Hemlock Classroom Review
Happy March! Spring has just started, and we were excited about the wonderful learning opportunities this month brought. As the weather got warmer, more cuddling and giggling started, which led to new friendships and possibilities.
Thank you to all the parents who joined us for the Parents’ Conference. It was wonderful to connect with each of you and discuss your child’s progress. Your insights and collaboration mean so much to us as we work together to support their growth. If you have any lingering questions or thoughts, feel free to reach out- we are always here to help.
We dedicate March to Unit Studies and this year Unit study is Community Helpers. Community helpers are the heart of our neighborhoods-they dedicate their time, energy, and skills to make our lives safer, healthier, and better. From firefighters to police officers and doctors to garbage collectors and construction workers to postal workers, every helper plays a vital role in our community.
We discussed how firefighters put out fires and respond to emergencies and we talked about the fire drill and earthquake drill procedure and why we do we practice every month. Children were excited to see the fire truck and the equipment used. Huge thanks to the Shoreline fire department.
Doctors and Nurses help us stay healthy by treating illnesses and providing care and we learnt the tools doctors use. Huge thanks to Katie, Asher’s mom who is a nurse practitioner who shared her work experiences and the demonstration of a regular checkup. Huge Thanks to Dr. Ravi, Ms. Managuli’s husband, who is an Ultrasound doctor, came to our classroom and demonstrated how Ultrasound is performed. It was very informatic and profound.
We talked about veterinarians too and we learnt how they care for our dear pets and make them feel better.
Garbage collectors or sanitation workers keep our neighborhood clean and safe by collecting ang managing the waste. We see them almost every week. We talked about the importance of separating trash, recycling and composite and how it would help to take care of mother nature.
Construction workers build roads, homes, schools, shops, and other essential infrastructure. They work very hard to make sure that we have safe and functional spaces to live, work, and thrive.
We will continue our mail carrier and other community helpers in the month of April too.
“Let’s take a moment to thank all our community helpers for the amazing work they do. They remind us that helping others is one of the most important things we ca do!”
Children enjoyed a lot when Ms. Leach joined the classroom on March 17th to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in the honor of her Irish tradition.
As we enter April, it will bring more showers. Please dress them appropriately. Please make sure they bring water bottles with their names since they need more water. Encourage your child to observe signs of spring, budding flowers birds building nests, etc.
Mark, your calendar that spring break is from April 7 till 11.
“The Child who has felt a strong love his surroundings and for all living creatures, who has discovered joy and enthusiasm in work, gives us reason to hope that humanity can develop in a new direction.”
———Dr. Maria Montessori.
Buckeye Classroom Review
Throughout March, we continued our unit on Community Workers, exploring the roles of pilots, veterinarians, chefs, doctors, dentists, and farmers. The children engaged in hands-on activities and lessons in “seeds-to-plant” and “farm-to-table”, which included a felt story about tomatoes and a discussion on healthy vs. unhealthy foods. As part of our food preparation work, the children also practiced slicing carrots—a new skill they were excited to try!
In honor of Women’s History Month, we introduced the children to the idea of celebrating women who have made a significant impact on the world. We highlighted a few inspiring women and their contributions to the world.
During our special class meetings, we continued fostering community problem-solving skills. The children are encouraged to express their ideas, listen to one another, and collaborate on solutions. Each meeting begins with “Compliments and Appreciation”, during which a talking stick is passed around, giving each child the opportunity to share kind words—or simply listen if they choose to pass.
We welcomed the first day of spring, and briefly discussed the reason for the seasons. Many children are beginning to grasp the concept of Earth’s orbit around the sun, and are making the connection to our Birthday Circle. During this special celebration, month cards are arranged circular around a sun representation and the birthday child walks around the sun holding a small globe, while the class sings:
“The Earth goes around the sun, the sun,It takes 12 months, 52 weeks, 365 days”.
The song continues for each year of the child’s life. This month we celebrated Coralie’s 4th birthday, and at the end of March, Lisa will turn 5!
We are also looking forward to a special visit from Arad’s dad, Siavash, who will share the beautiful Persian New Year tradition of Nowruz with our class!
Looking Ahead: soon we will begin a short unit on cats, learning about both big cats and domestic cats—an area of great interest for many children in our class! The first week of April we will explore worms and their important role in nature, followed by Spring Break in the second week
We truly enjoyed meeting with you during our parent-teacher conferences and appreciate your continued partnership in your child’s learning journey!