Mrs. Wilson: Metamorphosis in Motion

Posted on by Cynthia Wilson

This week, we were so excited to see our caterpillars and ladybug larvae moving on to the next stage of their life cycle! The caterpillars are now in their chrysalis stage, and the ladybug larvae have become pupae. Our root vegetables are growing so well, with their roots getting longer. The tadpoles are doing great, and even though they haven’t started changing yet, we had a tiny tadpole hatch from a frog egg. It’s all so fascinating to observe! (After writing this, one little ladybug emerged out of the shell.)

The children are continuing to explore pond life and insects. We have been reading lots of different books on both topics. The children seem to love the book A Frog in the Bog by Karma Wilson and Joan Rankin. Another favorite is a song called “Galump, Went The Little Green Frog.”

The children have started working on a special gift for the parents. You can get a sneak peek through the photos above, but we know you will love the final product. There is still some work to do before you receive it.

Food Tasting: This week, the children tasted the fuzzy, juicy, crunchy, sour, sweet, and soft kiwi. Those are some of the descriptive words the children used to describe what they tasted. They love kiwi!

Mrs. Hood: Exploring the world around us!

Posted on by Andrea Hood

This week, we continued on our journey into the world of birds, transforming into tiny ornithologists eager to learn about the intricate details of our feathered friends. One of the highlights was our close-up observation of female and male cardinals and a blue jay feasting on seeds from a bird feeder through an educational video. We talked about the different parts of a bird’s body, including the head, beak, feathers, wings, and legs. As the birds kept leaving and coming back quickly, we made a fun game of identifying them. The children shared some laughs and had fun through this game.

Children also engaged in an art project, painting and crafting their very own binoculars. With these homemade tools in hand, the children ventured outside, honing their observation skills as they listened for birdsongs and tried to spot our avian friends. Their perseverance and determination were truly inspiring!

But our exploration didn’t stop there. In our outdoor adventures we also got to witness the marvel of construction vehicles at work in the soccer field. Each machine had a specific role, and the children eagerly observed and learned about the different tasks they performed. It was a hands-on lesson in engineering and teamwork!

Back inside our classroom, children continue to observe the changes in our not- so-tiny-anymore caterpillars. The children have been observing their growth, marveling at the wonders of nature as they witness the miraculous transformation taking place before their eyes.

For our food-tasting lesson, we explored some delicious and fuzzy kiwis! This one was a yummy fruit for most of the children.

Finally, our week concluded with a heartwarming sharing time, where each child proudly shared a special picture or art piece from home. It was so beautiful to observe and to hear all that they have to verbally share about their special picture. Priceless!

As the weekend arrives, we encourage you to continue the exploration at home. Take time to listen for birdsongs in your backyard, bring some kiwis to your dining table and marvel at the wonders of nature unfolding around you. Together, we can nurture a sense of wonder and curiosity that will inspire a lifelong love of learning in our little ones.

Best,

Mrs. Hood and Ms. Mollie

p.s. A big THANK YOU for the thoughtful cards, heartfelt messages, and beautiful gifts during teacher appreciation week. It truly warmed our hearts and uplifted our spirits. Knowing that we have your unwavering support and appreciation means more to us than words can express. Your kindness serves as a constant reminder of why we are so passionate about teaching and guiding your children each day.

As we navigate through the joys and challenges of education together, please know that your encouragement fuels our determination to provide the best possible learning experience for our students. Your partnership is invaluable, and we are endlessly grateful for the opportunity to work alongside such caring and dedicated parents.

Mrs. Sargeant: A Peek at the Week

Posted on by Christine Sargeant

It has been an exciting week as we have welcomed 5 painted lady caterpillars into the classroom. The children have been eager to check on their progress each day. Caterpillars are voracious eaters and have grown significantly since they arrived in their cup, complete with food. The caterpillars will molt several times before they’re fully grown and ready to form chrysalises. Painted lady caterpillars spin silk to help support and protect themselves. They will hang upside down in a “J” shape when they’re ready to pupate or form a chrysalis. Then, we will wait for the butterflies to emerge! We are so excited in anticipation of this incredible metamorphosis! 

