P.S. In case you have never had the opportunity to observe Miss JaNae read a story to the children - this is what they look like. Rapt attention. She has a special way of making each story memorable and the children are always fascinated.
Monday, December 12, 2011
Christopher Pop-in-kins
When we returned from Thanksgiving break - we had a special visitor at our class. Christopher Pop-in-kins! He is an elf who has come to observe our behavior until Christmas. He reports back to Santa Claus to help him with his naughty and nice list. The kids had a blast trying to find him, and every day he moves to a new spot - so they race to see who can be the first to spot him. He is just another one of those special touches that Miss JaNae brings to her classroom.
P.S. In case you have never had the opportunity to observe Miss JaNae read a story to the children - this is what they look like. Rapt attention. She has a special way of making each story memorable and the children are always fascinated.
P.S. In case you have never had the opportunity to observe Miss JaNae read a story to the children - this is what they look like. Rapt attention. She has a special way of making each story memorable and the children are always fascinated.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Thanksgiving
Miss Janae told the story of the soldier and Stone soup. Each child was a villager and took turns coming up to share their vegetables for the stone soup. Then we had a big feast with yummy "stone soup" , rolls, and pumpkin pie!
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Recess
We got to spend some time outside before it got too cold. The children had fun feeding the chickens, playing on the jungle gym, airplane, and teeter totter, and digging in the sand box.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Halloween Party!
The kids always anticipate one of Miss JaNae's parties - and the Halloween Party was no exception. We had so much fun - and got to experience a lot of fun crafts and games that were totally new. We started our day with the pledge and show n share - and then got done to some party fun.
First - we had a costume parade. The kids are always happy to show off their costumes and it is fun to see what they want to pretend to be. It is especially fun that we had so many "matches" this year. Costumes that looked like they were planned together - even though they weren't!
Once we finished our costume parade it was time to get down to our party fun. The kids divided up into small groups and went to the many different craft and game stations. We had cookie painting, bracelet making, spider ring toss, candy corn pitching, and a guessing game for the kids to do. They got prizes and or got to keep their craft from each station.
Most of the prizes were non-edible. Pencils, erasers, bracelets, kaleidoscopes, tattoos, stickers, bubbles and activity books. But the bracelets were candy - and we ate our painted cookies with our witches brew at snack time.
When we finished all our activities we calmed down with a cute Halloween story from Pirate Trish, and then we welcomed a special guest. Witch Julie (she was a teacher last year) came to make us witches brew! It was so funny watching the kids faces as she added swamp water, squished toads, crushed bones, and dragon breath. When she asked who wanted to taste it they all had the silliest gross-out looks on their faces. I tried to get a picture - but they disappeared too quickly because they were trying to be polite I think. They finally agreed to try it when they realized it smelled an awful lot like root beer. Yummiest witches brew I had ever tasted!
Thanks to all the fun teachers who helped with the party. The kids had a great time and it was a definite success!
First - we had a costume parade. The kids are always happy to show off their costumes and it is fun to see what they want to pretend to be. It is especially fun that we had so many "matches" this year. Costumes that looked like they were planned together - even though they weren't!
Once we finished our costume parade it was time to get down to our party fun. The kids divided up into small groups and went to the many different craft and game stations. We had cookie painting, bracelet making, spider ring toss, candy corn pitching, and a guessing game for the kids to do. They got prizes and or got to keep their craft from each station.
Most of the prizes were non-edible. Pencils, erasers, bracelets, kaleidoscopes, tattoos, stickers, bubbles and activity books. But the bracelets were candy - and we ate our painted cookies with our witches brew at snack time.
When we finished all our activities we calmed down with a cute Halloween story from Pirate Trish, and then we welcomed a special guest. Witch Julie (she was a teacher last year) came to make us witches brew! It was so funny watching the kids faces as she added swamp water, squished toads, crushed bones, and dragon breath. When she asked who wanted to taste it they all had the silliest gross-out looks on their faces. I tried to get a picture - but they disappeared too quickly because they were trying to be polite I think. They finally agreed to try it when they realized it smelled an awful lot like root beer. Yummiest witches brew I had ever tasted!
