Normalization Period

Please respect the first 6 weeks of school. Please try to avoid being absent during this time, including vacations.  This period of time is essential where the dynamics of the classroom are being formed; the children are learning their environment and curriculum, establishing time management skills as well as establishing themselves intellectually, emotionally and socially. We will be creating a community in our classroom and building teams by playing cooperative games and other activities. We’ll be getting to know the children and doing placement testing.

Attendance

School starts promptly at 8:30 a.m.  If your child is not in the building by 8:30 in the morning, you will have to walk your child into the school and check him/her in at the office, they will be considered tardy.  Please help your child be on time to school.  It is very important to his/her education to be here on time, so that they may start their day calm and relaxed, not rushed and stressed.

Cosmic Education

The 6-9 year old is in a sensitive period for the acquisition of culture. They have an innate need to learn about the world around them and their place in it. Maria Montessori called her curriculum the “Cosmic Curriculum”. What this means in simpler terms is that we have an integrated science, social studies, and cultural curriculum. While we have separate math and language works, they serve as a support for the cultural core. Botany, history, geography, zoology and physical science, are the areas of focus in order to help the child understand the world around them. We also incorporate art and music into continent studies.   Please take time to extend your child’s learning by taking them to museums, walks or simply help them make connections between what they are learning at school, and their home life.

Grading

Each child will progress at his/her own pace through the lessons for their level. As teachers we constantly observe the child and provide them with an environment (lessons, materials, guidance and encouragement) that will help the child strengthen their interpersonal development.

Your child’s work will not be given a traditional grade. The children will help conduct their parent teacher conference by reviewing their goals and showing you their progress through work samples.

Homework

You will not find traditional homework within our classroom.  Homework will be completed in the form of home projects.  Home projects will be guided by monthly themes, which are posted on a separate blog page.  These home projects are meant to explore questions, find answers, share information with peers, increase academics, and ultimately instill a love of learning.  I ask that students read for 20 minutes daily outside of the classroom.  Reading about your home project topics is a great way to include both aspects of your work outside of the classroom.

Your child will have many opportunities to read and be read to in the classroom and we highly encourage reading at home. Research shows that reading at home with your child is more effective at creating a successful reader than any reading drills, expensive programs or instruction. We’d like to recommend at least 20 minutes a day.

Parent Education

Please attend Parent Education nights and Parent Teacher Conferences- these are opportunities to see your child’s work, and to better understand the Montessori curriculum.

Practical Life at home and at School:

-Dress Themselves               -Grace & Courtesy               -Make own lunch

-Gardening                            -Brush teeth/hair                  -Using the library/Obtaining own card

-Care of plants                      -Nutrition                              -Writing letters or thank you notes

-Home safety                                    -Social Etiquette                    -Simple acts of kindness

-Public speaking                   -Care of animals                   -Peaceful conflict resolution

-Telephone etiquette                                                           -Making & keeping friends

Don’t be surprised if they want to implement some of these at home!

In addition, there are no scheduled bathroom breaks in our school. Your child will be allowed to use the bathroom as needed. In order for this program to be successful, it will be necessary for us to demonstrate how to take care of the bathroom environment without supervision.

PE,  and Music

Students have a 90 minute period for guided PE and music instruction, once a week. Please talk to your children about respecting every adult and teacher in our school- not just their classroom teachers. The PE teacher asks for children to come in sneakers or tennis shoes on their day of PE.

Snack

There is a philosophical reason behind snack time in the Montessori Method.  Your child will gain the skill of helping to prepare (cutting apples, etc) and clean up snack and serve their classmates. This teaches leadership and is one of the children’s favorite activities. We will be teaching healthy eating habits and ask that only healthy snacks be brought for this time. We really need your help for this food preparation/snack time to work.  Fresh produce from your garden is a welcome snack as well. Please find the link to sign-up under the 2017-2018 Snack Sign-up post.  Ideally, we ask that you provide snack twice during the school year.

 

Recess and Lunch

Recess will be before lunch.  Generally, recess begins at 11:30 a.m. and lunch begins at 12:00 p.m.  Lunches must be brought from home.  Please be mindful as you help your child prepare a healthy lunch for school by sending a well balanced meal free from empty calories and added sugar.  Please send a small ice pack in your child’s lunch box if the food needs to be kept cold. Students may use the classroom microwave, but we ask that they limit their heating time to only one minute in order to provide time for multiple students. We are kindly asking to limit drinks to low/no sugar drinks, milk, and water during lunch. Please do not send drink mixes to school as the spills will stain our desks and carpet.

 

 

We are excited to assist your child in their emotional, academic, social, and physical development.  Together we form a partnership, the student, the parents, and the school, all united to help each child reach their full potential.  This potential encompasses a life-long love of learning, self-discipline, and independence.  Anything your child can do independently, they will be encouraged to do at school.  The extrinsic rewards of work are not encouraged, but rather the intrinsic pride that comes from a job well done.  We want children to recognize when they have worked hard and to celebrate that feeling of success.  Here’s to the start of a great year!   Your support is much appreciated!