We shared a familiar vegetable this week for our Food Tasting experience. It has dark green skin on the outside, it’s whitish green on the inside, and it has seeds that we can eat. We can peel this vegetable or eat it with its skin. It grows in a garden, and it’s crunchy. Did you guess cucumber? Nearly all the children enjoyed it and asked for more.

Heartfelt thanks to all of you and your children for the special drawings, cards, flowers, and treats this week. We are so grateful. Your thoughtfulness truly made us feel appreciated. Thank you!

Wishing all the moms a Happy Mother’s Day. We hope you all enjoy the weekend. 

Mrs. Wilson: There is a Season, Turn! Turn! Turn!

Posted on by Cynthia Wilson

I wanted to share something with you. Have you ever listened to the song ‘Turn! Turn! Turn!’ by The Byrds? It’s a beautiful song, but I adore another version even more. It’s by Dan Zanes and Elizabeth Mitchell, and it always reminds me of the children under our care. As the year is coming to a close and some children prepare to move up, I can’t help but reflect on all the wonderful growth that has happened in our classroom. It’s truly miraculous, with every season, turn, turn, turn.

Speaking of growth, we recently included tadpoles in our life cycle study. This is a great addition to our observation of caterpillars, ladybug larvae, and root vegetables, and it offers a wonderful opportunity for children to witness and learn about the changes that occur in these creatures. The children are really fascinated with the learning experience and are absorbing all the knowledge they can.

The children’s play has shifted towards a more imaginative and cooperative style. Ms. Sara and I observe as stories unfold on the playground. It is delightful to witness their conversations and storytelling. Some children are creating birthday parties in the sandbox and inviting others to join, while others are playing hairdresser and using a rake to comb hair. A few are pretending to fight fires. Whatever adventure the morning takes them, there is so much joy in watching the children play together.

As the weather continues to get warmer, we are making the most of our time outside. This week, we took the children to our grassy lawn and enjoyed a picnic lunch. We plan to continue having our lunchtime outside as much as possible.

This week’s food tasting featured an English cucumber. Although some children may have already tried this, it was a great chance to encourage those who may have refused it previously to give it another try.

Love and Light,

Cynthia and Sara

Mrs. Wilson: Fascinating World of Pond Life and Insects

Posted on by Cynthia Wilson

 

“There must be a provision for the child to have contact with nature; to understand and appreciate the order, the harmony, and the beauty in nature.”

In the month of May, we are exploring the fascinating world of pond life and insects. This week, we started by teaching the children the names of some common backyard insects and their body parts. To help them remember, we sang a song called “Head, Thorax, and Abdomen” to the tune of “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes.” With the weather getting warmer, we have been observing a few insects outside, and we constantly remind the children to be kind to all living things, including insects.

On Monday, we received teeny tiny caterpillars, and every day, the children have been observing them closely to see how much they have grown. We are currently learning about the lifecycle of a butterfly and new vocabulary words such as “chrysalis” and “metamorphosis.” Encourage your child to tell you all about the life cycle of a butterfly!

We would like to express our gratitude to the Raia family for generously donating a Root View Farm to our classroom. The children were thrilled to participate in setting up the garden, where they helped by scooping in the soil. Together, we planted onions, carrots, and radishes, and now the Root View Farm will allow the children to observe what these root vegetables look like when they grow in the soil.

Sara and I want to express our sincere gratitude to all of you who attended this year’s gala. It was truly a memorable night, and we both had an amazing time. Your presence and support made it all possible, and we couldn’t have done it without you. For those who were unable to attend, we missed you, but we hope to see everyone at next year’s event. Let’s make it another unforgettable night!

Cynthia and Sara

Mrs. Hood: Observing and waiting!

