Ms. Mollie: “Finally, Halloween!”

Posted on by Mollie Smith

 

The past two weeks have been a whirlwind of fun! We have been talking about Halloween, pumpkins, bats, and of course, candy! We have been enjoying getting to know a new classmate who joined us; the children already know his name and eagerly await him each morning. The children are also very excited to see the birds at our feeder…oftentimes so excited with an excited squeal that scares the birds away! The children can now identify the chickadee, bluejay, and tufted titmouse when the birds visit our feeder.

Opening a large pumpkin gave us a wonderful opportunity to explore, feel different textures, and see the inside of the pumpkin. We talked and read about the life cycle of pumpkins, how they grow, what we can do with them, and most importantly….how to cook with pumpkins! The children made pumpkin bread; each child took turns helping to incorporate ingredients, talking about each step, and enjoying working together with our hands. We took a long walk to Mr. Manuel’s kitchen to bake our bread…..the school smelled absolutely delightful! The children were amazing at practicing their patience, and we enjoyed our pumpkin bread the next day on Halloween!

The children were smitten watching our older “friends” walk in the Halloween Parade! Each child waved with joy and watched in awe of our peers; the parade ended with an epic spooky dance by all the students! The toddlers definitely let loose, too! As the week wrapped up, we read all the Halloween books, baked the pumpkin bread, and explored the inside of pumpkins. as one of our young friends said, “Miss Mollie, Finally Halloween!” Yes, kiddo, it’s finally Halloween!!!

With full Hearts,

Ms. Mollie and Ms.Lizette

Mrs. Hood: Pumpkin Patch Fun and Helping Hands!

Posted on by Andrea Hood

At FWM, one of our goals is to nurture caring, empathetic students who are capable of thinking beyond themselves. Dr. Montessori envisioned a more peaceful world, starting with children, and it is through them that we believe the world can become a better place. Community service plays a key role in our Montessori approach, helping to develop the whole child. Through meaningful, real-life volunteer experiences, students discover the joy of giving and learn to cultivate compassion.

A couple of times each month, our Middle School students visit our environment to work with our toddlers. In the past, they’ve read stories, explored materials on our shelves, and offered gentle guidance—helping with tasks like putting on shoes and jackets and washing hands. They have a wonderful way of comforting their younger peers when needed, and they always join in the fun when we sing, dance, and play together. These older students are incredible role models, and the toddlers truly love spending time with them! This year, the Middle Schoolers will join us sometimes during mid-morning transitions and accompany your children on the playground for gross motor activities and bonding time. It’s going to be so much fun!

This week, we had an extra special event thanks to your generous support and donations. Our toddlers enjoyed a delightful wagon ride through the school, filled with excitement as they searched for pumpkins at our very own Toddler Pumpkin Patch! Their eyes lit up as they eagerly spotted pumpkins during the ride, and everyone around couldn’t help but pause to admire the beauty of innocence and grace your children bring to our community. We were especially grateful to our Middle School helpers, who pulled the wagons and guided those who preferred to walk.

When we arrived at the zen garden, the children were thrilled to see the pumpkins! They ran to touch, carry, and play with them, surrounded by the wonderful fall decor set up by parents for the children to enjoy. Each toddler proudly carried their own pumpkin back to the wagon for another fun ride, and upon returning to the classroom, they were met with a sweet surprise—treats and delicious apple cider! The joy on their faces was priceless. To top it off, the children had a blast decorating their pumpkins with vibrant colors at the end of the week.

It’s such an honor to witness your children grow within our community!

On a side note, we explored spaghetti squash during our food-tasting lesson. While it wasn’t a favorite for all, we were excited to see some of the toddlers enjoy it and even ask for more!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Warmly,
Mrs. Hood & Mrs. Noelle

Reminder: Please ensure your child brings a rain jacket and rain boots on rainy days. Rainsuits are also welcome! We aim to make the most of every type of weather and enjoy the outdoors as much as possible.

Mrs. Wilson: Fraser’s Farm!

