Hemlock Classroom

We​ ​are​ ​excited​ ​to​ ​inform you​that​ ​it​ ​has​ ​been​ ​a​ ​VERY​ ​smooth​ ​first​ ​few​ ​weeks​ ​of​ ​school!
Joining​ ​our​ ​class​ ​this​ ​year,​ ​we​ ​welcomed​ ​11 ​new​ ​children​ ​in​ ​our class. This​ ​can​ ​be​ ​an​ ​exciting​ ​time​ ​for​ ​our​ ​“returning”​ ​children​ ​who​ ​enjoy​ ​taking​ ​on​ ​a leadership​ ​role​ ​in​ ​introducing​ ​the​ ​classroom​ ​and​ ​how​ ​things​ ​work.
During​ ​our​ ​circles,​ ​we​ ​have​ ​spent​ ​our​ ​time​ ​on​ ​our​ ​calendar,​ ​reading​ ​books,​ ​singing​ ​songs,​ ​and other​ ​musical​ ​activities.
In​ ​recognition​ ​of​ ​World​ ​Peace​ ​Day,​ ​we​ ​have​ ​been​ ​practicing​ ​our​ ​peace​ ​song​ ​(“Light​ ​a​ ​Candle​ ​for Peace”).​ ​We​ ​are​ ​gathering​ ​with​ ​the​ ​whole​ ​school​ ​for​ ​a​ ​candlelit​ ​celebration​ ​to​ ​sing​ ​our​ ​song together​ ​on​ ​the​ ​23rd in​ ​unison​ ​with​ ​other​ ​schools​ ​around​ ​the​ ​world.
We​ ​are​ ​learning​ ​about​ ​our​ ​classroom​ ​rules​ ​which​ ​really​ ​focus​ ​on​ ​respecting​ ​others​ ​and​ ​their own​ ​space​ ​and​ ​taking​ ​care​ ​of​ ​our​ ​classroom​ ​environment.​ ​We​ ​have​ ​also​ ​talked​ ​about​ ​the traditional​ ​Montessori​ ​“grace​ ​and​ ​courtesy”​ ​skills.

The​ ​children​ ​are​ ​learning​ ​to​ ​put​ ​on​ ​their​ ​own​ ​coats​ ​and​ ​shoes,​ ​serve​ ​their​ ​own​ ​snacks​ ​and​ ​pour their​ ​own​ ​drinks.​ ​They​ ​experience​ ​such​ ​joy​ ​when​ ​they​ ​are​ ​able​ ​to​ ​accomplish​ ​these​ ​things​ ​on their​ ​own.​ ​This​ ​you​ ​can​ ​reinforce​ ​at​ ​home.
New​ ​materials​ ​are​ ​introduced​ ​daily​ ​and​ ​many​ ​lessons​ ​are​ ​being​ ​given​ ​on​ ​our​ ​Montessori materials.​ ​​ ​We​ ​are​ ​so​ ​looking​ ​forward​ ​to​ ​what​ ​the​ ​rest​ ​of​ ​the​ ​year​ ​brings!

Buckeye classroom

We’ve had a wonderful start to the new school year! It’s always a pleasure to welcome back familiar faces and to meet our new students. As we conclude the first three weeks, all students have been settling in well, and it has been a joy to watch our youngest and newest learners adjust to classroom routines and guidelines. During this initial period, we’ve focused on building strong foundations for the year ahead. We’ve emphasized learning names, mastering essential procedures, and understanding classroom rules and routines. At circle time, students have been introduced to basic exercises such as how to carry a tray, push in a chair, and roll up a mat. They’ve also practiced listening attentively and sitting calmly during circle. 

Additionally, we introduced the five core rules that guide our classroom: Be kind to everyone; Use materials gently; Touch only your own work and body; Put your work away for the next person; and Work quietly – speak softly, walk, and move with a calm body. This time of year truly highlights the benefits of our Montessori multi-age classroom; It’s been wonderful to see more experienced students helping new children learn our routines, offering both support and reassurance. Their guidance has been important in making the new students feel confident and welcomed. Circle times have also been filled with singing songs, starting our weekly “show and tell,” and even celebrating a birthday. One of our new students, Isla, turned 4 on the very first day of school! 

A special thank you to Isobel and Eloise’s mom, Wendy, for joining us during circle time to share about the Mid-Autumn Festival (also known as the Moon Festival), a traditional harvest celebration in Chinese culture. The children thoroughly enjoyed making paper lanterns and bringing home special treats. If any of you would like to share a holiday, tradition, or custom from your own culture, we would love to welcome you as a special guest during circle time! 

We’ve begun a small unit on apples, learning about different varieties and the parts of an apple, along with a fun apple-tasting activity. Soon, we will fully embrace the fall season by exploring the changes in nature, the reason for the seasons, and why leaves change color. The students will engage in new art projects and learn songs that reflect the season. Our nature walks to St. Edward’s State Park have already begun, allowing the children to observe firsthand how the world around us is changing with the season. We’re excited to watch the leaves turn and welcome fall together!

In addition, we’ve introduced lessons on grace and courtesy, encouraging the children to be kind and helpful to one another. One tool we’ve introduced is the Peace Rose—a staple in Montessori classrooms—used by children to resolve disagreements or take a break when feeling overwhelmed by emotions. On September 21st, we celebrated International Day of Peace. In preparation, the children learned the song “Light a Candle for Peace,” which provided a great opportunity to discuss what peace means and how we can embody it. We also explored the six peace virtues—joy, friendship, kind words, personal best, truth, and peace—and introduced the concept of the “love light” within each of us, which shines brightly or dims depending on how we feel. On September 23rd, we gathered on the playground with the Hemlock classroom, standing in a big circle, holding hands, and singing our peace song as part of a global Montessori tradition. 

Thank you to the new families who attended Curriculum Night! We hope it gave you a clearer understanding of your child’s day-to-day activities and experiences. One of our primary goals is for each child to feel secure—both physically and emotionally—and free to be themselves and explore their interests in a nurturing environment.