Dad's Night 2011

Observation

We welcome families in our community to come and take at look at our classrooms and see how the children are developing into a peaceful & harmonious classroom community.  It seems like such a short time ago we were having the beginning of the year open house / classroom visits and we were frantically attepmting to remember everyone's name.  The children have accomplished many great things in the weeks since then.

Please feel free to stop by some morning, grab a cup of coffee and observe!

How to Observe

The first glimpse of a Montessori classroom may seem confusing with all the activity. 
A few guidelines for observation are suggested:

First: Take a quick look around the room.  Notice--

• the individual activity of the children
• the range of ages of the children
• the type of equipment and materials
• the interaction of the children with little or no friction

Second:  Focus your attention on one of the teachers.  Notice--

• the composure
• the respect the teacher shows the child
• the teacher as an observer
• the manner the teacher uses to guide and assist children

Third:  Focus your attention on one child.  Notice--

• concentration on work
• succession of activities
• respect for teachers, other children, equipment
• enthusiasm and joy in each activity, self-satisfaction

Fourth:  Think a minute.  The children you are observing are 2 1/2 through 6 years of age.

•  Have you seen such peace and order before in this age group?

When observing through the classroom windows, please make sure the hall lighting is turned off.  Please be aware that voices may carrry into the classroom and can be disturbing to the class.

Oatmeal

Better Oats is an alternative to all the sugary cereals out there and comes highly recommended by a TMA parent.

You can find Better Oats at Target.

Lunchtime Proceedures for the Full-Day Class

Children are invited from the line or the hallway to wash their hands and proceed to find the chair with their lunch box on it.  Most children sit on the same side of the room each day so there is little confusion of where to go.

After washing their hands and locating their spot, the children pick up their plate, glass, silverware and napkin and set their own table spot.  This may take several trips back and forth, adding in yet more movement to our day.  Emphasis is placed on learning how to set a table, yet another opportunity for the Practical Life curriculum to infiltrate our daily routine.

Children then stand behind their chairs until the whole table is prepared and then everyone sings the "Bon Appetit" song. 

            Look around and you will see a family

Community

            Brothers, Sisters

We are one

Bon Appetit, you may eat!

Some children proceed to unpack their lunches onto the plates, while others participate in the hot lunch program and this stays in the provided container.  Lunch is a time filled with opportunities to work on Grace & Courtesy.  The children remain seated during this portion of the day, raising their hand if help is needed in opening a container.  Manners are re-enforced and please and thank-you are words heard frequently at this time.

Milk and water are on the table in child-friendly pitchers and children ask their friends to 'please pass the milk".  The milk or water is then passed carefully from friend to friend.  Each child pours his own milk or water.

When the child has finished his lunch he asks if he may be excused.  Leftovers are packed in to the lunch box to return home so the parent knows what has not been eaten.  Each child carries their plate, glass and utensils to the wash basins to wash and then stack his/her own dishes into a basin.  They then carry a small bucket & sponge back to the table for cleaning up their own spot.  If needed, they use a broom & dustpan to clean up under the chairs.  A smaller broom & dustpan is used for table crumbs.

Following lunch, the younger children are dismissed to use the bathroom in preparation of naptime, while the older children help load the dishwasher.  Tables are returned to their original locations, chairs are returned to the tables and a last look around is made for any stray crumbs. Children meet at the blue line to wait for story time or movement exercises with one of the teachers.

Submitted by: Cindy Shelley

Pumpkin Songs

Five Little Pumpkins

Five little pumpkins sitting on a gate

The first one said, "oh my it's getting late"

The second one said,"there's magic in the air"

The third one said, "but we don't care"

The forth one said, "let's run and run and run"

The fifth one said, "It's Halloween fun."

or

Five little pumpkins sitting on a gate

The first one said, "oh my it's getting late"

The second one said,"there's a chill in the air"

The thrid one said, "but we don't care"

The forth one said, "let's run and run and run"

The fifth one said, "I'm ready for some fun."

Ooooo went the wind and out went the lights

and the five little pumpkins rolled out of sight.

I'm a Little Pumpkin

(sung to the tune of I'm a Little Teapot)

I'm a little pumpkin, orange and round

here is my stem, here is the ground

when I get all cut up, don't you shout

just open me up and scoop me out.

Dad's Night

Tuesday the 25th, the Early Childhood Classrooms host the 2nd annual Dad's Night.  This is a night for the children to bring a dad, grandpa, uncle or other special man in their life to their Montessori classroom.  This is a night for it to be all about the two of you spending time together.  The children are so proud of what they do at school, yet oftentimes have difficultly relaying it to you.  At my own dinner table my  husband, father of a four-year-old & a two-year-old, often looks to me for interpretation when the girls talk about their day.  Luckily, I have an inside scoop.

We hope to see you there:  Tuesday, October 25  6:30-8:00p.m.

Early Childhood Breakfast

We welcome all Early Childhood parents to enjoy a light breakfast with their child at school,

Thursday October 13 7:30-9:00a.m. 

School breakfast opportunities are offered a couple times each year for parents to have the opportunity to spend a little bit of time with their child in school, the child sharing their work with their parent.

We hope you are able to attend, even for a few minutes on your way to work.  We realize some families have the opportunity to stay a few minutes and others are able to stay enjoy the classroom longer. Please respect the time frame so that the children are able to go about their day successfully.  If your child seems to have a difficult time saying goodbye when it is time that you need to leave; please say "goodbye", give a hug and remind your child that you will return when the school day is done.  The teachers and assistants are fantastic at transition periods.  Please be assured that they will assist & redirect the children to begin their work time.