Posted on by Cynthia Wilson

It was such a busy and high-energy week! We had no school on Monday, had Picture Day, visited the Pumpkin Patch, and decorated pumpkins, which threw the children off their routine. Oh, and let’s not forget the full-moon vibe! Having a routine is important for children as it provides them with a sense of security, especially since they are in a sensitive period for order. It helps them understand what is expected and eases them into transitions. Sometimes, when we’re off our routine, we just ride the wave of high energy.

The Pumpkin Patch is one of my favorite activities that we plan each year. I want to express my gratitude to everyone who contributed and helped make it a success.  The zen garden was transformed into a gorgeous pumpkin patch, and it almost felt like we took a field trip. The children started by going on a wagon ride around campus, with the middle school students helping to pull the wagons. We ended at the Fraser Farm, where the children explored all the decorations and gourds and picked their pumpkins. Then, they posed with their pumpkins and went for another ride around. Back at the classroom we all sat down and enjoyed a delicious pumpkin muffin and some apple cider.

On Friday, the children used glue and tissue paper to decorate their pumpkins. The children who are absent on Friday will have a chance to do theirs on Monday.

Food Tasting: This week, we tasted a pear.

Love and Light,

Cynthia and Sara

Ms. Mollie: Pumpkins, Apples and Cider, Oh My!

Posted on by Mollie Smith

What an eventful and busy week we had in our classroom this week! Our picture day was silly and filled with smiles! We got to enjoy our “Fraser’s Farm Pumpkin Patch,” where the children got to search for the perfect pumpkin! They absolutely loved each moment! A HUGE thank you to all of our parents for helping to make this happen; we truly appreciate and are so grateful for your help in making moments and memories! Before we had our pumpkin hunting adventures, we enjoyed tasting yellow apples for food tasting and trying apple cider…..the children were all big fans! Many of the children did tell me that the red apple is sweet, the green apple is sour and the yellow is crunchy, I call it a food tasting win! 

After all the BIG adventures of the week, we enjoyed a simple week filled with great lessons, good books, and good outdoor activities! Ask them about the turtle, and don’t worry; he is not real!

With full hearts, 

Ms. Mollie and Ms. Lizette 

Mrs. Wilson: Weekly Happenings

Posted on by Cynthia Wilson

This week, we surprised the children with a new addition to our class—a beautiful blue betta fish named Spider. One of our older students took the lead in naming our new friend, making the experience even more special.

For the month of October, our theme will focus on all things related to the color orange and pumpkins. In the Refinement of the Hands area, we are concentrating on activities that strengthen fine motor skills. The children will have opportunities to practice hand transfer, spooning, pouring, and posting with carefully selected materials that challenge their dexterity and coordination. To keep the Practical Life area fresh and engaging, we will update the objects with each season, ensuring that the activities remain attractive and relevant to the children’s experiences.

Food Tasting: This week, we received some garden-fresh bell peppers to taste. The children sampled an array of peppers in red, yellow, orange, and green.

Love and Light,

Cynthia and Sara

Mrs. Hood: From Apples to Pumpkins -A Week of Hands-On Discovery

Posted on by Andrea Hood

 

What a wonderful week we’ve had in our toddler classroom! One of the main highlights was a fun sensorial experience that wrapped up our apple studies. Your children dissected an apple, and oh boy, did they enjoy it! With their senses full of curiosity, they touched, observed, smelled, peeled, and cored a delicious apple. Using the handle of the peeler was fun, but the real magic happened when they saw the apple skin peel off and fall onto the napkin—it was like watching their eyes light up with excitement!

They also helped break the apple into pieces, which we placed in our crockpot to cook down into a delicious applesauce. The next morning, we gathered as a class to enjoy the fruits of their labor. They were so proud to share in the result of their hard work!

Food preparation is such a central part of our Practical Life curriculum. The benefits of including children in these tasks are countless. Not only does it help develop fine motor skills and build coordination, but it also encourages picky eaters to try new things. There’s something so special about tasting food you helped prepare! These activities also foster a sense of community and support learning in areas like nutrition, science, and math.