Thanks to all the fun teachers who helped with the party. The kids had a great time and it was a definite success!
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Music Day
On Wednesday, we got to have a lesson on music. Maria Montessori believed that "there should be music in the child's environment, just as there does exist in the child's environment spoken speech." She believed that exposure to music - listening, learning, and playing music would have a beneficial effect on children of this age. Today we were learning about the composer Beethoven.
Beethoven was an amazing composer who was born on December 16th, 1770. He was a child prodigy and a musical genius. He lived with hearing loss that ended in total deafness and yet still composed amazing symphonies and sonatas. His deafness did not stop him from playing or writing music. He "felt" the music.
We finished up our work a little early so that we could get out our musical instruments. Miss JaNae has instruments from all over the world and so many that the children get to try out as many as they want. The kids sure had fun experimenting with them.
I am adding this little video of the children trying out their instruments just because it makes me giggle. Maybe we should have had a lesson on cacophony.
Beethoven was an amazing composer who was born on December 16th, 1770. He was a child prodigy and a musical genius. He lived with hearing loss that ended in total deafness and yet still composed amazing symphonies and sonatas. His deafness did not stop him from playing or writing music. He "felt" the music.
We finished up our work a little early so that we could get out our musical instruments. Miss JaNae has instruments from all over the world and so many that the children get to try out as many as they want. The kids sure had fun experimenting with them.
I am adding this little video of the children trying out their instruments just because it makes me giggle. Maybe we should have had a lesson on cacophony.
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Harvesting Grapes
We went on a little field trip to the neighbors grapevines for a little harvesting. Everyone got to pick one bunch of grapes. They did such a great job and now one of the new fun works is grape washing and sharing!
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Montessori Birthdays
In Montessori, birthdays are a celebration of life, and so we have a birthday walk ceremony that the children get to participate in when it is their birthday. Today, it was India's birthday, and I thought I would snap some quick pictures to show off this sweet ceremony and to show how much the children love it.
The ceremony is a concrete way for young children to understand the months, seasons and the earth's revolution around the sun. It is also a way for the children to feel special and to connect with their place in the world. The ceremony begins with the birthday child placing a sun (a lamp) in the middle of our rug and turning it on. The lights are then darkened and they hold a small globe to symbolize the the earth's rotation around the sun and the passing of a year.
As India starts to walk around the sun the first time, Miss JaNae talks about how she were born, and the things she could have done while she was a baby. The second time she starts around the circle she has turned one, and she would be walking, and talking. The third time she starts around the circle she has turned two and Miss JaNae talks about how she is trying to keep up with with her siblings and how she came to visit Miss JaNae at her school. Once she walks around the circle her fourth time, she stops. She has turned four!
After her life walk, the kids sing happy birthday to India and then count to her birthday number in two languages - which India gets to choose. Today she choose Spanish and English.
In honor of their day, the birthday child will often give a small snack or treat to the class. We usually wait until we are outside and ready for pick up before the birthday boy or girl gives these out. As each child's parent or ride arrives, they go and give the birthday kid a special Happy Birthday good-bye and receive a small treat from him or her. India brought cookies - and she had a lot of fun receiving all her birthday wishes and handing out treats to her friends. Thank you India for letting us share your special day with you!
Please remember that parents are welcome to visit the classroom any time they wish, and we would be honored if you would like to attend your child's birthday walk. As always, you can call Miss JaNae if you have any questions.
The ceremony is a concrete way for young children to understand the months, seasons and the earth's revolution around the sun. It is also a way for the children to feel special and to connect with their place in the world. The ceremony begins with the birthday child placing a sun (a lamp) in the middle of our rug and turning it on. The lights are then darkened and they hold a small globe to symbolize the the earth's rotation around the sun and the passing of a year.
As India starts to walk around the sun the first time, Miss JaNae talks about how she were born, and the things she could have done while she was a baby. The second time she starts around the circle she has turned one, and she would be walking, and talking. The third time she starts around the circle she has turned two and Miss JaNae talks about how she is trying to keep up with with her siblings and how she came to visit Miss JaNae at her school. Once she walks around the circle her fourth time, she stops. She has turned four!
