A Peek at Our Week | Elementary | Week of September 9

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“The hands are the instruments of man’s intelligence.” – Maria Montessori

At “Back to School Night,” parents had the opportunity to write down questions they had about the Montessori Philosophy or about our Elementary program. One of the questions asked was, “What materials made by Montessori are still being used today?” Surprisingly, the answer is almost all of them. While Montessori companies have continued to improve upon her designs, most of the Elementary Montessori works were invented by Dr. Montessori and her son, Mario, in the early 1910s. Below you will find photos from Montessori’s book, The Montessori Elementary Material, which you can read for free through the Gutenburg Project here, and explanations of how we use those materials!

This is a Grammar Box, which we still use daily! The Grammar Box helps students recognize different parts of speech and their functions in a sentence. Understanding parts of speech leads to greater comprehension and better writing skills. Recent studies have proven that learning grammar using color coded material and symbols is the most effective method and Montessori had this idea a century ago!
Here you will see our Bead Bars and Multiplication Bead Board. Both materials encourage students to notice relationships between numbers to memorize their number facts while fully understanding what the equation really means. Coming to a realization about number families, instead of being told their relationship, leads to deeper understanding and confidence.
Here a student is using the “Racks and Tubes” or “Test Tube Division.” This material allows students to understand the process of long division with manipulatives before seeing how to complete it on paper. As with the previous math work, physically manipulating numbers gives students a deeper understanding of how the process of division works. Students work with this material first, then with this material and paper, then moving towards paper only when they are ready.

Lower Elementary by Ms. Marlee

Our Elementary students complete a journal every Monday about any topic of their choosing. One third grade student asked another third grader if she could interview her this week. This is a wonderful opportunity for students to get to know one another while working on their communication and listening skills.
This second grader is working on the Division Bead Board. While practicing this work, students become familiar with the ways in which numbers can be divided. Some dividends are evenly divisible while others are not. This work also helps them come to understand the relationship between multiplication and division. This work is closely related to the Multiplication Bead Board shown above!

Upper Elementary by Ms. Ashley

This fifth year student is researching the multiples of nine to find the rule for divisibility of nine. This student caught on to the rule that the units place in the multiple was going down one, while the tens place in the multiple was going up one! Another student noticed that if you add the digits of the multiples together, you will get a sum of 9!
These students built “The Table of Pythagoras” using a lot of communication and teamwork! “The Table of Pythagoras” is a geometric representation of a multiplication table. If you are as interested as I was, here is a very brief history of the multiplication table (scroll to “History” section).

Enrichments by Ms. Erica

Upper Elementary had a lot of fun singing popular pop songs in music class. They are excited to show off their new tunes at Grandparents Day.

REMINDERS:

  • For information on what your child is doing daily, please check in on Transparent Classroom!
  • Ramseyer Field Trip Forms are due TODAY, September 13.
  • Ramseyer Trip for First and Second Year students – September 20
  • Typing lessons begin Friday, September 27. We could use more parent volunteers to continue to make typing classes possible. Please sign up here if you are interested in supervising!

Peek In Our Week *** Mr. John’s Classroom *** Week Of September 2nd, 2019

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Line Time:
Ground Rules redux (I think that is a French term. hehe)….   Not really redux because we added more things such as RESPECT! and social responsibility.  Your children are catching on very quickly which makes Ms. Tonya, Ms. Kelley, and Mr. John very happy people.  We are pleasantly surprised how your children are sitting nicely on line time for over 30 minutes and how the were engaged in work throughout the morning.  Our classroom is “peaceful and productive.”  That says a lot for only being the second week of school.  I just want reiterate the teachers have some part in this behavior but it is your children that are “catching on”.  This is a good start, to a good year with GREAT children!

September Birthdays:
A Montessori classroom is comprised of students aging from 2.5 years to 6 years of age.  Here are the two newest four year old students. 

