News from Room 1214

September 27, 2007 

Movement and activity are natural functions of childhood, and

learning  comes through them.  Everything in the Montessori school environment

is arranged to this end, with a wide assortment of materials and the

freedom to move about.  Activity becomes increasingly important to development,

and the young child needs many opportunities for observation, movement,

and exploration.  It is movement that starts the intellectual working.

Manipulative exercises involving the use of the hand and mind together

Make the child an active participant in his own learning process.

--Elizabeth Hainstock, The Essential Montessori 

      This has been another busy week of introducing new transitional materials for individual work choices, and of providing opportunities for the students to practice how we move in the classroom.  The emphasis on movement in the Montessori classroom sets the method apart from others.  The movement is purposeful and carefully done by the students.  Montessori believed strongly that we learn best by using our large and small muscles along with our senses.  The child is also able to repeat any given activity.  Such repetition allows for mastery of skills.

      The students examined the sandpaper globe and recalled information about our planet.  The information the students generated was truly impressive!  We have now begun working with some of the traditional Montessori Practical Life and Sensorial (pre-math) materials.  The all-day students have resumed working on sound associations, sound spelling, drawing illustrations, and reading activities.  We have been learning to spell color words. All students have discussed the change of seasons from summer to fall, and they have helped compose a song about the changes.  Learning the parts of a tree, leaf, and flower has helped us prepare for the apple orchard. 

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

• Tuesday, October 2nd, is our field trip to Dodge Nature Center. Thanks for the offers to volunteer to assist that day!  The cost of the field trip and bus is $5.00 per student.
• Wednesday, October 3rd, is our first Early Release Day.  No School for half-day students that afternoon.
• Thursday, October 25th, is our potluck dinner.  Details will be forthcoming.  Let me know if you can volunteer that evening.

 

REMINDERS:

• ALL CHILDREN'S HOUSE STUDENTS MUST HAVE A BUS TAG DAILY.  PLEASE BE SURE THAT THIS IS WITH YOUR CHILD WHEN BOARDING THE BUS. An extra tag was sent home yesterday along with bus safety information.
• Library day is Thursday.  Please return library books by Wednesday so that your child will be ready to check out new books on Thursday.
• Please keep the homework folder, communication folder, and library books in a specific spot at home to assist your child in keeping track of them.

 

Wish List: glue sticks, colored printer paper or card stock for materials making 

Thanks!

• To everyone providing snacks!
• For the contributions toward the field trip and the $15 supply donations!
• To Jennifer Klatt and Arlene Seashore for preparing Thursday Folders

Cultural Studies Focus Next Week:  Life Cycle of An Apple