After her life walk, the kids sing happy birthday to India and then count to her birthday number in two languages - which India gets to choose. Today she choose Spanish and English.
In honor of their day, the birthday child will often give a small snack or treat to the class. We usually wait until we are outside and ready for pick up before the birthday boy or girl gives these out. As each child's parent or ride arrives, they go and give the birthday kid a special Happy Birthday good-bye and receive a small treat from him or her. India brought cookies - and she had a lot of fun receiving all her birthday wishes and handing out treats to her friends. Thank you India for letting us share your special day with you!
Please remember that parents are welcome to visit the classroom any time they wish, and we would be honored if you would like to attend your child's birthday walk. As always, you can call Miss JaNae if you have any questions.
Saturday, September 17, 2011
The Earth
Today we learned some new signs to go with our new song about the Earth. We are learning that the Earth is made of land, water, and air. The classroom had several new works to go along with this theme.
The children all worked hard as usual
Since they all worked so hard we got a rare treat.. our classroom pet snake, Snakey, ate for us!
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Our Day
Do you wonder what your little one's day is like at school? We follow a basic structure each day so that the kids know what to expect, and what is expected of them. We always start our day the same way - we go over the calendar and discuss the month, day & year. We talk about the weather and seasons, and then we have our class leader for the day lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Did you know your little one could say the pledge? Ask them to repeat it to you.
After the pledge it is time for our lesson. Today we had a lesson on our five senses and Miss JaNae introduced a new work available for the children to do on smelling. You can find out what our daily lessons are on by looking at the calendar that Miss JaNae sends home every month.
Once the lesson is over for the day it is time for the children to go to work. They are excused from the mat and allowed to work on whatever they choose. The classroom is divided up into different basic areas. There are sections for mathematics, language, and practical life. There is also a reading and listening center. The children can work independently or with a teacher in one of these areas on a project of their choice. Each area has dozens of different activities to choose from.
The children love their work time. Once work time is over we gather back around the carpet to do Show and Share. This is one of the children's favorite activities. Each day two children are picked to bring a show and share surprise and they get the opportunity to teach about it from the clues they picked with their parent. They are always so excited to show off their treasures. Once show and share is over we take a break for a snack, thoughtfully provided by our snack friend of the week. Once snack is over with we gather around for a last round of songs or a story and our day is over. Whew! Who knew your children were getting so much accomplished.
After the pledge it is time for our lesson. Today we had a lesson on our five senses and Miss JaNae introduced a new work available for the children to do on smelling. You can find out what our daily lessons are on by looking at the calendar that Miss JaNae sends home every month.
Once the lesson is over for the day it is time for the children to go to work. They are excused from the mat and allowed to work on whatever they choose. The classroom is divided up into different basic areas. There are sections for mathematics, language, and practical life. There is also a reading and listening center. The children can work independently or with a teacher in one of these areas on a project of their choice. Each area has dozens of different activities to choose from.
The children love their work time. Once work time is over we gather back around the carpet to do Show and Share. This is one of the children's favorite activities. Each day two children are picked to bring a show and share surprise and they get the opportunity to teach about it from the clues they picked with their parent. They are always so excited to show off their treasures. Once show and share is over we take a break for a snack, thoughtfully provided by our snack friend of the week. Once snack is over with we gather around for a last round of songs or a story and our day is over. Whew! Who knew your children were getting so much accomplished.
Friday, September 9, 2011
New Year, New Class
We are so excited that school has finally started. It is so wonderful to meet all the new students and watch as they make new friends, discover all the wonderful work they can do at school and learn the Montessori way. This year there are 20 students in our morning class. It is amazing how quickly this class has "normalized." They are happy and productive and get along well. We have been focused on introducing new work, and learning about our five senses. Here is a quick picture that introduces our class:
We will post as often as possible to give you a glimpse into your child's day. Please remember to stop in and visit whenever you want, or call Miss JaNae if you have questions. Here is a short video of the children going on their rocket ship ride!
We will post as often as possible to give you a glimpse into your child's day. Please remember to stop in and visit whenever you want, or call Miss JaNae if you have questions. Here is a short video of the children going on their rocket ship ride!
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