Mr. John’s January 2015 Monthly Overview

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Themes of the Week  (in addition to Montessori Work time) 

1/05:     Review of Ground Rules

  • Ringing of the bell, circle walk, line time
  • Process of working with a materials, rolling mats, carrying trays & work areas
  • Respecting teachers, classmates and the materials
  • Grace and Courtesy lessons

 

1/12: Martin Luther King Jr./ Similarities and Differences

  • History of MLK, Rosa Parks.
  • Our similarities and differences (eyes, hair, gender and skin color)
  • MLK/ Rosa Parks skit

 

1/19: Five Senses

  • Monday 1/19- NO SCHOOL (MLK Day)
  • Introduction to the Senses
  • Focus on each Sense throughout the week
  • Activities and experiments to support our knowledge of the senses

 

1/26: Skeletal System

  • Arms, Hands and Fingers
  • Ribs, Pelvis
  • Legs, Feet and Toes

 

Letters of the Week: Try to find objects that begin with each letter wherever you go with your child.

1/05: Nn

1/12: Oo

1/19: Pp

1/26: Qq

 

Rhyming Words of the Week: Try to find each word in books as you read to your child.

1/05: BOB, fob, gob, job, lob, mob, rob

1/12: BUG, dug, hug, jug, mug, tug

1/29: BUN, fun, nun, run, sun

1/26: BUB, cub, hub, pub, rub, sub

 

Things to do at Home this Month to reinforce our themes:

  • Look for our words of the week when reading a story, cut out pictures beginning with the letters of the week.
  • Play “I Spy” with items beginning with the letter of the week, or find things around your home that begin with the letter of the week.
  • Talk about what makes you the same and different from your child. Do you have the same hair and eye color? If not, where did they get their eye color from?
  • Take turns trying to write your name on a piece of paper blindfolded. Wow! We appreciate the sense of sight!
  • Quiz your child about the different bones of the body, see if they can point to where their Femur is or tell you what their Phalanges are.

 

Ms. Kate’s January 2015 Monthly Overview

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Themes of the Week (in addition to Montessori Work Time)

1/5: Whales

  • Facts about Whales and different types of Whales
  • Create a Whale Chart
  • How do Whale’s float? “Staying Afloat” Science experiment on density

Afternoon group lesson:
All about the artic: Various crafts, location of the artic on the map, its inhabitants and arctic resources. 


1/12: History of Martin Luther King Jr.

  • Similarities and Differences(hair color, eye color, likes, dislikes)
  • Egg experiment (brown egg vs. white egg) discuss their differences on the outside– discover how they are the same on the inside.

Afternoon group lesson:
Variety of crafts and activities to learn more about MLK JR. 


1/19: Polar Pals

  • Monday 1/19 ‐NO SCHOOL (MLK Day)
  • The Arctic Climate, Map of the Arctic
  • Exploring the worlds of the Polar Bear, Seal and Walrus.

Afternoon group lesson:
All about hibernation: information, activities, and crafts to teach us about hibernation.


1/26: Penguins

  • Facts about Penguins, why don’t they fly?
  • How Penguins communicate
  • Where Penguins live

Afternoon group lesson:
All about snow: how snow is formed, different activities, crafts and science experiments to help us learn about snow.


Letters of the Week: Try to find objects that begin with each letter wherever you go with your child.

  • 1/05: Nn

  • 1/12: Oo

  • 1/19: Pp
  • 1/28: Qq

Sight Words of the Week: Try to find each word in books as you read to your child.

  • 1/05: am

  • 1/12: go

  • 1/19: at
  • 1/26: they

Things to do at Home this Month to reinforce our themes:

  • While reading a book have your child point to all of the letter of the week she/he can find. Have them do this with the sight words as well.
  • Play I‐Spy using things that only start with the letter of the week/ sight words.
  • Go on a whale hunt! Draw whales or print out whale pictures and hide them around your house. Have your child count out how many whales they have found, or place them in different categories.
  • While reading to your child have him/her pick out the sight word “am.”
  • Go outside in the snow, fill a spray bottle with food coloring and water. Have your child spray out the letters and sight words we have been talking about all month. Also your child can create an Alaska theme using seals, polar bears, walruses, and penguins.

