Line Time: We Are Family! This week we talked about family since this is the season where we usually spend time with family. We talked about moms and dads and that moms and dads had moms and dads that your children call them grandparents. We discussed how moms and dads have brothers and sisters which they call aunts and uncles. We talked about siblings which are bothers and sisters. Then we talked about my favorite relative.. the COUSIN ( I loved hanging out with my cousins!) and how cousins are the children of aunts and uncles. We even discussed if pets are part of the family which received a resounding YES! I am looking forward to seeing the family trees. I am showing my age by the album cover. Circa 1978ish.
A Message From Mr. John:
Let’s be careful out there!
December Birthdays: The Montessori classroom is comprised of 3 year old to 6 year old students. Here are our newest 6 and 4 year old students.
What’s The Diff? What is the difference between bologna and baloney?
Bologna is the name of a city in Italy, pronounced “boh-LOAN-ya.” But although the sausage named after the city in English is spelled the same, it is pronounced “buh-LOAN-ee” and is often spelled baloney. Either spelling is acceptable for the sliced meat product. P.S. I love fried bologna/baloney!!! And yes, I remember this commercial when it first aired! Heavy Sigh…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmPRHJd3uHI
Know Your Languages (Korean):
Cultural Subjects: Your children can now count to ten in 14 languages (English, Latin, Sign Language, Spanish, German, French, Greek, Japanese, Arabic with the Lebanese dialect, Italian, Russian, Romanian, Swedish, Tagalog).
Peek In The Classroom:
She is working on the construction box/geometry found in the sensorial area. The constructive triangles are used to demonstrate that all plane geometric figures can be constructed from triangles.
Practical Life/Everyday Living was developed by Maria Montessori to assist in developing OCCI (order, coordination, concentration, independence). Practical Life/Everyday Living is simply activities suitable for a child that allows the ability to work with a purpose or in a purposeful way to accomplish developing skills.
Introduction to Numerals of the Decimal System is a Montessori Math Early Childhood lesson. Pretty straightforward, the goal of this lesson is to introduce the numerals of the decimal system (units, tens, hundreds, thousands). Notice the symbol and quantity?
Peek Into Next Week: Line Time- Christmas around the world
Letter Of The Week- Giving them a break
Rhyming Word Of The Week- Giving them a break
Next Language is Korean
Upcoming Events: Winter Break: Off from Saturday, December 19, 2020 returning Monday, January 4, 2021 (good riddance to 2020)!
Pajama and Show and Share Day: Friday, December 18th. Details to follow.
Academic Enrichment: Weekly Theme: We learned how to multiple to the thousand static/column without carryovers with manipulatives. I told the students that multiplication is merely adding multiple times. We learned what the multiplicand and multiplier are.
Handwriting: We practiced writing sentences in cursive.
Next Week: Weekly Theme: Measuring with a ruler (in and cm).
Synonym Of The Week: Giving them a break
Sight Words Of The Week: Giving them a break
Friends, Frolic, and Fun:
It’s all about hair fashion.
Day dreaming about Math!
More fun with masks.
The Trinomial Cube has him plum tuckered out.
Your Children Say The Darndedst Things (How I got my scar):
Line Time: Native Americans/Thanksgiving- We talked about Native Americans and how Indians were named Indians. On student informed us that Christopher Columbus landed in North America but thought he was in India. Hence, the name. We talked about how Native Americans were indigenous. Then the Pilgrims came over from Europe on a ship called the Mayflower. The pilgrims had a rough go of it at the beginning because they didn’t have enough blankets or food. They could not just go to Target or Giant Eagle to get supplies because at that time there were just woods and wild life.
A Message From Mr. John (The info/stories that come home):
What’s The Diff?: What is the difference between seeing a concert and seeing a show? I am thinking when you use the term “show” it is a small, intimate venue with about 200 of your closest friends (Musica, Peobody’s Down Under). A concert most likely will be held in a venue about 2,000+ people (Blossom, The Q). As you can tell I like “shows”. These are some pics where I was leaning onto the stage of the last two “shows” I attended. Lol. What was the last thing are you saw, a show or a concert?
