a banana
• Peel a mandarin orange
• Peel and cut an apple with assistance
• Wash fruits and vegetables
• Make orange juice
• Pour a glass of water or milk using a small jug- use a small amount of liquid to avoid a large spill.
• Drink from a glass
• Follow a recipe with assistance using measuring cups
• Set the table/clear the table
• Wipe the table
• Sweep the floor -use a dustpan and brush

Enjoy the weekend,

Mrs. Hood and Ms. Mollie

“If teaching is to be effective with young children, it must assist them to advance on the way to independence. It must initiate them into those kinds of activities that they can perform themselves and that keep them from being a burden to others because of their inabilities. We must help them to learn how to walk without assistance, to run, to go up and down stairs, to pick up fallen objects, to dress and undress, to wash, to express their needs in a way that is clearly understood, and to attempt to satisfy their desires through their efforts. All this is part of an education for independence”.

Dr. Maria Montessori

Toddlers are naturally eager to learn these things. “Do it myself” might well be the refrain for the toddler years! Our day-to-day lives often make for less-than-ideal circumstances to help our children achieve the independence they crave. Our homes are not optimized around a little person with a height of under three feet: Objects are hard to reach, too heavy, or too big for little hands to use. Our days are not set up to move at their speed: We rarely just happen to have ten spare minutes to wait while our almost two-year-olds put on their jacket!

Yet enabling a toddler to become more independent has huge short-term and long-term benefits. Power struggles decrease when a child feels more in control. Temper tantrums are less frequent when toddlers are busy doing things for themselves rather than resisting their parent’s efforts to do things for them! A child who feels capable because they can act in the world without needing to rely on grown-ups for every little thing is a child who is developing self-confidence.

We have introduced the routine of changing into indoor shoes at the beginning of the morning! At this point, most of the children have learned to recognize their space and continue to work hard in the skill of removing their shoes, coordinating their hands to get the new shoe on, and pulling and closing the velcro tabs. Your children have been working on the skill of taking their snack box from the snack shelf as well, carrying it and bringing it to their respective table, opening the box, and taking their snack out. In addition, they have been learning the importance of asking for help when needed and remaining seated while eating. These are big steps for little people, but your children have been absorbing the routines beautifully, and their skills improve daily.

Children received a lesson on water transferring this week. To make it even more interesting, we used a sea wool sponge for transferring. The “magic” of watching the water disappear and get inside the sponge is fun, but it’s even more fun when suddenly you squeeze the sponge and all the vanished water comes out. Children received two new vocabulary words when observing the bowls used for the transfer. They like to repeat them over and over: empty and full. At the end of the activity, they were encouraged to look for spills and wipe them up on the table with a towel and on the floor with a mop.

Continuing our apple studies this week, we explored a Granny Smith apple for our food-tasting lesson. Skin, flesh, stem, core, and seeds are vocabulary words we often repeat these days.

As an extra sensorial addition, we worked on an apple stamping art piece. Children enjoyed dipping the apple halves into different colored paints and stamping them all over their papers! They seemed very proud of their work!

We celebrated another birthday, and the children were, of course, really happy to celebrate, especially because they knew there was a special treat! 🙂

Lastly, children seemed to enjoy our new song, “Way Up High in the Apple Tree.” Children practiced the numbers one through five using their hands. As children are working on copying fingerplays and growing in language, feel free to practice it at home with your child.

Way up high in that apple tree. (Place left hand under right elbow and lift right arm with fingers open, forming a tree.)
Five red apples smiled down at me. (wiggle fingers)
I shook that tree as hard as I could. (shake right arm and hand)
Down came an apple! Mmmmm, it was good! (hide your thumb and pretend to eat an apple.)
Way up high in the apple tree, four red apples smiled down at me (count fingers)

Repeat the song until there are zero apples in the tree.