 

Ms. Kristen January 2015 Monthly Overview

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Themes of the Week  (in addition to Montessori Work time)

1/5:        Ground Rules Review

  • Care of The Environment-Rolling a rug, tucking in a chair, etc.
  • Grace and Courtesy-How to greet another, how to get a friends attention, how to say please and thank you, etc.
  • Reviewing Classroom Rules and Manners
  • Friendship Game- The children will guess who’s voice they hear to practice listening.
  • Reviewing kind words and phrases.

 

1/12:     Peace Makers

  • Maria Montessori-Her life, mission, and how she was a peacemaker.
  • Mother Theresa- Her life, mission, and how she was a peacemaker.
  • Martin Luther King-His life, mission, and how he was a peacemaker.
  • Discussing how we are also able to be peacemakers.
  • Dicussing how to build each other up. Introducing a sand sculpture making activities which will teach how to give compliments

 

1/19:     Art Appreciation

  • Monday 1/19- NO SCHOOL (MLK Day)
  • Painting-Discuss the medium of painting.
  • Sculpting-Discuss the medium of sculpting.
  • Drawing-Discuss the medium of drawing.
  • Photography-Discuss the medium of photography
  • Discussing colors and how they are used in different mediums of art.

    

1/26:     The Five Senses

  • Learning about our sense of hearing and about the different  parts of the ear.
  • Learning about our sense of taste and the different parts of the tongue.
  • Learning about our sense of touch.
  • Learning about our sense of smell. Discussing how our nose functions.

 

Letters of the Week: Try to find objects that begin with each letter wherever you go with your child.

1/5: Nn

1/12: Vv

1/20: Uu

1/26: Xx

 

Sight Words of the Week: Try to find each word in books as you read to your child.

1/5: Nut

1/12: Vet

1/20: Up

1/26: Box

 

Things to do at Home this Month to reinforce our themes:

  • Practice using “Please” and “Thank You” at home with your child, especially at play time or at the dinner table
  • Take a trip to the Akron Art Museum or Cleveland Museum of Art as a family. Discuss the colors and the different mediums of art used. The Akron Art Museum has many family activities throughout the year, check out their calendar!
  • Discuss with your child who their favorite peace maker is they learned about in class. Discuss with your child how they can be a peace maker at home.

December 2014 Monthly Overview | Tallmadge Campus

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Our Academic Enrichment time is daily from 12:00-1:00pm.  This time is specifically designed for our Kindergarten students to join together as a group to work and progress through the advanced materials and lessons in the Montessori primary curriculum. Throughout the school day in their classroom they are still working individually with their classroom teacher on these and other materials at their level.

12/1: Use of a Ruler

  • Inches and Centimeters
  • Measuring with a ruler– practice with many different objects
  • Recording measurements


12/8-12/19: Christmas Program

  • We will be taking time with the children to practice and prepare for the Christmas Show.

12/21—1/4       Christmas Break—School Resumes Monday, January 5th

Synonyms of the week

12/1: NO, negative, never, nay, nope, nix
12/8: HAPPY, glad, cheerful, content, jolly, pleased, joyful, ecstatic

Things to do at home this month to reinforce our themes:

  • Bake holiday treats together.
  • Make homemade ornaments and festive decorations together.
  • Watch classic winter and Christmas movies together.
  • Go caroling as a family.
  • Volunteer at a homeless shelter as a family.
  • Play outside as a family and enjoy the winter weather.

December 2014 Monthly Overview | Cuyahoga Falls Campus

Written by

Our Academic Enrichment time is daily from 12:00-1:00pm.  This time is specifically designed for our Kindergarten students to join together as a group to work and progress through the advanced materials and lessons in the Montessori primary curriculum. Throughout the school day in their classroom they are still working individually with their classroom teacher on these and other materials at their level.

12/01:  Parts of a Animals

  • Parts of a mammal, amphibian, and bird
  • Parts of a reptile and fish
  • Working with animal puzzles and control charts

12/08:  Parts of Arachnids/Insects

  • Parts of a spider
  • Parts of a wasp

12/15:    Use of a Ruler

  • Inches and Centimeters
  • Measuring with a ruler– practice with many different objects
  • Recording measurements


12/21—1/4       Christmas Break—School Resumes Monday, January 5th

 

Things to do at home this month to reinforce our themes:

  • Practice measuring different objects at home and recording those measurements.

Mr. John will be sending homework home to reinforce these lessons. Please turn homework into the orange box outside of Mr. John’s classroom.  Please email him if you have any questions: jkotradi@thesmarterkids.com.

