STORY of the UNIVERSE
Welcome-
This week was full adventures as the class continued Great Lessons, team building and initiative activities, and began small independent work cycles. At the end of each day I heard, “What! The day is already over, where did it go!” Comments like these are what inspire me to be a teacher.
On Wednesday we celebrated Maria Montessori birthday and engaged in lessons pertaining to who she was, her importance in the world as a PEACE maker and why there are schools including ours around the world in honor of her. These lessons offer a deeper appreciation to the students of Maria Montessori Academy.
On Thursday we had the pleasure of having Ms. Stephanie, the Director, come into our class and offer some great and fun initiative activities- which offered collaboration, communication, frustration and most of all learning to make a plan, work together, listen to each other, and to care for others even when mistakes are made. At the end the students had an opportunity to share their reflections in class: “class is not a competition so we need to help each other at whatever level we are at“, “the more we work together and listen to each other, the better we will all feel on this inside“, “we need to be proactive, begin with the end in mind, and seek first to understand and then to be understood.”
These team building and initiative lessons, alongside with studying the 7 Habits by Stephen Covey and Maria Montessori grace and courtesy the students learn the importance of Caring for the Environment, Caring for Others and Caring for Themselves. When the students learn to care in these three areas; their self confidence and self esteem rise- they recognize the importance of each individual and what each person contributes to the community- regardless if they are friends or not. On Thursday we had our first Compliment & Acknowledgement circle- students were provided a name of a student in class and at circle they shared a positive attribute of the classmate. Every child was beaming!
In class we are taking advantage of our plentiful gardens and are using the gardens to better understand botany (plants) as well as cooking exercises. Last week we made pesto with the plethora of basil we have growing, this week we made salsa with the tomatoes, cilantro, peppers and onions growing in the gardens. Next week the students want to bring peaches from their trees and we are going to make peach salsa! In the class we do a lot of cooking where the students have the opportunity to use practice their practical life skills while prepping the food. 
This week the students were provided their first Study Guides which is one of the beginning tools of understanding how to manage their time when they are not in lessons, understanding what they need to be working on during their own time and expectations for each day as well as by the end of the week. This was the beginning of our first work cycles. This week the students will be getting their first calendar for September, this should be on the front of their daily binders- please be looking for it. 
On Friday we had our first Creative Writing Lesson- the students loved sharing their sentences from their pictures. This exercise is a great lesson of how to expand their imaginations only by answering who, what, when, where, the action and how. This time I gave them the action- which was challenging for some students and easier for others. This simple lesson will continue to expand to coordinate with grammar lessons and identification. 
Next week- the students will be learning how to record their progress/ record keeping, they will be designated classroom jobs, and will be learning vocabulary lessons, the Great Story of Math, continue the Fundamental Needs of Man, and will be diving into Science and Math lessons.
SNACK– Thank you for all of you kind donations! Snack is another great practical life skill that the students are responsible for figuring out the proper amount for servings, they prepare the food- and they also find solutions for problems regarding snack. Students love being apart of snack preparation as well as eating snack. It is very evident when we do not have snack, there is a natural fatigue that takes place between 10:30-11:00 if we are in the absence of snack. Thank you again for all of your donations.
Snack this week is Victoria.
MMA 5k and Pancake Breakfast– Come enjoy the community fun- Saturday, September 17! Remember to sign up. This year there will be great prizes and everyone who runs gets a swag bag and t-shirt.
If you have questions about registering please contact the office.
6th Grade Parent Meeting– This Thursday is a 6th grade parent meeting for ALL 6th grade parents and students. This meeting will be discussing 6th grade student council, 6th grade expectations for committees and fundraising and details of the 6th grade field trip. 6:00 on Thursday in the library. We look forward to seeing you!
Positive Discipline Lecture and Workshop– On Thursday, September 22 their will be a free lecture at MMA from 6:00- 8:00 and on Saturday, September 24 from 9:00-5:00 there is a parent workshop $95 for individual or $150 for couple. Register at www.marytamborski.com positive discipline
Field Trips– We have our first field trip scheduled for September 20- this is a walking field trip but I will be looking for 2-3 parents to help with chaperoning. If you are interested please let our room mother Jen Whetton know- jenqw@digis.net. Field trip permission slip forms should be coming home by the end of this week, no later than beginning of next week.
STUDIO– We had our first studio assembly on Friday. Your child should have brought home their studio flyer- this flyer needs to be filled out with student/ parent signature. There are two categories of classes- please list their preference of class for each category. 1- next to priority for the class, 5 for the class least desired and 2,3,4 for in between 1 and 5. This year there will be 3 semester of studio rotations, classes are for 4 weeks- the next semester will be a different choice of classes. Studio flyers are due by Wednesday, otherwise I will decide their studio choices. If your child is sick or absent- please email me their studio choices.
I hope you are enjoying your long weekend- have a great week,
Ms. Nicoletta