A great resource for healthy eating

I have been trying to improve my family's health for the last few years. It has been a slow process but one I know is paying off. I see it in my children's behavior and in my own energy level. I recently stumbled across a great blog that has so many helpful articles and recipes. I wanted to share it with my favorite people and I hope that you find it as useful as I have!

http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/

Hello Again!

Well, things have slowed down since school began again and I think I now have the time to update the blog occasionally. Another thing that kept me from posting was due to the fact that I needed to enter all the new email addresses for the new families for the year. I decided to save myself the time and make the blog public instead. Rest assured I will not share any personal information about your children.

I stumble across so many fun things that I always want to share, but I hate to fill your email box, unprovoked. Hopefully this will become a place of continued resource for you. As always, please let me know if there is a way you believe I could serve your family/child better.

Love, Ms. Kacee

Math and Science for Young Children recognizes Montessori Materials!

This is incredibly exciting! Dr. Rosalind Charlesworth, from Weber State University has acknowledged Montessori works in her textbook for University students. She believes that hands-on,concrete approaches are what we educators call "best practices" in teaching children math concepts! Montessorians knew this all along. However it's still incredibly exciting to see the traditional minded educators taking a look at alternatives to pencil paper and memorization. This is just one small step towards all schools embracing the Montessori Materials and Philosophy!

Dr. Charlesworth came to our classroom again last week. She spent the entire day with us! She saw the great math and language work the children do on a daily basis. She recognized the importance of snack and  watched them during P.E. and joined us for our cultural studies where the level 1s painted world maps, the level 2s explored igneous rocks and the level 3s made cloud pictures with cotton balls! She was taking photos for her next textbook due on shelves next fall/winter. Hopefully Montessori will become more recognized and appreciated for the amazing educational approach it is!

Me and Sequoia a student from 2010-2011 working on the Large Bead Frame

Lydia working on the checkerboard

Brinley and the Pythagorean Board

Fraction Circles!

Luke using the place value mat I sewed with golden beads

Aubrey's long hair and stamp game!

Bryson graphing buttons

Time Cards, Money Box and Cards and Weighing with Lydia and  Jerith

Christmas Ideas

Tired of buying plastic junk that your children HAVE to have for Christmas? Here are some alternative's. :)

Fat Brain Toys

For Small Hands

How much sleep does your child need?

Bedtime is the one, non-negotiable thing at our house. In class it is very easy to tell when a child did not get enough sleep the night before. They come in with puffy and/or glassy eyes, and have a difficult time focusing the entire day.

In a study of 74 six- to twelve-year-olds, researchers found that the children generally had more trouble with their schoolwork and more attention problems during the week when they stayed up late each night.  The study, published in the medical journal Sleep, included healthy grade-schoolers without sleep or academic problems. During one week, they followed their normal sleep routine, with younger children getting about 10 hours each night and older children getting 8 to 9 hours. On another week, the children stayed up later than usual and got only 6.5 to 8 hours of sleep, depending on their age. On a third week, all of the children followed an "optimized" sleep schedule and got no fewer than 10 hours of sleep per night. (Source:  SLEEP Dec. 2005)

According to one study, an optimized sleep schedule consisted of no fewer than 10 hours of sleep per night. Okay, so let's back into that time frame.  Your child starts school at 8:30 am. You need to leave the house at 8:15  She needs a good hour to really wake up, eat breakfast, get dressed and feed the dog.
If you wake her up at 7:00 am, she needs to be asleep no later than 9:00 pm.  Many children don't fall asleep the minute their head hits the pillow. That said, a bed time of 8:00 pm or 8:30 pm is by no means unreasonable.
Source

Even if your child lies in bed for 20-30 minutes before falling asleep, this is good downtime and helps them to know that they do not constantly need to be on the go. Being left alone with one's own thoughts is good for kids too!

Lizzie The Bearded Dragon

This is our class pet. The children love to watch her eat. We'll do more research and reports on her during our level 1 Reptile unit.

Our Hopes and Dreams!