Musica located downtown Akron.
Some old, really cool, small hall in Columbus Ohio
Know Your Languages (Hebrew):
Cultural Subjects: Your children can now count to ten in 14 languages (English, Latin, Sign Language, Spanish, German, French, Greek, Japanese, Arabic with the Lebanese dialect, Italian, Russian, Romanian, Swedish, Tagalog)
Peek In The Classroom:
The ever so popular Montessori material called the Color Bead Bars. This is a Math material enforces the relationship between number/symbols and the appropriate quantity.
She is working on the Stamp Game which is a Math material. She is working on multiplication equations that “carry over more than once” for example (7×5).
This student is working on the Trinomial Cube. As with all Montessori sensorial materials, the Trinomial Cube has both a direct and an indirect purpose. The direct purpose of the Trinomial Cube is for the child to practice the steps to properly disassemble and build the cube, while refining dexterity and visual acuity.
This student is working on a sorting work which can be found in the Practical Life or Sensorial area. Maria Montessori’s sensorial work uses “sorting” in specific ways that work to use all of the child’s senses, one at a time, in order to refine them. The goal is to train the brain to create more organized thoughts and ways of retrieving information.
Peek Into Next Week: Line Time- Thanksgiving
Letter Of The Week- M m
Rhyming Word Of The Week- bop
Next Language is Hebrew
**Did you noticed that the letter of the week and rhyming word of the week are Mm Bop!**
I couldn’t resist, lol
Upcoming Events: Thanksgiving Break: We are off Wednesday November 25th and returning Monday November 30.
Academic Enrichment: Weekly Theme: We learned how to multiple to the thousand static/column without carryovers with manipulatives. I told the students that multiplication is merely adding multiple times. We learned what the multiplicand and multiplier are.
Strike a pose.
Handwriting: We practiced writing sentences in cursive.
Next Week: Weekly Theme: Multiplication with manipulatives
Synonym Of The Week:
Sight Words Of The Week:
Friends, Frolic, and Fun:
I told them they need flat heads to balance the books on their head.
Matching lanyards
I heard “I have a bear on my butt” and this is what I see.
I asked her to get the book titled “Red Hen” and she comes back with this. She thought it was sooooooo funny!
Your kids Say The Darndest Things (Why I Like Cats): Follow the link to get to a child talking about cats. Maybe you do not have to follow the link, lol.
Line Time: Dinosaurs- We traveled back in time and discovered some fascinating things about certain dinosaurs. We learned that dinosaurs no longer exist and that they are extinct. We know dinosaurs exist because scientist found their bones or fossils. From these fossil we saw that some teeth were long and sharp to tear flesh from it’s prey which belonged to meat eaters or carnivores (T Rex). Some teeth were flat for grinding plants, leaves, and branches and belonged to plant eaters or herbivores (Brachiosauras).
Who remembers Dinosaurs? Not the Momma!
Did You Know: Catsup and Ketchup are two different spellings of the same condiment. These words have the same meanings and are simply alternate spellings. Therefore, both are correct. Catsup is a condiment and is the less popular spelling. Ketchup is also a condiment and is the more popular spelling, which, today, is a westernized version of a condiment first introduced to European traders in the late 17th century. Ketchupwas originally a paste made from fermented fish guts (yes, it’s come a long way).
Message From Mr. John (your children are cute):
Cultural Subjects: Your children can now count to ten in 13 languages (English, Latin, Sign Language, Spanish, German, French, Greek, Japanese, Arabic with the Lebanese dialect, Italian, Russian, Romanian, Swedish).
Know Your Languages (Tagalog):
Peek In The Classroom:
This student is working on the Leaf Puzzle. The purpose of Montessori Botany puzzle is to increase their power of observation and knowledge in nature, also illustrates the component parts of a plant. It helps the child to learn basic anatomy of a leaf. Its wooden knob on each component of the leaf puzzle makes it easy to hold and can be used with many activities such as tracing or matching with cards. The knobs also strengthen her pinscher grip/fine motor skills.