This week, we also started our study of pumpkins! The children were fascinated by the food-tasting lesson, where they got to try pumpkin, and they explored the outside and inside of a pumpkin in our classroom sensory bin. The new vocabulary—skin, pulp, strands, and seeds—was used to describe the different parts. We also talked about how pumpkins feel: cold, bumpy, and soft were words we repeated a lot, and of course, we talked about the color orange. Some children were excited to dig their hands into the pumpkin’s gooey insides, while others were more cautious, preferring to gently touch the seeds or skin. It was amazing to watch their individual reactions, from wonder and curiosity to skepticism and even a little bit of disgust!

In our Practical Life area, we introduced a new water transfer activity using a sea wool sponge. As simple as it sounds, this was one of the most popular activities of the week! The children were fascinated by the “magic” of watching the water disappear into the sponge and then reappear when they squeezed it out. They also learned two new vocabulary words, empty and full, which they loved repeating throughout the week. At the end of the activity, they took pride in cleaning up any spills with a towel.

Lastly, we celebrated another birthday, and we all had fun cheering our friend up and enjoying some yummy treats together!

We look forward to many more enriching experiences as we continue to explore the wonders of Fall! Thank you for your continued support, and please feel free to try these activities at home to extend the learning.

Warmly,

Mrs. Hood and Ms. Noelle

Reminders:

* October 16th- Toddler Pumpkin patch (if desired, dress your child Fall theme)

* October 23rd- Picture day

*October 25th- Parent-Teacher conference (please sign up if you haven’t done so yet)

Ms. Mollie: October Adventures

Posted on by Mollie Smith

What a wonderful week! There are so many new adventures and experiences; I know how lucky I feel to share them with your children. The children were so excited to make apple sauce together; it took three days till we could finally try it; the result was well worth it!  The children help in each step, cutting the apples, adding the cinnamon stick,  putting the apples in the crock pot, putting the apples through the sieve, and then eating them the next day! In the Montessori classroom, you will always hear teachers say, ” Your child is so capable.” Give the children the right tools, and they will show us how capable they really are. This week, we focused on the “Grace and Courtesy Lessons” by introducing statements for communication, “This is my work,” “No thank-you,” “Please don’t touch my work,” “Walk around,” “This is my mat,” giving those words and modeling how we use them helps the child to understand how to communicate while being respectful, and confident.  This is another way that we give our toddlers the tools for success!  This week, we also had our first classroom birthday, in which all the children shared joy with their friends with deep enthusiasm! Turning two is a big deal, and we all wish our friend a year of love, light, and growth!

With full hearts,

Ms. Mollie and Ms. Lizette

Ms. Mollie: Falling into October

Posted on by Mollie Smith

October is finally here!! It’s only been a few days, and we have been exploring and learning all about what “Fall” is.  The easiest way for young children to learn about nature is to give them many concrete experiences and allow for unlimited exploration.  Our school campus has provided many experiences to see what Fall truly has to offer; we have been holding insects, collecting leaves, and spreading milkweed seeds. The milkweed provided many tactile experiences, along with the pure magic of watching it float so high into the sky, with the hope that it will feed future monarchs for years to come. As a classroom we also got to all experience a ladybug crawling on a leaf and then flying away, the children had a range of emotions, joy, excitement, curiosity, and sadness when it took flight.

This week we also welcomed in our first cultural celebration and gratitude, we enjoyed learning about the traditions of Rosh Hashanah! The children explored a honeycomb, apples, and the sweetest honey…..but most of all, they loved eating our apples and honey together to symbolize the hope for a sweet new year! Rosh Hashanah is a time of reflection, future thinking, and gratitude! We wish all who observe a “Shana Tova”!  A special thank you to “Nini’ for gifting us honey and honeycomb from your very own bee hives! 

We will be focused on a variety of activities, many of which will include fall themes. We will be specifically emphasizing in our vocabulary what we see occurring in nature, leaves color changing, leaves falling, using words like Autumn, Fall, Halloween, Pumpkins, Corn and Acorn.

With full hearts,

Ms. Mollie and Ms. Lizette