   

 

Cultural Subjects:
Your children can now count to ten in 5 languages (English, Latin, Sign Language, Spanish, German)

Mr. John’s musing:
It is my theory that the world’s problems do not stem from the right, the left, or apathy but instead the decline of the use in “bar soap”.  It just seems to me when liquid soap gained popularity and has taken over every household this world has gotten worse. Coincidence?  I think not!  Have your children even seen “bar soap”?   I’ve been longing for the pungent scent of Irish Spring and the mild scent of Lever 2000. So, I marched to the dollar store and purchased my favorite scents of “bar soap”.  Unfortunately,   My children were not as excited as I was and a bit confused how to use this archaic way of cleansing. In any event, I urge all of you to bring back the use of “bar soap” and make the world a better place. 

 

    

 

 

 Peek In Our Classroom:

This student is working on an animal puzzle. This material helps identify the parts of the animal. In this case it is the horse. Also, the tiny white knobs help with fine motor skills. More importantly, notice the focus he has working on this material.

 

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Take A Peek Into Our Week/Ms.Kate/September 5,2019

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Welcome back everyone!! I can’t believe how fast our first two weeks went by!! Our first week was all about Grace and Courtesy. We learned how to roll and unroll our mats, carry a tray, how to sit in a chair correctly while sitting at the table, opening and closing the door the right way, and lots lots more!! Together we also made our own classroom rules!! This week our theme was Apple’s. Together we learned about the life cycle of the Apple, the different parts of the Apple, different foods you can make with apples, and lots of fun crafts with Ms. Amanda!!!

The Metal Insets are used to help with pencil control, to refine hand movements in preparation for writing.
Our different animal puzzles are designed to stimulate the child’s interest in the natural world and help them identify the animals represented and is a hands on opportunity to learn the anatomical parts of each animal.
The Dressing Frames primary purpose is to teach children how to dress themselves through mastering different clothing fasteners. This process also test’ s a child’s hand eye coordination and fine motor skills, as they work with each material.

Ms.Amanda’s Enrichment Corner!

Today was our first week in art!!! Ms.Dana went over the classrooms expectations and then we got to decorate our name tags. It was super fun!!
This week in science class we each got to help out Mr. John! We added baking soda to a balloon, and then shook it into a bottle full of vinegar. When the vinegar mixed with the baking soda, it blew up the balloon! It was so cool!!

A Peek at Our Week | Ms. Courtney’s Classroom | Week of September 2nd

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Classroom: Community Helpers

This past week we focused on community helpers in honor of Labor Day. The students not only  learned about firefighters, police officers, doctors, nurses, dentists, teachers, veterinarians, construction workers, paramedics, farmers, mail carriers, chefs etc. They also had the opportunity to meet and get to know some of them.

The students and I greatly appreciate those that volunteered their time to come in and speak to us about their careers!

A peek into next week: Family

Kindergarten: Cardinal Directions

This past week the kindergartners learned that the cardinal directions (North, South, East and West) are the most commonly used form of directions. They discovered how to use a compass to find their way and learned that their are also primary inter-cardinal directions (Northeast, Southeast, Southwest and Northwest).

A peek into next week: Equator and Hemispheres

Reminders:

9/2o Ramseyer Farms Field Trip

9/27 Bring Your Parent to Work Time

10/17 Picture Day

Work Time:

Shoe Tying: This child is learning how to care for himself while developing a sense of independence and refining his fine motor skills and coordination of movements to successfully tie a shoe.

Trinomial Cube: This child is learning how to build the trinomial cube, while also getting an introduction into algebra and preparation for the formula a3+3a2b+3a2c+6abc+b3+3ab2+3b2c+3ac2+3bc2+c3.

Snap Frame: This child is learning how to care for herself while developing a sense of independence and refining her fine motor skills and coordination of movements to successfully snap a button.
Brown Stairs: These children are developing their ability to visually discriminate different dimensions to successfully build the brown stairs from largest to smallest.

 

A Peek at Our Week | Elementary | Week of September 3

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Lower Elementary by Ms. Marlee

This first year student is completing the space puzzle from our Geography area. This work introduces students to the names of the planets and helps prepare them for further exploration of our solar system.
This second year student is completing one of the Laws of the Universe experiments. Here, he is experimenting with centrifugal force by swinging a bucket with water in it around his body. As the bucket revolves in a circle, it is pulled away from the center showing centrifugal force in action. Learning the Laws of the Universe helps students to understand their surroundings.

