Category Archives: Weekly update

Peaceful Place

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We had a busy week last week.  We enjoyed the peace celebration and focusing on what peace means in many different aspects.  We experienced what peace sounds like, looks like, and feels like, when we are working in the classroom.  We had conversations about perspective and created watercolor artwork which represents how everyone can look at the same thing and see something different.  We talked about how this relates to our interactions with others and to be respectful of others thoughts and opinions, because we all “see” things differently.  We celebrated our differences and created a unified peace symbol that related to our geography studies. The students have been holding classroom meetings where they take time to compliment one another and problem solve class issues as a team.  They individually offer solutions and then we review them to see if they are related, realistic, and respectful.  Students then vote for which solution they feel will work best to solve the problem we are experiencing inside the classroom.  The students solved their first issue, visiting with friends at circle, they voted to create a seating arrangement.  I love that the students know that the classroom is their work environment and they take ownership of that environment.  They write their own class rules, learn to problems solve, recognize the wonderful things that are happening, hold each other accountable, and take care of the classroom in which they work.

Reminder that this week is the last week of September.  Home projects need to be completed and presented by Friday.  Please do not wait until Friday.

We will start our studio classes on Friday.  Students will visit 3 different classrooms during our studio rotation.  They will be grouped according to grade level with other lower elementary classes.  They will enjoy classes focusing on art, science, and social studies.  This is a great opportunity for the students to create friendships with students outside of our classroom.

Week of September 12th

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We had a wonderful week.  We started the week with our first P.E. and music class and third graders were invited to work in our new computer lab.  Third grade students will be working on keyboarding skills every Monday morning throughout the school year.  Our culture studies for this week were focused on botany.  We spent some time in our garden and made mojitos with our fresh mint.  (If you would like some mint to make your own at home, please let us know, we have more in our classroom garden).  This year our level 1 students will focus on the whole plant, level 2 student will become experts with leaves, and level 3 students will gain a greater knowledge of flowers.  We have begun our home project presentations.  I have really enjoyed the thoughtful questions they ask each other in regards to their research. We are continuing to build our morning work cycle and establishing our classroom community.

If your child does not have a water bottle here at school, please consider sending one labeled with their name.  Students have a place where they can be stored and it minimizes the need for students to continually ask to leave the classroom.

On Wednesday, September 21st we will be celebrating International Day of Peace. We will be singing at 10:00 a.m. with children all around the world.  I would like to encourage you to engage in conversations with your children in relation to this celebration.

 

Celebrating Equality

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This week we have been studying about Martin Luther King Jr.  We read a book about the March on Washington and his famous “I have a dream speech”.  The children did journaling activities and we discussed what segregation was like in our country.  We have also been reading a chapter book about the life story of Rosa Parks.  In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. there will be no school Monday.  This may be a great opportunity for you to take time and further these discussions with your children.

The level ones begun their zoology unit on reptiles this week.  Our entire class was able to participate in this kick off with a visit from Scales and Tails.  The kids had such a great time seeing and learning about the reptiles they brought to visit.  It was an afternoon well spent.

We have been busy doing mid year reading assessments.  I really want to stress the improvements we see with the students who are consistently reading each night at home for 20 minutes.  I understand how busy life is, yet this is so valuable.  Please remember to make this a routine with your children.  We have some fantastic volunteers who come to help with our classroom during the week.  If you or someone in your family would like to get in some of your volunteer hours by coming and reading with the children, we would love it! We can always use help with reading.

Reminder that Sees candies fundraiser is due on the 23rd.  Please do not send cash.  Chocolates will be delivered in time for Valentines.

I hope you enjoy your long weekend and I will look forward to seeing your children’s smiling faces on Tuesday.

Our Week

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We had a busy week once again.  We began our lessons in Geometry this week.  We also started our work with fractions.  We will be focusing a great deal on these this year.  I am also using DWL’s (daily written language) this year in our classroom.  The level 1’s and 2’s are doing these in small groups with myself and Ms. Brec and the level 3’s are encouraged to work independently.  This is our third week using them and they are proving to be very valuable for mini lessons.

