Breathe!

Today the Lunchers learned "conscious breathing" meditation with Mrs. Harmsen (mother of Ana '13) during guidance class. They practiced breathing exercises to become calm, peaceful, and loving to self.  That will help them feel able to reach out and be kind to others! Mrs. Harmsen recommended practicing five minutes of breathing before bed--breathing in the good things that happened during the day and exhaling any "bad stuff." A little quiet music is helpful for "mindfulness."  She also suggested using the red lights on the way to school as a reminder to look at the sky and practice their breathing enroute to help get ready for the day. In this busy world, meditation/breathing helps us all handle life's "little bumps" with flexibility and thoughtfulness. Breathe!

Be My Valentine

The Montessori children will be celebrating Valentine's Day with a special snack on Thursday morning, February 14th. They will also be passing out valentines to all their classmates.  To get ready, please make or buy valentines(M I=27, M II=24, M III=27) and provide time for your child to write his/her name on each one. We encourage creativity! The children will want to pass out their own valentines independently so place all the unaddressed cards into a bag with your child's name on the outside to facilitate "mail delivery."  Each classroom will have a Valentine mailbox available beginning on February 11 so the children can bring their cards to school ahead of time.

          " Kind words can be short to speak, but their echos are truly endless."  Mother Teresa

Handmade

The human hand, so delicate and so complicated, not only allows the mind to reveal itself but enables the whole being to enter into special relationships with its environment.  We might even say that man "takes possession of his environment with his hands." Maria Montessori

In the Practical Life area of the Montessori environment, children choose meaningful activities that imitate adult work while developing coordination, concentration, independence, order, and self discipline.

                 Pouring, polishing, washing, and sorting work is exciting and interesting. It takes focus!

The work is active, hands-on, and often involves water.











Using tools like tongs, scissors, tweezers, droppers, pipettes, spoons, and scoops requires precision and concentration.

The work is purposeful, sequential, and provides fine and gross motor practice. It is also useful.  How else will the polishing clothes be clean, ironed and folded?

When completed, Practical Life Exercises lead to a sense of competence and confidence.

"Look, I did it all by myself!"

Father-Child Breakfast

                                                    South American Animal Matching Cards

Today was Father-Child Breakfast in Montessori.  Our dads and special guests enjoyed bagels, fruit and coffee before getting to work in the classrooms. They had a lot to learn! Many did not know we could hang up our own coats and also put away our work when it was finished!

                                                 Matching Phonetic Sentences and Pictures

                                                       Can you "Explode the Code?"

                                                       Multiplication Bead Board

                                            Practicing Number 2--the multi-sensory way!

                                                Can you name the parts of a snowman?

                                                   Using tongs to transfer beads takes skill!

                                                                   Observing Gerbils

                                                               Sharing Winter Poetry

All of us enjoyed having our dads as special visitors.  Their time with us was too short-- but delightful all the same!  Now, when is Mother-Child Breakfast?

Worms are Wonderful

Thursday the Lunchers investigated some very interesting invertebrates--worms!  They were Red Wigglers from the compost pile at The Audubon Naturalist Society's Woodend. We discussed the important part worms play in nature, aerating and fertilizing the soil and did experiments to discover what kind of environment worms like best.

The most exciting part of the program was actually using our senses to collect data about our own specimens.  The Lunchers used magnifiers to find out worms do not have eyes, teeth, or bones.  Worms bodies have photo-receptors, segments, bristles, and a clittelum. They lay eggs and need to breathe air through their skin.  That's why they come up to our blacktop after a lot of rain!

Did you know worms move like a slinky? They use their muscles to stretch and contract and can move forward or backward.

                     Did you know worm castings (or their poop) provide nutrients for plants and trees?

                                              Worms like the dark!  Worms like damp surfaces!

After the science experiments, Ms Kathryn taught us how to make a worm habitat.  We put layers of gravel, soil, water, and dead leaves into an empty soda bottle.  We will use black paper to make their home dark and add a little lettuce from hot lunch for a treat!  All three classes will have a turn to observe the worms before we put them into our garden.

               






Worms feel soft and slippery.  They can tickle!  
Worms ARE wonderful!                      

It's January

Happy New Year!  We are all excited to be back in the classroom and eager to begin learning about this new season of winter.  All three classes will take a look at how the weather is changing and how animals adapt.  Of course, I'm sure the children are hoping for a little of the "white stuff" so it really feels like winter!

January will be busy!  Montessori I will be exploring the smallest continent, Australia, where it is summer now.  They will take a look at the land and especially all the unique marsupials living there.  Montessori II will be looking south as well.  They will be studying South America, and in particular, the largest rain forest in the world.  They will take a look at the fantastic animals--mammals, reptiles, birds, frogs and insects that call the Amazon their home.  Montessori III will travel north and south, first exploring the arctic region, home to polar bears, seals, and whales, and then comparing that biome to Antarctica, one of the coldest, windiest, dryest places on earth. They will meet many breeds of penguins and seals along the way. All classes will be doing some science experiments with water, an essential ingredient, in all these habitats.

Reminders:
* The Audubon Naturalist Society will be here to help the Lunchers explore "Wonderful Worms" on Jan. 10.
* Woods Open Houses are January 16, 23, and 30 from 9:00-10:30.  Invite friends and family to come visit our wonderful school.
* Father-Child Breakfast is Thursday, January 17 from 8:00-9:15.  Parking is on campus so please follow the directions of Coach and his staff.
* Founders Day is Friday, January 25.  Luncher will attend Mass.
* Next newsletter is Wednesday, January 23rd.
* Please send spare clothes for cubbies. Remember to check the snack calendars.
* Mark your calendars: Friday, March 1 is testing for first grade.  All Lunchers as well as all our applicants will take the Metropolitan Readiness Test from 8:30-11:30.  (It is a first Friday half day.)There is no school for morning children and Owls that day.  There is Extended Care for registered students.

Please welcome Isobel Coutanche and her family to The Woods.  Isobel arrived from the UK over the holiday and has joined the Owls/Green Team in M III. We are delighted to have her!

Mrs. Kornegay is back! We want to thank Mrs. Nancy Palmer for so ably stepping in for Christina Kornegay while she was out on maternity leave. We hope she will come back to sub again!

Lastly, we have "good news" times two!  Mr. and Mrs. Smith are expecting a new baby girl in May. (Mrs. Sheila Novokov, former long time assistant, will sub while Mrs. Smith is on maternity leave.)  And, Mrs. Mustard-Scott and her husband are expecting their new little one in July. Congratulations all around!