Have a great weekend,

Mrs. Hood and Ms. Mollie

One of the main highlights of our week was our first lesson on food tasting. As children grow beyond the infant stage, they begin the journey to independence as toddlers. Many parents notice this change in their children when it comes to mealtime, as they begin to hear a resounding “No!” when it comes to eating the foods they once loved and trying new ones. In order to help families, we have integrated food tasting into our toddler program as a way to ease children into the idea of trying new foods by teaching them all about the food and encouraging them to participate as a group.

This week, we introduced some delicious red apples!

Children were really excited to see the food-tasting tray covered, especially our second-year students, who knew what was coming. The children gathered quietly around the tray as they noticed there was a surprise under the towel. To keep the mystery going, I peeked under the towel and got the children really excited and curious! There were smiles and expressions of awe at the moment I finally removed the towel that was covering the apple. This fruit was presented as a whole first, then cut in front of them, presented as half, and then served individually. In our conversation, and as the children could touch the apple being presented, we included such adjectives as cold, big, smooth, red, and tasty to keep adding to our vocabulary. Children observed while I slowly picked up a piece of apple and placed it inside my mouth, tasting it slowly and dramatically, with the purpose of encouraging curiosity and expectation when it was their turn to taste. They willingly accepted my invitation, and they all enjoyed some yummy apples. This lesson is a favorite every year, and we can’t wait to explore all the different food items on our list each week.

This week, we also celebrated our first birthday in the classroom. It’s always a joy to see those smiley faces feeling seen and cherished!

By the end of the week, we gathered as a school and celebrated the International Day of Peace. Each year, the International Day of Peace (“Peace Day”) is observed around the world on the 21st of September. Established by the United Nations, Peace Day provides a globally shared date for all humanity to commit to Peace above all differences and to contribute to building a Culture of Peace.

On this day, Montessori schools from around the world join together to sing for peace. The song travels around the globe over a 24-hour period, starting with New Zealand and ending with the Hawaiian Islands.

Maria Montessori truly believed in peace education as she felt that world peace can only be achieved through education. In Montessori, we strive to give children the tools to live at peace with others and settle conflict in a peaceful manner.

While you enjoy some of your children’s pictures, we encourage you to put the volume up on this beautiful song and remember that each one of these little ones deserves to live in a peaceful world. So let’s work together for it!

Enjoy your weekend,

Mrs. Hood and Ms. Mollie

As we conclude our phase-in period, we couldn’t be more thrilled to share our enthusiasm for the incredible progress we’ve already witnessed in each of your precious toddlers! The journey has just begun, and it’s already filled with moments of discovery and growth.

As the days go by, your children are settling into their routines more comfortably. There are fewer tears at drop-off time and more moments filled with dancing and giggles throughout the morning. The children have been eagerly exploring their new learning environment, becoming more familiar with us, their peers, and the physical space around them. Our classroom is designed to nurture independence, encourage freedom of choice, and foster a deep respect for each other, the materials, and the shared space. Gradually, your children will learn how to navigate this newfound freedom while demonstrating care and consideration for one another.

We have introduced some essential ground rules. One of these rules is “Respect for Others’ Work.” While sharing is a vital concept, it is a task that most children at this age are not developmentally ready for. Instead, we encourage the idea of taking turns, promoting patience, mindfulness, independence, order, and concentration. Children are learning to assert their need for independent work by saying, “This is my work. Please don’t touch.” It’s remarkable to witness how even our youngest learners can begin mastering these valuable skills with the right guidance and encouragement.

Another important rule we’ve introduced is “We Respect our Materials.” We, as guides, model the importance of handling materials gently and with care throughout the day. When a child decides to throw a material, we gently redirect them to use one of the balls and provide simple verbal cues on how materials should be handled. Ex: “We throw a ball.” “We are gentle with our materials”. This approach fosters a sense of responsibility and respect for their learning tools.

On a different note, our toddlers have had a blast exploring our outdoor space. They’ve also been practicing sitting in a community circle, bonding with our classroom pets, Lizzo and Scooter (two beautiful leopard geckos), and transitioning from place to place around the school using the rope, a.k.a. “The choo-choo train.” Some favorite songs from this week included Walking in the Jungle by Super Simple Songs, Walk Around by Nancy Kopman, The Goldfish by Laurie Berkner, and classics like The Wheels on the Bus and Old McDonald Had a Farm by Cedarmont Kids. As we have been focusing on studying the animals of the farm and their sounds, children have also loved the books Noisy Farm by Tiger Tales and The Farmyard Jamboree by Barefoot Books as some of their favorites.