Monday, I will be sending home bag books for some of our first graders, these need to be read every night and brought back on Friday.  Every Monday you will receive a new book.  I will also be sending home reading logs with several students.  I would like for us to have a habit as a class for reading every night for 20 minutes with our children.  This alone will improve your child’s reading and help them in all academic areas.  I will be working hard to increase our reading performance within the classroom and would ask for your support within your home.

MAPA general meeting is this Wednesday the 25th.  This is when background checks can be done for our volunteer drivers.  The cost is $60, but will last for 6 years.  We are going to have to be creative within our classroom in order to make field trips happen.  We are being strongly discouraged from carpools being organized without certified drivers.  I know it can be hard with working parents to get your children to locations and I am hopeful that we will have certified drivers to help with this obstacle.

We do not have school Friday, it is Professional Development.  We will also be having Parent Teacher Conferences coming up in the middle of October.  I will be posting a We Join In link on our blog soon, so you can sign up for a time.  I love your children and look forward to chatting with you and working together for their benefit.

Moving Forward

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The students are gradually getting into the swing of things.  We brought out the work charts this past week and started onto individual lessons.  We had several of our key grammar lessons and Ms. Nancy came and gave our lesson on articles.  It is so wonderful having her in the classrooms this year.  We studied the history of written language, as well as the history of math.  We are continuing to work on our grace and courtesy and establishing routines that make our classroom run smooth.

We have a big week ahead.  We are starting Spanish Monday and will continue with PE this Wednesday with Ms. Julie.  Friday, will be the start of our studio classes in the morning.  The children will be group by grade level this year and will have classes in art, music and another form of physical fitness.  I will be teaching the first grade the elements of art and Ms. Brec will be teaching the third grade music.  Did you know she is a trained Opera singer?  Your children will be going to other teachers during this studio experience.  It will also be a great time for them to make friendships with students outside our classroom.

We will also be starting reading groups this week.  We have tested your children and have placed them accordingly.  Some of our students will be grouped with children from neighboring classrooms and a few will be reading with other teachers.  I have a great deal we will be doing this year as far as reading.  I want to emphasize the importance of having your child read everyday at home for at least 20 minutes.  This could be done by splitting the time and having you read to them and then having them read to you, however you want to do it, just be reading in some shape or form.  I will be creating a page in the near future which will list some home tasks you should do with your child.  I will include links for dolce sight words and other helpful tools.

We will also be starting our studies of European countries this week.  If you have a connection to any of these countries and are willing to share in some shape or form, we would welcome your help.  Just send me a message.  Which reminds me, you are free to leave comments here on this blog or just email me.

 

Establishing Routines

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We had our first full week learning the routines of the day and settling into the flow things.  The children were introduced to several of the Great Lessons of the montessori cosmic curriculum.  They explored the idea of how the universe was possibly made, how long the earth existed before man was on the earth, and were very excited to see our cosmic nesting boxes.  These boxes give representation of their place in our universe.  They were introduced to our continent study of Europe this week.  We also began our cultural lessons.  For those of you who are not aware, our cultural subjects in the montessori curriculum include: history, geography, zoology, physiology, physical science, and botany.  Many of your students may have expressed to you our need for classroom plants for our botany lessons.  I have created a wish list page on our blog, this is a place where you can see what kind of things we could use for our classroom.  I recently included some information regarding our need for plants.  Our routine this year will include having cultural lessons in the morning with the goal of tying them into our math and language subjects throughout the day.

We worked on math assessments this week and the students where given their U of U reading test.  We are continuing to work on our grace and courtesy, which is foundational in the montessori prepared environment.  In establishing strong grace and courtesy, your child will be more successful during their work cycle.  Your children are learning how to choose a work, use a rug, move through the classroom, respect work, restore work, work with others, and have respect themselves, others and their environment.  We are continuing to work on our team building and learning more about one another.

Your children are all so unique and wonderful and bring such a delightful quality to our classroom.  I am grateful we have the parameters of the montessori curriculum in order to allow each of them become the unique person their are meant to be.  I enjoy discovering their potentials and helping them find outlets to utilize them.