Ms. Kate’s December 2014 Monthly Overview

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Themes of the Week (In addition to Montessori Work Time)

12/01 Christmas around the World

  • Taking a look at the Christmas traditions in Mexico, France, Germany, Italy, and England
  • The legend of the Poinsettia, tradition of the Christmas Tree, Le Reveillon (traditional Christmas Eve meal) and many other traditions.
  • How to say “Merry Christmas” in different languages

Afternoon group lesson: Ms. Ashley will be offering crafts, games and activities to enhance the children’s understanding of traditions around the world.

12/08 All about giving.

  • This week we will be doing a variety of activities that teach the children about the act
  • of giving. These activities include: wants vs. needs collage, a giving circle time
  • activity, the construction on a “lovie” blanket and sending it to Children’s Hospital,
  • talking about the importance of donations and lastly, we will be writing and drawing
  • letters to send to a nursing home.

Afternoon group lesson: Ms. Ashley will be providing a variety of holiday crafts.

12/15 Holiday Crafts

  • We have planned fun Christmas themed crafts and activities (Letters to Santa, Gingerbread houses, Reindeer hats and much more!)
  • Ashley will be focusing on making holiday ornaments, telling classic Christmas stories, and having fun at movie & PJ day!

 

Christmas Show Rehearsal (not a dress rehearsal)
Wednesday, December 17th 6:00– 7:00pm
Cuyahoga Falls Hgh School
431 Stow Ave. Cuyahoga Falls, OH  44221

Christmas Show
December 19th 6:30pm
Cuyahoga Falls High School
431 Stow Ave. Cuyahoga Falls, OH  44221

 **  All students arrive by 6:00pm
** Doors will open at 6:00pm

 

12/22—
1/4 Christmas Break—School Resumes Monday January 5th

 

Things to do at Home this Month to reinforce our themes:

  • Make cookies together. Deliver them to your friends, families and neighbors.
  • Practice the spirit of giving or donation.
  • Sing Christmas Songs together!

Ms. Courtney’s December 2014 Monthly Overview

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Themes of the week for the month of December ( in addition to Montessori Work time)

12/1- 12/19: Christmas Program

  • We will be taking time in the morning and afternoon to practice for our Christmas Show!
  • We have fun Christmas themed crafts and activities planned for our students!

Christmas Show Rehearsal (not a dress rehearsal)
Wednesday, December 17th 6:00– 7:00pm
Cuyahoga Falls Hgh School
431 Stow Ave. Cuyahoga Falls, OH  44221

Christmas Show
December 19th 6:30pm
Cuyahoga Falls High School
431 Stow Ave. Cuyahoga Falls, OH  44221

**  All students arrive by 6:00pm
** Doors will open at 6:00pm

 

Christmas/Winter Crafts and Baking

  • The children will be enjoying the holiday spirit by doing a lot of fun crafts and baking.
  • The children will be making holiday rice krispie treats together.
  • The children will be making a snow globe.
  • The children will be making sock snowman.
  • The children will be making reindeer out of their hands and feet.
  • The children will be making Christmas trees out of popsicle sticks.

 12/20—1/4         Christmas Break—School Resumes Monday January 5th

 

Things to do at home this month to reinforce our themes:

  • Bake holiday treats together.
  • Make homemade ornaments and festive decorations together.
  • Watch classic winter and Christmas movies together.
  • Go caroling as a family.
  • Volunteer at a homeless shelter as a family.
  • Play outside as a family and enjoy the winter weather.

Mr. John’s December 2014 Monthly Overview

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Themes of the Week  (in addition to Montessori Work time)

12/1—12/19  Christmas Show Practice

  • We will be taking time in the morning and afternoon to practice for our Christmas Show!
  • We have fun Christmas themed crafts and activities planned for our students!

Christmas Show Rehearsal (not a dress rehearsal)
December 17th 6:00– 7:00pm
Cuyahoga Falls High School
431 Stow Ave. Cuyahoga Falls, OH  44221

Christmas Show
December 19th 6:30pm
Cuyahoga Falls High School
431 Stow Ave. Cuyahoga Falls, OH  44221

 **  All students arrive by 6:00pm
** Doors will open at 6:00pm

 

12/22—1/4       Christmas Break—School Resumes Monday January 5th

 

Things to do at home this month to reinforce our themes:

  • Help prepare your child by talking with them about being on stage, how excited you will be to see them, and what to expect. Invite your family and friends, there will be plenty of seats!  You won’t want to miss this event, see you there!

