Dear parents,
You should be seeing planners being brought home by the students. Planners form a dual purpose of planning the day’s work and provide evidence of work being completed. The students will also record their spelling words (in the future) along with any important future dates. Once you have read their planner please initial it under the day. We keep track of students who are using their planners effectively, and I will email you if we see that the planner is not being completed, or signed.
So, last week was a gentle re-introduction to school, with students getting to know each other through a variety of team building activities and then a variety of tasks to help them get to know the classroom. Next week, with students being present for a full day, we will continue with team building activities and moving into what are known as the “Great Lessons.” These were lessons initiated by Maria Montessori in order to give the students a more holistic perspective of themselves and their place on the earth and universe. We start with the “Story of the Universe,” before moving onto the “Timeline of Life,” and finally, “The coming of man.” All these “stories,” or lessons, were scripted by Maria Montessori, her family, or followers and are followed up by extension activities, typically involving some kind of art, writing, or research.
Along with the great lessons, we will be looking at writing narratives and this week, following on from the story of the universe, I will be focusing on science fiction narratives. We will also begin looking at vocabulary work and reading comprehension. With regards to math, there will be an introduction to word problems and basic algebra.
This year we are introducing a new curriculum for our “cultural” studies. Cultural studies involve social studies, geography, zoology, botany and physical science. This year, our emphasis will be on the United States and so, we will begin by studying Native Americans.
With this theme of US history in mind, our first field trip is scheduled for Friday September 21, to “Freedom’s Light” at 400 North 200 West, in Bountiful. On this field trip the students will learn about the founding fathers, freedom fighters, the constitution and Ellis Island. We went there two years ago and had a great time. Typically, we will need 5-6 parent drivers to get us there, so if you can chaperone, please contact our room mom: Alisha Coakley at eventhair@yahoo.com.
Thanks everybody! I hope you all had a great weekend and as usual, if you have any queries, then please email me.
Many thanks – John