Upper Elementary by Ms. Ashley

This fourth year student practiced adding, subtracting, and multiplying fractions with like denominators. At our Morning Meeting this day we discussed some upcoming lessons and which previous lessons would be great to practice to start out the year on the right foot. This student got right to the works we discussed after our meeting. It is so exciting to see students take ownership over their learning.
One of our team building games this week was a challenge to rotate your members around a circle of pool noodles with only being able to hold onto one pool noodle at a time. The fastest team was the winner. Here you will see an Upper Elementary student walking his team through a game plan. Our Upper Elementary students have had many years of practice leading and participating in discussions. They are often great role models and allow all to have their voice heard.

Enrichments by Ms. Erica

Our students enjoyed creating their name tags in Art Class. They were able to choose from a number of materials to work with when decorating. These name tags will be used in Art Class throughout the year.

REMINDERS:

  • For information on what your child is doing daily, please check in on Transparent Classroom!
  • First and Second Year Parents – please turn in your Ramseyer Permission Slip to the office!
  • Friday, September 20 – Ramseyer Field Trip for first and second years. Dissection at school for third through sixth (no permission slip required)

Academic Enrichment, Cuyahoga Falls Campus, Week Of 9/2/2019

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Weekly Theme:
The Kindergarten Students learned about the Cardinal Directions.  We learned north is always on top, south is always on the bottom, east is always to the right, and west is always to the left.  We went into a bit more detail when using the Cardinal Directions.  In between north and east is called northeast and so on…  We traveled from continent to continent asking what direction we needed to go to get to the appointed continent.

 

 

 

 

 

Meet the 2019/2020 Cuyahoga Falls Kindergarten class.

 

Handwriting:
We practiced writing D d, E e, F f, G g in cursive.

Cultural Subjects:
We now can count to ten in 5 languages (English, Sign Language, Latin, Spanish, German, French, Greek).

Next Week:
Weekly Theme: Hemispheres, Equator, Prime Meridian

Synonym Of The Week:  sad: miserable, gloomy, depressing, downtrodden, glum, unhappy

Sight Words Of The Week: up so

Adding Japanese to the languages

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Peek at Our Week | Ms. Courtney’s Classroom | Week of August 26th

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Classroom: Ground Rules

The first week of school we focused on the ground rules. These are the rules by which the children are able to have the freedom of movement and choice in the classroom. Some examples are: Learning to speak to others. Learning to listen to others. Learning to respectfully interrupt.

A peek into next week: Community Helpers

Kindergarten: Continents

The first week of school the kindergartners learned that there are seven continents (Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe, and Australia). They also learned where they are located on a globe/map and a fun fact about each one. For example Australia is often referred to as “the land down under.”

A peek into next week: Directions

Reminders:

9/2 Labor Day | NO SCHOOL

9/3 Enrichments begin

9/2o Ramseyer Farms Field Trip

Work Time:

Continent Map: this child is very proud of how he traced and labeled all seven continents.
Continent Map: this child is working hard to trace and label all seven continents.
Handwriting: this student has learned the correct stokes to successfully make a lowercase cursive t and is now practicing.
Knobless Cylinder: this child is able to visually discriminate the dimensions of each cylinder to find its correct placement to vertically build largest to smallest.
Balance Board: this child is developing his sense of balance, posture and focus in order to successfully balance on the board.
Loops: this child is developing her fine motor skills, focus and sense of order to successfully stretch the loops around the cylinder.
Digging: this child is enjoying her outside time by digging in the dirt in search for worms and other insects

Academic Enrichment | Cuyahoga Falls Campus | Week Of 8/26/2019

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Weekly Theme:
The first week back to school we looked at the globe of the Earth.  It is in a shape of a sphere.  We noticed the Earth is covered mostly in water but does have land.  The pieces of land are divided and called continents.  There are seven continents and each have a fun fact.  North America is where we live, South America has the Amazon Rain Forest, Europe has many countries, Africa has really cool animals, Asia is the biggest continent, Australia is an island and is called The Land Down Under, and Antarctica is the coldest continent and no humans live there.  We went over what countries are in each continent (except for Antarctica).