 

Ms. Kristen’s December 2014 Monthly Overview

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Themes of the Week  (in addition to Montessori Work time)

12/1:       Weather

  • Why does it snow? Why does it rain?
  • Charting weather.
  • Conduct experiment about rain, using cotton balls.
  • Discuss dangerous types of weather, such as tornados, thunderstorm, etc.
  • Discuss how we dress for certain types of weather.

12/8:       Parts of the Orchestra

  • Learning about the Woodwind, Brass, String, and Percussion sections of the Orchestra
  • What is the job of the Conductor?
  • Listening to performances by famous instrumentalists.
  • Making our own guitars and making our own flutes

12/15:    Holiday Symbols

  • All about Poinsettias
  • All about Reindeer
  • All about Evergreens
  • All about Candy Canes
  • Learn parts of the Reindeer and Poinsettia
     

Christmas Show Rehearsal (not a dress rehearsal)
Wednesday, December 17th 6:00– 7:00pm
Cuyahoga Falls Hgh School
431 Stow Ave. Cuyahoga Falls, OH  44221

Christmas Show
December 19th 6:30pm
Cuyahoga Falls High School
431 Stow Ave. Cuyahoga Falls, OH  44221

**  All students arrive by 6:00pm
** Doors will open at 6:00pm

 

Letters of the Week: Try to find objects that begin with each letter wherever you go with your child.

12/1: Ll
12/8: Ff
12/15: Dd

Sight Words of the Week: Try to find each word in books as you read to your child.

12/1: Let
12/8: Fit
12/15: Dog

Things to do at Home this Month to reinforce our themes:

  • Listen to classical music together as a family. Discuss the different instruments you hear.
  • Look up the weather forecast for the week together as a family.
  • Involve your child in making Christmas cookies, or in planning your Christmas dinner.
  • While decorating your Christmas Tree, discuss with your child what they remembered learning about the Evergreen, and why it is a symbol of the Holiday Season.

November 2014 Monthly Overview | Cuyahoga Falls Campus

Written by

Our Academic Enrichment time is daily from 12:00-1:00pm.  This time is specifically designed for our Kindergarten students to join together as a group to work and progress through the advanced materials and lessons in the Montessori primary curriculum. Throughout the school day in their classroom they are still working individually with their classroom teacher on these and other materials at their level.

11/03:     Telling Time to the minute

  • Review previous lessons on telling time
  • Introduction to the minute
  • Flashcards, Clock & Worksheets

11/10:     Currency/ Coins

  • Monday 11/11 NO SCHOOL/ Teacher In Service Day (Parent//Teacher Conferences All Day 8am-7pm)
  • Introduction to coins (pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters)
  • Identifying coins and amounts
  • Working with coins and worksheets

11/17: Currency

  • Introduction to dollar bills
  • Identifying dollar bills
  • Working with money and worksheets

11/24: Parts of Animals

  • Parts of the mammal, reptile, amphibian,
  • Parts of the bird and fish
  • Working with the animal puzzle and control chart
  • Thanksgiving Feast 11/26th (11:00-12:00pm) 12:00pm Early Dismissal (No Aftercare)
  • Thursday/Friday NO SCHOOL—Enjoy your Thanksgiving Holiday!

Sight Words of the Week: Try to find each word in books as you read to your child.

11/03: how, each
11/10: said, by
11/17: been, down


Synonyms of the Week: Try to find each word in books as you read to your child.

11/03: OLD, ancient, elderly, used, seasoned, mature
11/10: BIG, vast, gigantic, huge, large, enormous, colossal
11/17: SMALL, tiny, miniature, minute, little, petite,

 Things to do at home this month to reinforce our themes:

  • Look for our words of the week when reading a story, cut out pictures beginning with the letters of the week.
  • Practice telling time on the clock at home. When you sit down to dinner, ask them to tell you what time it is, when they go to bed, have them check the clock.  Have fun with Time!
  • Practice exchanging money with your child. When you go to the store, have them help you pay!

Mr. John will be sending homework home to reinforce these lessons. Please turn homework into the orange box outside of Mr. John’s classroom.  Please email him if you have any questions: jkotradi@thesmarterkids.com.