Posted on by Andrea Hood

“We cannot create observers by saying ‘observe’, but by giving them the power and the means for this observation and the means are procured through education of the senses” – Maria Montessori 

The grass is getting greener, the birds are chirping louder, and after a long winter, we continue to happily observe how the Earth wakes up from its deep slumber. Even though we witness this season every year, it feels so magical every time!

Like Dr. Maria Montessori, we believe that nature is a patient teacher and that Earth is our classroom. Corresponding to how we teach children in the Montessori tradition, nature provides us with both concrete and abstract learning for students of all ages. At our level, children have experiences that introduce them to marvelous wonders by using all five of their senses to comprehend concrete things and build a foundation for understanding the processes of natural life, plus children absolutely love the outdoors! Lately, even the shoes come off!

On that note, we have great news: Our very small, hungry caterpillars have arrived, and the children seem in awe!  The amazement in your children’s eyes is indescribable, but we can tell you that they seem very excited about our new visitors. For the next few days, your children will be able to observe the metamorphosis of a butterfly. Meanwhile, our bird studies have provided endless fascination as our feathered friends grace us with their presence at the window feeder, accompanied by the occasional comical squirrel.

This week, as we savored the sensory delights of juicy kumquats, marveled at the treasures of nature brought from home, and came together to celebrate one of our youngest students’ second birthday, we were and are reminded of the richness of our curriculum and the sense of community that binds us all together.

In these moments of shared discovery and wonder, we hope you find as much joy and fulfillment as we do. May the magic of springtime infuse your days with warmth and wonder, and may you enjoy every precious moment with your loved ones.

Enjoy the weekend,

Mrs. Hood and Ms. Mollie

Mrs. Sargeant: A Peek at the Week

Posted on by Christine Sargeant

Friendship development in toddlers is an intriguing process, marked by significant milestones and stages. Here’s a breakdown of how it typically unfolds:

In the early stages, toddlers engage in parallel play, where they play alongside each other without much interaction. They may observe each other’s activities but don’t actively engage together.

As toddlers grow, they start to engage in associative play, where they begin to interact with each other during playtime. They may share toys, take turns, or mimic each other’s actions.

As children mature and develop social skills, they start to engage in cooperative play, where they interact with peers to achieve common goals or participate in group activities. This stage encourages collaboration, communication, negotiation, and empathy.

These stages of play are not strictly sequential, and children may engage in multiple stages simultaneously or move back and forth between them based on their interests and developmental needs. In a Montessori classroom, the environment is carefully prepared to support and facilitate each stage of play, allowing children to learn and grow at their own pace.

It has been exciting to witness the blossoming of friendships among the children both in the classroom and on the playground. 

This week, we learned about white button mushrooms. If you ask your children where they grow, they will probably tell you, “in the dark, in the dirt.” They may also tell you that their teachers both love mushroom pizza! We examined the stem and the cap, and the children enjoyed taking a closer look using a magnifying glass. Not everybody was willing to try a piece of mushroom, but we kept offering – we engaged in our food-tasting lesson all week long! The class was fascinated by the mushrooms and truly enjoyed exploring them.

Looking forward to an exciting week ahead! Christine & Lizette

Mrs. Hood: Listen Up!

Posted on by Andrea Hood

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.

This week, we initiated our studies on birds. Cardinal, blue jay, woodpecker, robin, warbler, indigo bunting, and oriole are names you hear over and over in our environment. The children also 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. After the children have matched the sound to the picture, they reinforce their visual skills by matching the picture to the model of the bird, learning to recognize them visually as well.  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!

On another note, we had a super fun food-tasting lesson this week. We explored mushrooms! Thanks to the Calcagnini family, we enjoyed some special mushrooms from their mushroom farm! The children explored lion’s mane, trumpet, and oyster mushrooms. They enjoyed the tactile sensation of these different mushrooms. Some of them really enjoyed the taste and kept asking for more.

Lastly, Grandparents and Special Friends Day was a success! Thanks to all the families that participated! The children are always so excited to show off all that they can do!

Enjoy the weekend,

Mrs. Hood and Ms. Mollie