With our winter break just around the corner, we reflect on the enormous satisfaction and joy we feel in teaching your children.  Each day we begin fresh with the hope that some concept or process will inspire a student and that they will experience a true joy for learning.

It is in the repetition of handling the materials and in completing the processes that a Montessori education really takes hold.

So many components go into creating and sustaining a productive Montessori classroom including the space, the materials, the teacher’s experience; but the most profound ingredient is the children, and, by extension, their families.

We know that you are the foundation of FMS, and it is your attentive care for your children that makes our work so rewarding.  

During this holiday season when the “doing” can be overwhelming, and it is easy to tire out, we hope that you will find quiet moments of “being” together.

The gift of time that we share with one another can not be overlooked.  It is in the unhurried moments of spending time together that nourish the whole person.

Ms. Val planting with a student.

Laughing together, snuggling with a good book or watching a favorite movie are all the layers of love that leave a lasting impression on both the child and the parent.  We wish you a peaceful and joyful winter break, and are looking forward to being together again in the new year.

Thanks to all our families who made our sing-a-long so merry and bright!

COOKING PROJECT:

Gingerbread cookies!

We were clapping in time with a Russian accordion player and two dancers as they brought Russian songs, dances, music and language to our students during a recent assembly.  Moving at a rapid pace, the accordion player taught us Russian words for “mommy, daddy, please, thank you, yes, and no!”   He also kept the pace flowing with each of his performers presenting traditional Russian dances.

Special thanks to Amalia (Guillermo’s mom) for sharing her first hand knowledge of Spain with our classroom.

We also enjoyed David (Jonny’s uncle) coming in to share his daily experience of living in Prague.

REMINDERS

Winter Break begins on Friday, 12/22  School dismissal is at 11:15am.

School resumes on Tuesday, 1/9/2018!

Ms. Nancy giving a lesson on Hanukkah and the lighting of the menorah.

No school on Monday 1/15 in celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. day.

Kindergarten enrollment night is on Wednesday 1/31 at 5:00.  A great opportunity to learn about what makes the FMS Montessori Kindergarten program so special.

Completing the “1,000 Chain”.

First grade enrollment information night is on Thursday 2/1 at 5:00.  Enjoy a thorough description of making a smooth transition from our primary to our lower elementary grade level, including the diverse and rich curriculum.

THANKS:

Thanks to Keely, Valentina, Vivian and their families for supplying healthy and beautiful snacks, and flowers for our classroom.

Constructing the Leaning Tower of Pisa

As we approach the holiday season it is quite easy to be swept up in the hustle and bustle of activities, and to loose touch with the quiet routine of daily life.  In the classroom, we keep routine sacred.  It not only gives us the guidelines for conducting a productive day, it brings a sense of security to our students because they know what to expect. They also understand their role in this process.

Independence and movement in the classroom depends directly on the ability of our students to work respectfully with the materials, and then return the work purposefully to its proper place.  When students forget or ignore this part of the routine, we gently and clearly remind them of this procedure to ensure that materials are ready for other friends to use.

The underlying expectation in our classroom is everything has its place and materials need to be ready for other children to use them.

This readiness allows the whole room to function in an organic way as the children are able to reproduce lessons they were given by a teacher. In the repetition of the lesson, they move from the initial understanding of the concepts to a mastery level of utilizing the materials.

We enjoyed a follow up evening to the parent orientation and appreciate all of our parents who attended.  Parenting is a lifelong journey filled with a full range of human emotions.  We can take wisdom from many places including “The Parent’s Tao Te Ching.”  Here is a quote that has application for us:

“The confident parent

is not the one who knows

how to parent in every situation.

The confident parent

is the one who knows

that knowledge will emerge

in the midst of the situation.

This parent’s mind

is free of complications,

ready to respond

without preconceptions.

This parent will always act rightly.”

REMINDERS

P1 Sing-A-Long is in the classroom on Friday, 12/15 at 9:15-9:45.

Ms. Diana sharing items from her home country of Honduras.

Half day dismissal on Friday, 12/22 at 11:15am.

Ms. Nancy sharing volcanic and sandstone rocks.

Winter break is 12/25/17 through 1/8/18.  School resumes on Tuesday, 1/9/18.

THANKS:

Thanks to McCoy and his family for supplying healthy and beautiful snacks, as well as flowers for our classroom.