Do You Speak Montessori Yet?

Workbench

Maria Montessori designed the classroom as a "prepared environment" because she believed children needed time, space, and opportunities for learning. Children choose their work, serving their need for autonomy, limited only by what is purposeful, what is available, and what lessons they have had.

"The role of education is to interest the child profoundly in an external activity to which he will give all his potential."                                  --M Montessori


In Montessori-- "We are learning how to learn."

Trucks on the Playground

Wagons Take Cooperation!

In Montessori, we share and take turns --"It's just being part of a group."
















Our games include everyone--"We are all friends in Montessori"   

First day of Soccer

Creating ABC Books for Handwriting

Drum Rhythms in Music

     

 In Montessori--we do our best--"Having a go" to try new things. "Practice makes better."

Using ELMO for Handwritng Lessons.  Always start your letters at the top!

                                                  In Montessori--"Love what you do!"

"An interesting piece of work, freely chosen, which has the virtue of inducing concentration rather than fatigue, adds to the child's energies and mental capacities and leads him to self-mastery."
                                                                                                                   --M Montessori

More Is More!

In Montessori we usually say. "Less is more."  However when it comes to the topic of sleep, "More is more!" Sleep is a very important component in brain development.  Our "fantastic, elastic" brains need sleep. Sleep allows the brain to consolidate knowledge from the day's learning. Children in Montessori are always learning so there's a BIG need to consolidate!

Sleep enhances academic performance, regulation of emotions, and memory as well as attention and health.

August is the time to reset the sleep clock so that children get the required amount of sleep AND are ready for their earlier school schedule.  It is important to be on time for school--ready and eager for learning and social life!

Your child can help you build a family bedtime routine that allows him/her to wind down, relax, and get ready for bed.  TV, iPad, video games,(and technology in general) are not usually helpful.  Bath time, reading books together, puzzles,or "sharing time" help children calm. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends most children get ten hours of sleep per night.

Wishing you more!
Sweet dreams! Sleep tight. Don't let the bed bugs bite...and you will be ready for the many wonderful days ahead in Montessori.  See you soon!

Summer Reading Lists

Destination--library!  Please click on the links to get the Summer Reading Lists.  This year Mrs. Powers and I decided to pair fiction and non-fiction books.

You may wish to ask your child, "What did the author have to know to write this story?"

You may wish to have a "search party" to find all the facts in a fictional story.

Mr. Powers has found the power of reading aloud!

You may want to invent a fictional story based on facts you learned in a non-fiction book.

You may wish to compare two stories.

                  You may wish to enjoy both genres! Ah! The joy of a good book read aloud!

Commencement

Commencement--A beginning!  The Montessori children celebrated a wonderful year of learning and friendship on Friday morning, May 31. Now the Lunchers are looking forward to first grade. However, all of us need to enjoy our new season--summer!

The Woods Academy Montessori Program--a small, caring community...

...with a "just right" challenge.

             




"Every interaction a child has during the course of a day influences the adult that child will become." J. Deak

"The first duty of an education is to stir up life, but leave it free to develop."
                                                                        M. Montessori

Have a wonderful summer!

Ready for First Grade!

As the school year comes to a close, the Lunchers have packed their guidance suitcases full of friendship skills. They are playground and classroom problem solvers!

Here's are the strategies they have packed:
                       1. Taking care of ourselves when we are worried or sad.

                        2. Cooling down with "Dive into Five" when feeling angry.

                        3. Knowing when and how to get help.

                      4. Practicing  the art of compromise ("give a little, get a little.")

                 5. Deciding whether an action was an accident or on purpose. Always saying "Sorry!"

                      6. Knowing ways to join in a game--watching first or asking the rules.

                       7. Knowing ways to be inclusive--inviting others to join in.

                            8. Using I statements: "I feel_______when _______. I want ______."

                     9. Listening to "the other side" or using "echo-listening" to respond.

                     10. Using the Problem Solving Steps:
                               What is the problem?
                                How do I feel?
                               What are some possible solutions?
                               What solution will work best? or what is the "Best Bet?"

                                     

                                                        Friendship is amazing!

                                          Ready! Set!  First Grade, Here We Come!  

Meet the Harp

Today Mrs. Fabreguettes, Guilhem's mom, brought her concert harp to school.  It was awesome!

            The harp was very tall.  It weighs about 80 pounds, and is made of special wood.

The harp has a pedal for each note in the scale. Pressing the pedal changes the pitch by loosening or tightening the strings.

                              Harp and flute often play together in Chamber Music.

                             

                                We were able to try to play crescendo.

                           The 47 strings were hard to pluck one at a time!

                                    You can use your thumb, too!

                         We have some budding harpists in Montessori!

   

                   
                                 Thank you Mrs. Fabreguettes and Mrs. Pabon. The music was beautiful!