She is working on the Movable Alphabet. The key purpose of the Moveable Alphabet is to prepare children for writing, reading, and spelling. The child’s use of the material progresses from single words, to phrases, and eventually to stories. In this way, the Moveable Alphabet teaches children how to symbolize their own thoughts, and begin to write creatively.
This student is working on the Nine Tray and composing numbers. She will learn to compose numbers from 1 to 9,999. This, yet again, supports the correlation between the quantity and symbol of numbers.
This girl is working on her phonics work book to support her reading and understanding of pronunciation of words.
Peek Into Next Week: Line Time- Pilgrims, Thanksgiving
Letter Of The Week- M m
Rhyming Word Of The Week- bop
Next Language is Tagalog
Academic Enrichment:
One uncooperative kindergarten student. Wouldn’t this be a great album cover?
Weekly Theme: This week the kindergarten students did addition with carry overs (dynamic)/carry overs in multiple columns/with empty columns using the manipulatives of the Golden Beads and Stamp Game.
Handwriting: We practiced writing full sentences in cursive.
Next Week: Weekly Theme: Multiplication with Golden Beads
Synonym Of The Week: SMALL, tiny, miniature, minute, little, petite
Sight Words Of The Week:been down
Upcoming Events: Thanksgiving Break: We are off Wednesday November 25th and returning Monday November 30.
Friends, Frolic, and Fun:
The mysterious medical condition of Raspberry Fingers.
Eating cheese like a champ!
Sing of the times. A student helping take temperatures.
Line Time: This week we learned about insects and arachnids. Creepy Crawly, creepy crawly creepy creep creepy crawly (reminds me of The Who song, Boris The Spider). When we went over the five animals all of them were vertebrates (having a backbone and spine) but looking at Insects and arachnids they were invertebrates (no back bone or spine). Most had what we call an exoskeleton which is the skeleton is on the outside. This gives the creature support and protection. We learned insects have a head, thorax, and abdomen, six legs, and two antennae. We sang the characteristics of an insect to the tune of Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes. Some insects are ants, bees, and butterflies. Arachnids have a head and abdomen, and eight legs. Some examples of arachnids are spiders, scorpions, ticks and mites.
Who is afraid of a little spider?:
NOT THIS GIRL!
Did You Know: Since it is the season… Did you know there is a difference between apple juice and apple cider? Here is the explanation. Apple cider is made from apples that are washed, cut and ground into an “apple mash” similar to applesauce. The mash is then wrapped in cloth and pressed into fresh juice. On the other hand, apple juice undergoes filtration to remove pulp and is then pasteurized to extend the shelf life. I am not sure how hard apple cider is made.
Message From Mr. John (Spunk):
November Birthdays: A Montessori classroom consists of students ranging in age from three years to six years. Here are our newest four and five year old students.
Cultural Subjects: Your children can now count to ten in 12 languages (English, Latin, Sign Language, Spanish, German, French, Greek, Japanese, Arabic with the Lebanese dialect, Italian, Russian, Romanian).
Know Your Languages (Swedish):
Peek In The Classroom:
My newest reader!!!!! There is no better feeling for a teacher than to experience a child reading for the first time.
These bead bars with their characteristic colors are used to learn countless math concepts from basic counting and identifying the correlation between symbol and quantity to skip counting, to addition, to multiplication, and even to the squaring and cubing of numbers. This boy is now working on counting and finding the correct number for the corresponding Color Bead Bar.
Remember my explanation of extensions in the Montessori Classroom? No? here it is again…The Montessori extension lessons help the child to have further experience with the concepts of the materials. Often times the extension activity draws the child towards a more abstracted view of the original concrete concept that was introduced. This boy found he can stagger the blocks and keep the original aim by stacking from biggest to smallest. He discovered this all on his own.
These girls are working with Color Box 4 and the aim is to grade the colors from darkest to lightest. The child is learning precise refinement. There are subtle differences between some of the shades and tint and even between colors at the lightest or darkest levels. These differences matter and reinforces visual discrimination which helps in identifying and distinguishing symbols such as 6/9, 3/8, b/d, q/p…
Thanksgiving Break: We are off Wednesday November 25th and returning Monday November 30.