Now, we invite you to please mark your calendars for an event you won’t want to miss. Join us next Thursday, September 21st, from 5:30-7:00 p.m. for our Curriculum Night. This special evening will provide you with an opportunity to explore our learning environment, gain insights into our curriculum areas, and get a glimpse of the materials and experiences that will enrich your children’s educational journey. We are here to support you every step of the way, so don’t hesitate to bring your curiosity and questions with you!

Enjoy the photos,

Mrs.Hood and Ms. Mollie

Reminder: Tuesday September 19th- School Photo day

Thank you for adhering to your child’s scheduled, staggered arrival and dismissal times. Unless your child has a sibling at the primary, elementary, or middle school levels, or you have registered for early drop-off, arrival for toddlers is from 8:30 to 8:45, and dismissal is at 2:45. 

Of course, we had to finish our school year with a wonderful gym field day! The air quality outdoors might have stolen our water day, but it didn’t take away the joy and the fun of enjoying time together, doing what toddlers really love: RUNNING!! The children had so much fun, and we loved watching them laugh and challenge themselves.

We set up a huge obstacle course where children had to grab a bean bag, crawl inside tunnels, hop over hula hoops, slide under rainbows, balance on the balance beam, jump high in the jumping station, ride a long horse, tip-toe on colorful dots and climb a mountain to bring the bean bag to its destiny, then… repeat it again! Of course! 🙂

We also had a great time playing together with our friends from Mrs. Wilson’s class using the giant parachute! Parachutes will be forever magical, even to us grown-ups! And as it had to be, we finished our “Uff! … Busy morning,” as one of the toddlers expressed with a delicious ice pop! Yum!

Looking through school pictures, I cannot stop the overwhelming feeling of thankfulness! I know we have said it before, but we need to say it one more time: Thank you for entrusting us with your little ones and walking next to us to give them the best experience each day!

We give them back to you pounds heavier, inches taller, months wiser, more independent, confident, and mature than they were back in September. They did a great job unfolding and growing each day, and we feel honored to have witnessed it. They, for sure, will continue to be part of our lives. Even though some of them will be moving up a level, remember that we will always be interested in your children and their destiny-wherever they go, whatever they do, and whoever they become.

They are truly precious to us!

Enjoy the contrasting pictures of the first weeks and the last weeks of school of your child in our Toddler program!

Reminder: Please join us at the Crossing the Bridge ceremony- Toddler graduation, next Wednesday, 6/14, at 9:45 by the FWM bear!

Love,

Mrs. Hood and Ms. Marissa

Is it true? How’s it possible!? Are we really a couple of days away from ending our school year? It seems like yesterday when we welcomed the toddlers into our classroom! Your children have been working like busy bees from day one and have challenged themselves in every way. We couldn’t be more proud to see how much each of them has accomplished in different areas, one being great social-emotional development. It’s incredible to see the type of friendships born between them and how socialization has started to be very important to them. This is a great sign of growth!

At the beginning of the school year, it is usual to see a lot of toddlers parallel playing… children are aware of other little human beings around them, but they are not interested in really connecting with them. They might look into each other’s eyes, but as their thinking is still so concrete, they just seem more interested in the “little ball” with the nice color that moves, so it’s logical they decide to explore it. This is what we usually call: poking each other’s eyes. It’s common to see a toddler curiously trying to explore another child’s face with their index finger and the other toddler thinking he is just receiving something to taste. Yeap! We call that one finger biting! Ouch!

Thankfully the connection has developed, and as they have matured, it’s now common to see the children waiting for their friends at the door, inviting each other to play together, having logical conversations, joking and making each other laugh, hugging and verbally expressing their affection for each other. Amigos are the best!

