Happy Families

The Secrets of Happy Families might just help you find some smart solutions to those pesky problems and teachable moments all family face as they endeavor to create a happy home in 2013.

Bestselling author Bruse Feiler has done some interesting research.  His interview on Today Show was intriguing so I bought the book and used my recent airport wait time reading it.  I think you'll find it thought provoking.  It doesn't have all THE answers, but it does begin the questions!

       All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.  __Leo Tolstoy

Reptile or Amphibian

Boris the Tortoise visited with the Montessori Owls this morning.  Meeting a reptile "up close and personal" was very interesting! 

                              Boris is seven and he's s ticklish!  He's friendly, too!

The Owls learned lots of interesting facts about reptiles and amphibians by visiting the four stations our Audubon Naturalist, Mr. James, set up in the flex room.

Reptiles have rough scaly skin.  Alessandra said, "It feels like a football!"  Amphibians have smooth, slimy skin. Both use camouflage to escape predators.

                 Reptiles lay eggs with leathery shells.  Amphibians lay jelly-like eggs.  They felt sticky!

One black rat snake skin was longer than Sean and one was longer than Mrs. Mustard-Scott! The snake skins felt dry and bumpy and were paper thin.

                        Snakes shed their skin like we take off our socks--inside out.

          Reptiles and amphibians are vertebrates.  That means they have a backbone like ours.

Mr. James helped us learn how to tell the differences between reptiles and amphibians.  It can be tricky sometimes. The Hellbender and spotted salamander are amphibians and so are toads!

Resiliency

 "The greatest gifts you can give your children are the roots of responsibility and the wings of independence."
                                                                                   Denis Waitley, American Author

                              The goal of parenting is to raise happy and successful adults.


                              Montessori's goal was (and is) "to educate the human potential."

Resiliency is the key! It is the ability of a child to deal effectively with stress and pressure, to cope with challenges, to bounce back from adversity, and to solve problems.  It is also the ability to develop realistic goals and relate well with others, kindly and respectfully.

Children who are resilient see mistakes as challenges rather than risks to avoid.  Failure is merely a first try! Practice makes better.

They recognize their strengths as well as their weaknesses.  They can get what they need in a positive way--acceptance, love, optimism, attention. They can make "kid-size" decisions--what to wear, what book to read at bedtime, apple or orange for snack... The respect others.

Children who are resilient are thoughtful and kind. They know how to reach out to help others.  They are bucket-fillers!









Bibliography for Parents:
* Raising Resilient Children by Rob Brooks and Sam Goldstein

* Raising Self-Reliant Children in a Self-Indulgent World by Stephen Glenn and Jane Nelson

* Kid Cooperation by Elizabeth Pantley

* Raising A Self-Disciplined Child by Rob Brooks

* Spring PEP classes: PEPparent.org

Happy Easter

                              Montessori is ready for the Easter Bunny!

                   We have painted eggs, learned rabbit facts, enjoyed bunny tales, and dyed eggs.

              We put on our winter coats and hats and had an egg hunt on the playground!

Now we are wishing all of you a Happy Easter and wonderful spring break.  Enjoy--even if the weather is not cooperating!

Beyond Disney

This past weekend Mrs. Iyer, Ms. Hannan, Mrs. Mustard-Scott, and I traveled to warm, sunny Orlando to joined about 2,000 other Montessori teachers from all over the country for the American Montessori Society's 2013 Annual Conference.  Mickey and Minnie were an afterthought once we were immersed in the theme,"Sustaining the Light in Every Child" There was so much to see, hear, and learn--and bring back!!

We learned many things at the workshops, but were also fortunate to hear Dr. Steven Hughes from the Center for Research on Developmental Education talk about ways to support the development of both cognitive capabilities and the areas of executive function.  He places great emphasis on "soft skills'' like self-regulation, social skills, and the ability to work collaboratively in his equation of "success for life," quoting Sir Ken Robinson's The Element,  "children need motivation, passion, and purpose."

Dr. Edward Hallowell, child and adult psychiatrist, bestselling author, and leading authority on ADHD shared his wit and wisdom about helping children realize their full potential by developing a connected life. He stressed the importance of planting memories of love to help children develop optimism, resiliency, and problem solving.

Professional development is a wonderful thing. It's inspiration, information, collaboration, and confirmation!

Heartprints

                                    A heartprint is formed
                               When you do something kind.
                                   Your love touches others,
                               Leaving heartprints behind.
                                                    from Heartprints by P.K.Hallinan

Yesterday in guidance the Lunchers read Heartprints and explored ways to be dependable friends.  Then they made their own heartprints to take home. What kind of heartprints will you make in your family, classroom, and world?

March is Here!

March is here. Can spring be far behind? Are there "Starry Nights" ahead?

The Lunchers are learning about artists.They have tried painting like Jackson Pollock and Piet Mondrian.  They read Drawing With Scissors and made their own Matisse cutouts.  They learned that Alexander Calder always had a pliers in his pocket as they experimented with wire to make their own bead sculptures. They have been sorting art cards and can identify portraits, landscapes, still life, and abstract works. They are very exciting about their approaching visit to The National Gallery of Art!

March Calendar:

* Woods Auction is Saturday, March 2.  See you there!
* Welcome Emily Mendoza from Don Bosco Cristo Rey High School.  Emily will be working as a teacher assistant in all three Montessori classes each Wednesday afternoon.
* Our Art Gallery field trip is Friday, March 8th.  The Lunchers will return in time for a late lunch at school.
* Soccer begins Thursday, March 7 for morning children at 12:15 and Friday, March 8 for Owls and Lunchers. All children need shin guards, water bottle and a ball. Parents: Mrs. Carmody needs some volunteers to help escort the Friday group out to the field at 3:00. Coach will arrange parking for you. All other parents should meet their soccer players on the lower field by 3:15.
* March 15 is our celebration for St. Patrick's Day.  Please wear green!
* Friday, March 22 we will dye eggs and also have a mini-egg hunt on the playground for an early celebration of Easter.
* Spring break is March 23-April 2.
* Stay tuned!  There will be Spring Open Houses TBA for parents of current Woods students.  Plan to peek in on Lower School or Upper School and see all the great teaching and learning that takes place here every day.