This is a project we did the 2nd week of school. It is Our Hopes and Dreams class flag.We talked about what we wanted to be when we grew up and what it would take to get us there. Hard work and determination. :)

Another great video!

Show and Teach

In our room we have a Show and Teach Bag. This bag goes home with one child everyday. When the bag comes home, please help your child choose something that they can share that is NOT a toy, (stuffed animals are okay). Things they can share; trophies, awards, collections, photos, books, etc. Help your child think of 3 facts about their item. If possible please allow for your child to keep their item on the shelf in the classroom for one day. This allows the children to get a better look at the item and encourages discussion. Some children want to bring pets. I have asked them to wait until the next rotation to do so and we can make special accomodations at that time.

Schedule for this Show and Teach Rotation

August
29 -Truman
30 - Tess
31 - Strider

September
1 - Ryson
2 - Ryan
5 - Nick
6 - Morgan
7 - McKane
8 - Luke
9 - Lance
12 - Kamryn
13 - Jonah
14 - Hannah
15 - Garrett
16 - Dylan
19 - CJ
20 - Bryson
21 - Brooks
22 - Avery
23 - Austin
26 - Aubrey
27 - Anda
28 - Addy Mae
29 - Abish
30 - Abby

Dates are subject to change slightly based on child's forgetfulness to bring their item on scheduled day or on unforseen circumstances that may occur in the classroom that prohibit the show and teach time during a particular day. Please do not send the show and teach item with your child unless the bag comes home. We are promoting responsiblity, independence and flexibility.

Our Room



Language Area on the far wall



Cultural (zoology, botany, history and geography) Area on the left, Kitchen on the right

Math Area

More Math Area

Missing only the best part.....The CHILDREN! 

What is Montessori?

I Love this poem

While the content of this poem is related to the primary (3-6 year old) classroom the essential idea fits any age Montessori classroom. ENJOY! :)

Today I did my math and science.
I toasted bread, halved and quartered, counted, measured, and used my eyes, ears and hands.
I added and subtracted on the way.
I used magnets, blocks and memory tray.
I learned about a rainbow and how to weigh.
So please don't say -

"ANYTHING IN YOUR BAG TODAY?"

You see, I'm sharing as I play, to learn to listen and speak clearly when I talk
to wait my turn and when inside to walk.
To put my words into a phrase, to find my name and write it down.
To do it with a smile and not to frown, to put my pasting brush away.
So please don't say -

"ANYTHING IN YOUR BAG TODAY?"

I learned about a snail and a worm.
Remembered how to take my turn.
Helped a friend when he was stuck.
Learned that water runs off a duck.
Looked at words from left to right.
Agreed to differ, not to fight.
So please don't say -

"DID YOU ONLY PLAY TODAY?"

Yes, I played the whole day through.
I played to learn the things I do,
I speak a problem, find a clue and work out for myself just what to do.
My teachers set the scene, and stay near-by to help me when I really try.
They are there to pose the problems, and to help me think.
I hope they will keep me floating and never let me sink. All of this is in my head and not in my bag.
It makes me sad to hear you say -

"HAVEN'T YOU DONE ANYTHING TODAY?"

When you attended your meeting today and do your work I will remember not to say to you -

"WHAT DID YOU DO?"

- author unknown

Field Day Pictures

Field Day was a little chilly but the children didn't mind! We had a great time and all felt like we needed a nap afterward! (You can click on any of the pictures to make them larger to see).

Blob Tag!

Cup and Bowl Race!

Tug-o-war!

Ms. Kacee's Class VS. Ms. Jill's Class

3 legged races!

Welcome!

Hello Families! I hope you are all having a great summer! I've created this blog to help keep you up to date about what is going on in your child's classroom. I also hope to be able to share links to fun stuff I find that will help you help you and your child be successful in the Montessori environment. I am new to the blogging world but trying to learn quickly. Please let me know if there is information you would like or questions you may have.  We have a great group of kids! Thanks for sharing them with us!.

Love, Ms. Kacee and Ms. Cindy