Good Vibrations

All three Montessori classes are exploring the science of sound and also learning about musical instruments.  They have discovered you can actually see, hear, and feel vibrations using a tuning fork or when dropping a penny into a bowl of water. The violin's strings vibrate.  The air inside the flute vibrates. All these vibrations can make beautiful music--or noise!

 

 

 

 

Apples, Apples

All three Montessori classes tasted apples from our local farmer's market.  Afterwards they chose their favorites and created class graphs.  Each class had a different favorite!! They also chopped Jonagold  apples to make applesauce for their traditional Thanksgiving feast.  The halls smelled like warm apples and cinnamon all day--and it tasted delicious!

 

 

 

 

Where in the World?

Where in the world does professional development take Woods' teachers? This time it took Mrs. Piwko and Mrs. Gerber to LasVegas where they joined several thousand other teachers to learn more about reading and writing at the National Council of Teachers of English Conference. Mrs Piwko concentrated on middle school topics while Mrs. Gerber learned more about using authors and illustrators as mentors for young writers as well as using iPads and e-books in the classroom.  Both were mesmerized by all the new books displayed by publishers.  Their suitcases were very heavy on the return flight!

" The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeing new landscapes, but in having new eyes."                                                                                Marcel Proust

 

 

Conflict Resolution 101

                    "Anyone can find places, but the finding of people is a gift from God."
                                                                                                 E. M. Forester

Friends are the reason most children go to school in spite of what teachers and parents intend!  It takes real skill to make and keep friends so lessons to identify feeling, negociate getting needs met in a group, sharing and turn taking, and resolving conflicts are an important part of Montessori "grace and courtsey" activities.

This month Montessori has been working on using I-Statements and Echo-Listening. I-statements are very effective in getting needs met by friends (and teachers!). Say, "I feel__________when _____________. I wish___________________."  When someone uses an I statement, the response is an "echo-listen:" "Oh, so you don't like___________or don't want______________. O K.  I will _____________."  An apology follows if warranted. Echo listening creates behavior ownership and a real response to what has actually been said rather than what I assume you are thinking (being an age-appropriate, egogentric three to five year old).

The Owls and Lunchers have also been learning about the difference between tattling and reporting.  Tattling is a normal, but ineffective way to solve problems with peers. It can become a habit!  Reporting  is necessary telling. Distinguishing the difference takes practice and more practice.  To help, we have read two books: A Bad Case of Tattle Tongue and Don't Squeal Unless It's a Big Deal. Both encourage children to assess situations to decide whether the problem is "kid-sized" and can be handled initially by the child himself or whether it is a "big deal," or even an emergency, and needs adult support. Knowing when to get help is important!

                  "Truely great friends are hard to find, hard to leave, and impossible to forget."

 

 

 

 

Find the Treasure!

X marks the spot for Woodsnet! You can find all sorts of interesting information on your child's course pages.  There are newsletters listing favorite books from the past two weeks, interesting topics discussed in Hands On Science, and the latest recipe from Owl cooking, in addition to what's happening in PE, music, and Spanish/French.   The monthly snack calendars can be downloaded. There are picture albums from classroom events as well as work time.  What a wonderful way to "see" what's going on in your child's classroom.  There are also reminders from teachers about spare clothes for cubbies, weather appropriate clothing for the playground, and "last call" for our candy collection for Mother Teresa's House of Peace.

The next newsletters will be posted November 14 and following alternate Wednesdays. Find the "treasure" of information and use it open a discussion with your child about what s/he is doing at school.

 

 

Why Technology?

The Lunchers have enjoyed meeting Mr. Smith in the computer lab and learning some important early tech skills like click/drag and opening/closing applications while practicing their math skills.  All three classes recently built shape patterns with"Kidspiration."   After having some practice with real, hands-on materials, they also played the Everyday Mathematics games "Monster Squeeze," "Spin a Number" and "Disappearing Train."

 

 

Hooray for Reading!

The second graders are Montessori's "Reading Buddies." They use part of their library time to select books at their own reading level and appropriate to read aloud to us.  In the process, they work on their oral expression and reading fluency.  Our Montessori students work on their good listening skills, enjoy a wide variety of genre, and look forward to becoming readers soon!  It's a win-win activity for all participants-- enjoyed by all!

                                         Look what Ms. Canter's iPhone can do--panoramic!

November Reminders

November is here!  Montessori will be learning all about fall, including the parts of a leaf, apple, and turkey. Don't be surprised to hear names like "ovate", "cordate" and "linear" after your child has worked with the Botany Cabinet!  We love learning and using new vocabulary! Don't be surprised to find that we love raking leaves into giant piles! We will also be tasting apples as well as chopping them to make applesauce for our Thanksgiving Feast on November 20th. Look for our Favorite Apple Graph in the hall!

The Lunchers will be learning about symmetry, probability, and geometric solids.  They will also be counting pennies and dimes and building tens, hundreds, and thousands with the Digi-Blocks.

Here are some dates to remember this month:
Nov. 2--Lunchers taking Spanish celebrate Dia de Muertos
Nov. 6--Picture makeup day
Nov.8-9--Parent Conferences (no class for students)
Nov. 15--Lunchers taking French celebrate National French Week
Nov. 21-25--Thanksgiving holiday
Nov. 29-- Lunchers trip to Imagination Stage

Note:  On Thursday (11/8) and Friday (11/9) we will have small table activities set up in the hall outside the Montessori classrooms for children waiting while parents attend their conferences.  Plan to explore the Book Fair together after your conference.

                                                             The Botany Cabinet

                                                                  Leaf rubbing

Snack Reminder

As you check your November Snack Calendars, it is a great time to review our snack policy. The Montessori classrooms are peanut and nut free. Please check package labels carefully and avoid sending snacks containing peanut products or nuts, including items which "may have been processed on machines using these products."  We endeavor to keep the classrooms safe for children with allergies at all times and cannot serve these items. We also want to include all children at snack time whenever possible so teachers have added additional allergens to their specific snack calendars.  We appreciate your vigilance! 

                                          M I enjoyed making and spreading butter. Yum!