Welcome to Fall!
School has begun, and we're off to a roaring start in Kara & Jenny's Classroom.
Here's some items we think you might like to be aware of!
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October events at a glance:
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October 9: Staff Inservice
(no school, no childcare)
October 17th: Riley's Farm Trip (9am–3pm)
October 27: Halloween Carnival
(5pm–8pm)
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BIRTHDAYS!
September 30: Matthew T.
October 7: Teddy
October 19: Sarai
LOOKING AHEAD...
November 15, 20, 21:
Parent-Teacher Conferences
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My name is K.C. Hohensee, daddy to Elliot, who is beginning her second year in Kara & Jenny's classroom. I'll be your PTM communication rep this year, and look forward to meeting and sharing with you all!
We would also like to welcome Aaron A., Katherine N., Teddy R., Isaak B., Charlie B., Aeden & Kaeli O., Hudson B., Delaney E., Tobias W. and Aaron C. to Kara & Jenny's classroom!
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Riley's Farm Field Trip!
On Tuesday, October 17 the class will be leaving for Riley's Farm at 9:00am and returning by 3:00pm. Please provide your child with a sack lunch for the trip. (All items should be disposable, nothing that needs warming up or requires a fork. We also ask that all children have a water bottle and are wearing closed-toe walking shoes for the day. We highly recommend applying sunscreen and/or providing a hat for the day as well. The chaperone sign-up list will be posted a few weeks before the trip. If interested in signing up, please review the chaperone guidelines beforehand, and then sign up in our classroom!
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Halloween Carnival!
On Thursday, October 27 our class will be participating in the MIR Halloween Carnival! Our classroom booth will be providing face painting. We request that each family sign up for one 30-minute time spot to volunteer at our booth, to ensure it runs smoothly through the carnival. It is one of the most popular booths, and is always a favorite! A signup sheet will be posted on the class window a few weeks before the event!
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The children will be making yarn pumpkins, so we'd very much appreciate donations that you might be willing to provide! All donations need to be delivered to the classroom by Tuesday, October 10. We need:
3 large bunches of orange yarn
2 packs of green pipe cleaners
2 packs of brown pipe cleaners
30 balloons
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Pumpkin Picking at the Farm!
Our class will walk across the street to pick a pumpkin and have a tour of the farm. We do not need chaperones for this. The exact date will be posted closer to the event; however, we request that you send your child to school in their red MIR shirt and closed-toe walking shoes.
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STAY CONNECTED: Consider using these resources to stay up-to-date on snack schedules and important events for our classroom!
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GUIDING CHILDREN TOWARDS INDEPENDENCE
by Jenny Ewalt
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One of the most fulfilling aspects of my job is when I get to sit down with parents and tell them all the amazing things their child is accomplishing in the classroom. He/she reads and writes, adds and multiplies, enjoys various art activities, and goes about their day functioning with confidence and independence. That last word is always the one that catches their attention the most. Then the questions begin, “Does he really put on his own jacket and shoes???” “She serves her own snack and then cleans it up???” and of course the one that surprises all parents “He actually chooses his own challenging work AND puts it away on his own?”
It can be hard as parents to envision our children going about their day with little to no help. After all, at home there is a constant trail of dirty clothing that they couldn't possibly get into the laundry basket alone. So what’s the secret? How do we get our kids to function with the same independence at home as in the classroom? The answer lies in the prepared environment and the prepared adult. "The child's development follows a path of successive stages of independence, and our knowledge of this must guide us in our behavior towards him.” (The Absorbent Mind, pg. 257)
In the Montessori classroom, independence can be seen at every level. From the 3 year old who quickly learns how to pour his own milk to the 5 year old who organizes the entire map of the USA in order to trace, color, and label it. The quest for independence is ongoing. It evolves over time and with particular aspects aiding in that development. That is where the prepared environment and prepared adult comes into play. Through practical life activities (such as pouring water, sewing a button, sweeping, dusting…) children gain the ability to accomplish everyday tasks alone. With each activity he feels he can do on his own, his confidence grows, which builds his inner drive towards independence in all areas.
