Our Valentine’s Day celebration was sweetened by the making of heart shaped pancakes topped with strawberries and whipped cream.

Thanks to Christina (Camila’s mom), Andrea (Haley’s mom) and Janell (Sydney’s mom) for mixing and cooking the pancakes for us.

dents came to class wearing their comfy pajamas and spent the morning doing Montessori work in between playing games, doing crafts, and exchanging valentines.

We also appreciate all the families who drove and chaperoned our Kindergarten students on the field trip to the Estes McDoniel marine lab.

 It is such a great opportunity for our students to be hosted by the Estes McDoniel 5th grade students and to learn about marine animals that were discussed in class.  We know that pairing tangible experiences with information really makes the difference in the level of understanding and engagement for our students.

In addition to this field trip, an ocean wall is being created in our classroom with many marine animals represented.

The students help paint the fish and seaweed, witnessing the layers of marine life being added to it during the month of February.

COOKING PROJECT:

We also made an underwater scene using edible items:

Thanks to Celeste (Cora’s Mom) and Kristina (Jonny’s Mom) for doing this project with our class.

A great big thanks to our PTO for creating a fun filled family dance at Dragon Ridge Country Club.

REMINDERS

Dr. Seuss Day, Friday 3/2.  Children are encouraged to dress up as their favorite Dr. Seuss character.

Parent/Teacher conferences are next week.  On 3/8 there is a half day dismissal at 11:15am with conferences held during the afternoon.  On 3/9 there is no school for students, conferences will be held all day.

A great big thanks to Carl, McCoy, Alex and their families for providing delicious snacks and beautiful flowers for our classroom.

We were profoundly touched by the generosity of thought and action by our students and their families through food donations for Whitney Elementary.  

Not only were we able to provide food for their immediate needs, we delivered a surplus to the school which will sustain their needs for weeks to come.   Thank you!

Over a 100 years ago when Dr. Montessori was forming her teaching methodology, she rightly perceived the only hope for creating a peaceful world was to educate young children in the art of conflict resolution and in sensitizing them to the value of feeling peaceful inside.  We are implementing that idea in P1 by conducting a peace lesson every Wednesday morning.  Ms. Melissa is following the curriculum in Sonnie McFarland’s book, “Honoring the Light of the Child.”

Several concepts from the book are used in the room such as using the peace rose as a tool for taking turns talking after a disagreement, or the good kind deeds tree which blooms with flowers when kind deeds are acknowledged in the classroom.

A recent lesson focused on how the five senses deliver messages to the brain and the mind.

Please refresh your child’s change of clothes in their cubby.  It’s helpful to include a pair of shorts and long pants, along with a short and long sleeved shirt, and a couple pairs of underwear and socks.

Kindergarten field trip to Estes McDonald Marine Lab, on Wednesday 2/7 from 9:15-12:30.  Please provide a sack lunch for your child and have them wear their FMS school shirt.

Next Thursday, 2/8 is Parent/Child Night:  A-M (4:15-5:00) and N-Z (5:00-5:45)

PTO Family Dance is on Friday 2/9 from 5:00-8:00.

No school on Friday 2/16 due to teacher in service.

No school on Monday 2/19 in celebration of President’s Day.

PTO general meeting is on Thursday 2/22 at 8:30.

Thanks to Willow, Emmett, and their families for supplying healthy and beautiful snacks, in addition to flowers for our classroom.

Happy new year to all of our families!  We have gotten off to a great start this year, as each of the children returned to school eager and ready to meet the challenges of being in a Montessori classroom. 

 A quiet, engaged hum has descended upon the room as we see the children working with purpose, concentration, and looks of deep satisfaction.

We are focused on learning about the solar system, space, and the constellations during the month of January.

Learning about our solar system is always fun as we begin to explore amazing concepts like how big the sun really is in relation to the planets, and getting a sense of the vastness of space.  

We sing a planet song that describes the order of the planets and the fact that they all rotate around the sun.  Language acquisition in a Montessori classroom is a continuous process where real terminology is introduced and practiced regularly.

Ms. Marian captured this view on our rainy day.

Now would be a good time to watch a sunset with your child and experience the transition from day to night (the rotation of Earth on its axis).

Although it appears like Earth is stationary in space, our planet is actually moving 67,000 miles per hour around the sun.  It takes 365 days for Earth to make a full rotation around the sun.

You also may want to point out the moon and explain that it orbits our Earth in a 28 day cycle.  Looking up at the night sky can also fuel wonder in your child as they begin to tune into the natural environment around them.

Ms. Nancy giving a lesson on Antarctica and the polar regions.

PRIMARY SERVICE PROJECT

We are collecting “weekend food” for students.

Primary service project begins next week as we are collecting food items for Whitney Elementary School.  Please see details at classroom doors. We will collect the food until Friday 1/26.  Many thanks!

REMINDERS

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

First grade re-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.

Thursday, 2/8 is Parent/Child Night:  A-M (4:15-5:00) and N-Z (5:00-5:45)

THANKS:

Thanks to Aubrie, Morgan, and their families for supplying healthy and beautiful snacks, in addition to flowers for our classroom.

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.