Academic Enrichment: Weekly Theme: This week the K-kids did addition with carry overs (Dynamic) using the manipulatives of the Golden Beads. Did you know the two numbers added together are called addends and the answer is called the sum?
I did ask for goofy!
Handwriting: We practiced writing in cursive words: cat, bed, wig, mop, tub
Next Week: Weekly Theme: Addition with other materials
Synonym Of The Week: BIG, vast, gigantic, huge, large, enormous, colossal
Sight Words Of The Week:said by
More tracking the growth of roots. We did discover that five more roots sprouted and the existing roots grew longer. No more leaves appeared but we are confident that new leaves will grow.
Friends, Frolic, and Fun:
S squared
Boy Buddies!
Posing for the camera.
Geez, Mr. John let me get back to work.
Your Children say The Darndest Things (Gone Fishin): Follow the link….
Line Time: Birds- We ended our journey of studying animals with the bird. We learned birds are vertebrates and are warm-blooded, which means that they can make their own body heat even when it is cold outside. Whether it is sunny and hot outside or there is a snowstorm and it is very cold, warm-blooded animals have body temperatures that usually stay the same. They are born from hard shelled eggs and have feathers. A lot of birds fly but some do not. The flightless birds are the ostrich and penguin. We are not sure if chickens fly.
Below are Foghorn Leghorn and Eggburt Jr…. Iah say, Iah say that boy aint right.
Speaking Words Of Wisdom… (from Mr. John): Have you ever gone out and had toothpaste on your face and clothes? Of course you have. My advice is to brush your teeth right before hopping in the shower. No toothpaste on your face and certainly no toothpaste on your clothes. Problem solved!
Message From Mr. John (Short look at my philosophy in the classroom):
Know your Languages (Romanian):
Cultural Subjects: Your children can now count to ten in 11 languages (English, Latin, Sign Language, Spanish, German, French, Greek, Japanese, Arabic with the Lebanese dialect, Italian, Russian).
Halloween Party:
Halloween Bingo!
Cookie decorating.
Peek In The Classroom:
These two girls found the relationship between two materials found in the Sensorial area (Knobbed Cylinders and Knobbless Cylinders). They found the relationship of diameter and height. They were pretty proud of themselves by the looks of the high five that is about to happen.
These rods may seem familiar to you and they should if you’ve ever seen the Red Rods. They are exactly the same except for one feature: alternating blue and red segments. The child will typically work with the Number Rods after mastering the Red Rods. If you recall, the Red Rods help establish visual discrimination of length. The Number Rods are a natural progression, naming the quantity shown on each Number Rod with red and blue demarcations. The aim of the Number Rods is to associate the written symbol with the right quantity and to be able to build rods and/or numbers 1-10. Building up the different combinations to 10 gives an indirect preparation for addition. The taking away of rods gives the impression of subtraction.
These girls are working on the equations (The Stamp Game) I have assigned. The Montessori Math Stamp Game lesson comes at the end of place value and decimal system work. The goal is to reinforce the four operations introduced with the Golden Beads but in a more abstract way. The work is familiar to them, but different enough to keep it interesting and intriguing.
She is working on the Ten Board which is a Math material. Before she composed only “tens” but now she is adding “units”. This strengthens the correlation between quantity (colored beads) and symbols (numbers) from 11 to 99.
Peek Into Next Week: Line Time- Insects, Arachnids, Invertebrates
Letter Of The Week- K k
Rhyming Word Of The Week- ox
Next Language is Romanian
Academic Enrichment aka Kindergarten: This week we started our journey into MATH…. EEEEK! We started out by composing numbers with beads and symbols then worked our way into doing addition with manipulatives with the nine tray.
I don’t even know what to say about this picture. lol
Handwriting: We practiced writing in cursive vowel blends of Ua ua, Ue ue, Ui ui, Uo uo, Uu uu
Next Week: Weekly Theme: Addition manipulatives (Dynamic/Carry Overs)
Synonym Of The Week: OLD: ancient, elderly, used, seasoned, mature
Line Time: Fish- We learned fish are vertebrates or they have a backbone or a spine. They are cold blooded (their body temperature changes to the temperature around them) and have slimy and scaly skin. The unique thing about fish is that some fish are born alive and some fish are born with jelly eggs. Some examples of fish are Trout, Bass, Sharks, and Swordfish. And one more important point is that fish live in water.