As we enjoyed the last few days together as a little family, we spent quality time outdoors this week singing, walking, running, building, digging, chasing each other, laying in the sun, talking, and exploring nature. We also explored peas for food tasting!

We can’t wait for all the fun planned for the next few days. Thursday, 6/8, is our Toddler’s Water Day, and we will have our Crossing the Bridge ceremony on Wednesday, 6/14. Please refer to the email sent with all the instructions.

We wish you a beautiful weekend,

Mrs. Hood and Ms. Marissa

In a world filled with distractions, developing concentration and focus is becoming increasingly challenging for young children. Sensorial works in Montessori education promote the development of these essential skills. Toddlers engage in activities that require sustained attention, such as sorting objects by size or shape, arranging objects in a specific order, completing puzzles, and more. These tasks demand concentration, enabling toddlers to develop their ability to focus for extended periods, a skill that will benefit them in all areas of life.

As we continued our studies of birds this week, the children received a lesson on the birds’ calls and songs. Children are learning to identify each bird sound through a fun work where the children press a button, hear the bird, and have to match the picture card with the sound. As every work in our environment has a control of error built within it, the child has the opportunity to self-correct by matching the color dot behind the card to the color of the button, helping the child to match the sound to the correct bird. As children practice this work, they will learn to identify the birds just by listening, and they won’t need to look at the back of the card anymore to be successful. To say that this has been a big favorite work is an understatement! It has been precious observing the children taking the time to listen carefully and observe the details of the birds’ pictures. We hope you can take time with your toddler around your backyard and listen to some birds singing! Your toddler might surprise you by recognizing the name of the bird!

In our language area, we have added a wooden family house. This is an excellent platform for enhancing a child’s cognitive abilities. As toddlers manipulate the house’s dolls, furniture, and accessories, they improve their fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. Additionally, arranging the furniture, organizing the rooms, and categorizing the items encourage logical thinking and spatial awareness. This work also stimulates imagination, creativity, language development, emotional intelligence, and social interaction. This is definitely a favorite work in our environment these days.

For food tasting, we explored a delicious plum, and it got 99% of likeness! I am confident we can still convince our one friend who didn’t want to try it! 😉

Enjoy the holiday weekend!

Mrs. Hood and Ms. Marissa

The time we all were waiting for finally arrived! Our beautiful butterflies emerged, took time to strengthen their wings, and enjoyed the well-prepared environment your little ones created for them. Children enjoyed watching the butterflies walking around and using their long tongues to taste the fruits we provided. When the time came, we gathered together in the butterfly garden and opened the glass doors! We could almost sense the butterflies’ excitement as they felt the sun and the wind and immediately started to flap their wings. One flew high as soon we opened the doors, while the other three seemed a little shy. I grabbed a little stick and offered it to them. After a couple of seconds, the butterflies decided to fly, bringing smiles and laughter to your children while fulfilling their purpose as butterflies.

This activity always brings so many emotions for us as guides! In just a couple of weeks, our school year will be over, and as we reflect on the butterflies flying away, we realize that, as with those tiny caterpillars,  we have observed and enjoyed every change in your children’s lives during this year! They have grown so much! It has brought so much joy to our lives to step back and observe how independent, confident, and capable your children have become. Like the butterflies brought so much joy to your children, your little ones have brought so much joy to us, and we are so incredibly thankful to you for trusting us with them. Soon it will be time to open the “glass doors” and watch them fly, and we are so sure each one of them is going to spread their wings and fly high!

On another note and continuing our bird studies, this week, children got to be little ornithologists learning the parts of a bird (head, chest, wing, tail, and legs). They also got to observe, feel and smell the type of food birds eat and learn some names like sunflowers seeds, millet, corn, and wheat as they prepared the bird feeder for our classroom.

As a fun sensorial activity, the children worked on a little art project creating colorful binoculars, and we went for a walk, spotting some beautiful birds.

Lastly, the children enjoyed some cherries as our weekly food-tasting lesson!

Have a great weekend,

Mrs. Hood and Ms. Marissa

Reminder: As the weather gets warmer, please apply sunscreen to your child before school.