We must create an environment that our children can be successful in. For example, if I wanted a child to learn to pour his own milk, I wouldn't give him the gallon of milk and a tall glass and say “have at it.” He would need a pouring vessel that he could manipulate with little effort and a cup that set the limit of how much milk he should have. Giving a child the opportunity to practice with water and having a sponge or towel nearby allows him to perfect the skill he is trying to master. With a pitcher he can lift with ease and a cup that allows for the correct amount, he is able to independently serve himself with no adult intervention. I wouldn't need to tell him when to stop filling or help him lift the pitcher; he has the tools necessary to do it on his own. This is just one small way that we can prepare the environment for a child to gain freedom.
Once the environment is prepared, we then must prepare ourselves. This means we must have a keen eye in observing our children, and watch to see when they are ready to move from pouring water to serving the desired beverage. Sometimes it means that we just need to get out of the way and allow them to make that mess as many times as it takes! It can be difficult to watch our children struggle, especially when they are making a mess that we may have to go back and clean up, but looking at the long-term goal helps us take a step back and see this is the process our children need. Once you observe that your child may be ready, make sure to first prepare the environment and then show them how to do it the first time. Then stand back and allow them to practice, practice, practice!
Other helpful hints that are easy to incorporate independence into your home life include:
Allow children to make choices: Limit the choice by offering only what you want them to have. For example, ask “Would you like a bath or a shower before bed?” They need to get clean but this is a way for them to feel like they have some control over the decision.
Invite them to help in the care of the home: A shelf they can dust, or emptying the bathroom waste bin gives them responsibility and allows them to take ownership over the care of the environment.
Organize their belongings so they can put
toys/clothes/etc…away on their own: Limit the number of toys they have access to and help them learn (or plan) where each object goes so they won’t be overwhelmed by a huge mess. Toys can be changed out every few months so they can have variety.
Limit adult intervention when a child is accomplishing a task: This is a tough one. We can be impatient or know we could do it faster/better/easier than they could. It’s that persistence in a task where the child gains the most confidence and competency. He goes from doubting himself to feeling his worth and proving to himself that if he works at something, he can accomplish it.
Give yourself and your child plenty of time to accomplish the job: If he is working on putting on his shoes, know that it is going to take longer to get out of the house so prepare for that and start earlier or allow him to work on it during a time when it is not crucial for him to get it done quickly.
Self-care: This is one thing that even the youngest children can begin to gain independence with. Simply providing a stool at the sink can encourage your child to wash his own hands. Setting up a mirror and brush at your child's level to allow him to take ownership of his body and how it looks.
Be careful of correction: No one gets it right the first time. Mistakes will be made and that is all a part of the process. Let them spill and provide them with a towel to clean it up with. Its ok if they put too much tooth paste on the brush; they will just have extra clean teeth that night. Step back and allow the mistakes to happen. In those mistakes will come the natural desire to repeat and perfect.
Your children will undoubtedly accomplish a great may tasks as they grow in the Primary environment -- everything from reading literary classics to long division into the millions, yet that is not how they measure their own success. They truly feel they have gained something great when they can say “I did it all by myself!”.
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CONTRIBUTE & SUPPORT OUR CLASSROOM & SCHOOL!
Here are some ways to get involved that may fit into your everyday life:
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BOX TOPS:
Our classroom has a designated Box Tops collection box near the sign-in sheet, and MiR receives $.10 for each Box Top provided! When bringing in Box Tops, please double check that they haven't expired.
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AMAZON SMILE:
If you already do some of your shopping on Amazon, consider using Amazon Smile (http://smile.amazon.com). It is an identical shopping experience to using Amazon.com, however if you select Montessori in Redlands from the list of charities, the school will receive a percentage of your purchase.
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