Did you know? Since we are in the thick of things with COVID-19 let’s talk about sneezes. Sneezes travel at about 100 miles per hour and that a single sneeze can send 100,000 germs into the air. Also when a person sneezes you should tell them “You are sooo good lookin” Who knows this reference?
Message From Mr. John (Smilin’ John):
Cultural Subjects: Your children can now count to ten in 10 languages (English, Latin, Sign Language, Spanish, German, French, Greek, Japanese, Arabic with the Lebanese dialect, Italian)
Know Your Languages (Russian):
Academic Enrichment aka Kindergarten: This week we talked about the parts of plants, arachnids, and insects.
I asked the boys to kneel and this is what I got.
Since we talked about Arachnids I decided to give an impromptu visit to the classrooms with Charlotte. The students loved it. The staff….. well not so much as I was confronted with “concerned” teachers, screaming and running down the hall (literally with both), and some salty language thrown at me. Its just like a hamster with 8 legs, right?
Handwriting: This week we practiced writing cursive vowel blends Oa oa, Oe oe, Oi oi, Oo oo, Ou ou
Next Week: Weekly Theme: MATH- GULP! Addition with beads
Synonym Of The Week: NEW, novel, fresh, original, unique, current, unused
Sight Words Of The Week: use your
Peek In The Classroom:
This girl is working on a pre reading work using three word/short vowel sounds exercise.
This boy is working on the 100 board which is a math activity. Around three or four years of age, depending on how quickly the child has grasped the concept of counting to 100 we introduce the 100 board. This work helps them to understand number order.
She is working on the 10 board which is found in the math area. This teaches a child to associate the quantities and symbols from 10 to 90 using the tens bead bars. The child explores the number names of the tens and then sequence of numbers 11–99.
This boy is working on the red rods found in the sensorial area. The direct purpose of the red rods is to develop the child’s visual and muscular perception of length and eventually using the math counter part the number rods.
Line Time: Amphibians- This week we looked at the Amphibian. We talked about how the Amphibians are vertebrates, cold blooded (the body temperature changes to the temperature that surrounds the amphibian), their skin is soft and moist, and they are born from jelly eggs. Some examples of Amphibians are toads, frogs, and salamanders. We learned that the term amphibian means of two worlds. Amphibians are born in the water but live their life on land. Below is the lesser know frog from the English cartoon Danger Mouse named Baron Silas Greenback.
A Message From Mr. John:
Cultural Subjects: Your children can now count to ten in 12 languages (English, Latin, Sign Language, Spanish, German, French, Greek, Japanese, Arabic with the Lebanese dialect).
Peek In The Classroom:
This student is using the golden beads to compose numbers from 1 to 9,999. The purpose of this is to make the child familiar with the different categories of numbers, especially with regard to reading the symbols. Also, to give the child the wording of large numbers. This material enforces the correlation between symbol and quantity.
She is being introduced to the beginning of the decimal system. The small bead is referred to as “unit.” After the child feels and names the unit, they will set it aside to explore the 10 bar. I may ask the child to count the units in the 10 bar with them, “How many units are there?” After counting to ten, you can then name the 10 bar. “We call this…ten”. They move on to the hundred square and thousand cube. An important aspect of the Intro Tray is allowing the child to feel the dimensions, weight, and size difference of each quantity. The unit feels very different than the 1 thousand cube!
This material focuses on the short vowel sounds/three letter words. The student matches words with pictures and match words to words. This work helps the student prepare for reading.
These girls are working on the Sensorial work called the sound cylinders. This Montessori material helps a child refine his or her auditory senses in a controlled and engaging way. The material isolates six different sounds identified shaking cylinders and matching their sounds. This enhances the skill of auditory discrimination which is needed for letter sound recognition.