 

Handwriting:
We practiced writing A a, B b, C c in cursive.

Cultural Subjects:
We now can count to ten in 5 languages (English, Sign Language, Latin, Spanish, German, and French).

Next Week:
Weekly Theme: Cardinal Directions (N,S,W,E)

Synonym Of The Week:  FAST (hurried, speedy, brisk, quick, swift)

Sight Words Of The Week: will him

Adding French to the languages

Peek In Our Week | Mr. John’s Class | Week Of August 26, 2019

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Line Time:
The opening week is a joy and a challenge all wrapped into one.  I love the fresh start, seeing returning students, and meeting new ones.  The first few weeks of the new school year during line time we go over the rules of the classroom.  We go over our “Big 4” rules… 1.) Walking (No running in the classroom).  Because if you run and fall into a shelf or hit your hear on the concrete floor which will win your head or the shelf? 2.) Use your listening ears.  3.)  Keep your hands and body to yourself.  The one I feel is most important… 4.) Be respectful.  Which simply means be nice to people or treat people how you would like to be treated. We also go over how to carry, roll, and unroll a mat, put our shoes and slippers neatly on the mat (straight, together, and toes touching the wall).  We pick up where we left off with the returning students with lessons and evaluate and access where the new students are.

I do have to say that the first week went very smoothly.  I need to thank Kelley and Tonya for their years of experience that helped this first week run smoothly.

 

Cultural Subjects:
Your children can now count to ten in 4 languages (English, Latin, Sign Language, Spanish)

 

Fun Fact(s):
In 1950 seven percent of women dyed their hair.  Presently, eightyseven percent of women dye their hair.  —   Source unknown. hehe (I got it from Know It or Blow it on WONE 97.5).  My nephew is on the morning show with Jeff Kinsbach and Sandra Miller.  He is the sports guy.  Kris Drew

 

Peek In Our Classroom:

Snug as a bug in a rug in the reading corner.

 

This student is helping build a ladder for our rats.

 

Continue reading…

A Peek at Our Week | Elementary | Week of August 26

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Welcome back, families!

The first two weeks in the Elementary classroom have a focus on team building and rules and routines. We spend a lot of time getting to know each other, working through our transition back to school, and practicing each step of a work cycle. Students even complain we don’t let them work enough! We set up the first two weeks this way to make sure students are prepared in the best way possible for a successful, independent year. Most weeks, our “Peek” will be a showcase of Lower Elementary lessons and work, Upper Elementary lessons and work, projects from our Enrichment classes, and any important upcoming events. Ms. Marlee, Ms. Erica, and I will be working together to bring this to you each week. One week a month, our students will write the “Peek.” Please enjoy this look at our first week!

Each first week of Encino schools, we have a gathering for “Expert Lessons.” This is a chance for our returning students to show new students different works they may choose independently or with a partner. This helps new students to our school, or just to our room, see different materials they could work with while we are working through our two transition weeks. This returning second year student explained to our new friends how to use “The Farm” for a geography or a grammar work!
We begin each school year with “The Great Lessons.” These are lessons presented through storytelling and experiments to introduce students to the ideas of the beginning of the universe, the coming of life, the coming of humans, and the beginning of language and numbers. These lessons are meant to inspire students in their studies for the year. Our Upper Elementary students are always eager to be a part of the experiments!
This was one of our questions from “Back to School Night.” Technology in the Montessori classroom is used as a supplement. Children use the internet for research when they have exhausted all book and encyclopedia resources. They learn to type, make Word documents, made presentations through PowerPoint, and make graphs through Google Sheets. We use technology to take virtual field trips and interact with experts in their fields to learn about things we may not be able to experience in our area.
Ms. Marlee is presenting “The Laws of the Universe.” These lessons are extensions to “The Great Lessons.” The experiments allow the students to test the laws of the universe they heard about in our storytelling lessons to come to their own conclusions. The experiments will be on the shelves for a few weeks for the students to independently practice.

REMINDERS:

  • No School – Labor Day – Monday, September 2
  • Enrichments Begin – Tuesday, September 3
  • Ramseyer Farm Field Trip – Friday, September 20