This child created an extension with the Pink Tower and Brown Stair and used the material as a balance beam (I wasn’t thrilled with her stepping on the material) but I let her due to movement is essential in the Montessori classroom. The Montessori environment gives the children an opportunity to learn as they are moving. When the child is moving while they are learning the chiild will retain the information easier. The movement is also important for the physical growth of a child. Their bodies are growing and need to move throughout the day.
Peek Into Next Week: Line Time- Fish
Letter Of The Week- I i
Rhyming Word Of The Week- bin
Next Language is Italian
Academic Enrichment: Weekly Theme: This week we looked at the five animals which are mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and birds. Look at the fancy dancy chart showing what makes that certain animal that certain animal.
Handwriting: We practiced writing in cursive vowel blends of Ea ea, Ee ee, Ei ei, Eo eo, Eu eu.
Kindergarten Plant Tracking:
We are tracking the growth of the roots for the next couple weeks. She observed the start of root growth.
Next Week: Weekly Theme: Parts Of plants, Arachnids, and Insects
Synonym Of The Week: Cold:freezing, chilly, frigid, frozen, cool
Sight Words Of The Week: she were
Upcoming Events: Halloween Party: Friday, October 30 ** Putting a bug in your ear. Email coming. **
Zoom Parent/Teacher Conferences- Friday, November 13 ** Details coming soon. Really they are **
Line Time: Reptiles- This week we learned about reptiles and what makes a reptile a reptile. Reptiles are vertebrates, cold blooded (body temperature changes to the temperature around them), they are born from hard shelled eggs and their skin is dry, with scales. Some examples of reptiles are snakes, turtles, and lizards. Below was my childhood Saturday TV entertainment.
Oh, no, they say he’s got to go. Go, go, Godzilla! Oh, no, there goes Tokyo Go, go, Godzilla!
Who is afraid of snakes?
Not these children!
Did you know? Does hot water freeze faster than cold water? This is known as the Mpemba effect. … Evaporation is the strongest candidate to explain the Mpemba effect. As hot water is placed in an open container the water begins to cool, the overall mass decreases as some of the water evaporates. With less water to freeze, the process can take less time. My thoughts is that it is a misnomer due to less ice is produced. But who am I to say?
A Challenge From Mr. John:
Cultural Subjects: Your children can now count to ten in 11 languages (English, Latin, Sign Language, Spanish, German, French, Greek, Japanese).
October Birthdays:
A Montessori classroom prides itself on a mixed aged classroom of ages between 2 1/2 and 6. Here is our newest 4 year old student.
Peek In The Classroom:
The Number Rods help children learn the names of numbers and their sequence and learn to correctly associate between the spoken number and its quantity. Children grow to understand that each rod represents a unique quantity and that each number is represented by a single object as a whole, separate from others.
She is working on the material found in the language area called Pink Rhyming. This material focuses on words with short vowel sounds /three letters. The ability to rhyme is a sign your child has an understanding of phonemic awareness.
This student is working with the sandpaper letters. The aim for this material is to teach the child the sounds of the alphabet by means of muscular and visual memory. The child is encouraged to trace the symbol over and over again until the shape of the letter becomes a part of the child’s muscle memory.
This student is really focusing on the Cards and Counters which is a math activity. The Cards and Counters bring an abstract and concrete concept to this math activity. The cards and counters reinforces the knowledge that each number is made up of separate quantities. The child will see the sequence of numbers and how many separate units go to form each number.
Peek Into Next Week: Line Time- Amphibians
Letter Of The Week- H h
Rhyming Word Of The Week- bit
Next Language is Arabic with the Lebanese Dialect
Academic Enrichment: Weekly Theme: We looked at ten different land forms. We looked at the pairings of islands and lakes, bays and capes, peninsulas and gulfs, and chain of lakes and archipelago.
Handwriting: We practiced writing in cursive Aa, Ae, Ai, Ao, Au
Next Week: Weekly Theme: Parts Of Animals
Synonym Of The Week: HOT:burning, scorching, blazing, boiling, sizzling
Sight Words Of The Week: for with
Upcoming Events: Picture Day- Wednesday, October 14th
