All in Good Time

Little children perform slowly and deliberately many complicated actions which they love—dressing and undressing themselves, setting the table, eating, etc. In doing all these things they show extreme patience, and they carry on to a conclusion their laborious tasks, overcoming every difficulty which arises from an organism being still in the process of development…

Always animated by the same prejudice that the object to strive for is the completion of an external act, we clothe and wash the child, take out of his hands the things which he loves to handle, pour the soup into his basin for him, feed him, set the table for him. And after rendering such services, we most unjustly judge him to be incapable… We often consider the child impatient just because we cannot find the patience to wait for the conclusion of these doings of his which are obeying time-laws different from ours.

Dr. Maria Montessori

The Discovery of the Child

This Moment

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. 

This Moment

O is Ice Fishing

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. 

Reading Rhythms

We have spent the winter weeks so far learning lots about rhythms in music class.  We have echoed and clapped and tapped and listened to rhythms played on the violin.  The children can now read rhythms, meaning that they recognise the symbols for quarter-notes ("ta"s), a pair of eighth-notes, ("ti-ti"s) and a quarter-note rest ("sh").
They combine the  rhythms into four-beat patterns, and then chant them.  A favourite pattern is "ta, ta, ti-ti, ta" and you may hear this one at home.  I am amazed at how all of the children read these symbols with fluency, and chant with a steady beat.
Another musical concept we have been playing with is "accelerando"; meaning the steady increase in the tempo of music.  We explored this with the theme of a train, slowly starting up and pulling out of the station, and gradually reaching top speed.  Ask for a demonstration of accelerando and be ready for some foot-stomping!  ~Ms. Susanne

There's No Day Like a Snow Day!!!

The Snow we got this past weekend made for lots of fun at the playground.  All aboard the Snow train! Whoo! Whoo!

  

Bright Light and Cold Days

 Some wonderful work greeted me when I arrived for work this morning.
"J built his train using the pink tower,red rods and  brown stairs.
Lots of imaginative play happening here.

J's train side view.

"T" painted this picture of a bird. A bright sunny picture on a cold winter day.


~Ms. Melanie

This Moment

{this moment} - A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. 

 ~Ms. Michelle

Oh the things that they construct

 There has been so much work with the triangle boxes this week.  I have watched and listened to the discussion around the construction.

I heard the children say, "you can make anything with Triangles."    "They are so cool."  "I didn't know I could do this?"  "Can I mix the colours up?"

"Is it ok if I take more boxes out?"  "Actually, I really need them Ms. Michelle?"

"Look Ms. Michelle, I made an Angry Bird!"  To which I say, "Wow, that is amazing!"  My philosophy is and always will be, "Whatever it takes." I am so happy to have the triangle boxes out being used and explored.  Even if they are making angry birds because really, thats what they see.  Find the connections and make them work for you!

Space, the Final Frontier

 We have been looking at Space this month.  We have talked about the planets, The phases of the moon and constellations.

We have even looked at Commander Chris Hatfield's photos from space.  Wow, what a lucky guy he is.  Such amazing photos.  I can only imagine how this experience is affecting him.  Please take a minute to go and have a look at some of his posts at: https://twitter.com/Cmdr_Hadfield  .

I actually got a twitter account so I could get updates and see all the beautiful pictures he was posting and share them with our children.  Don't worry if I ever start tweeting...I'll let you know!

 This is moon phase punching work.  Our children really love it.  I looked around on pinterest and at other sites and decided we would make our own master sheet.  I wasn't happy with the choice available to me and really it must be simple.  After all our children doing this work are three to five years old!

Constellation pocket fold out chart from Lee Valley

Who doesn't love Light Bright!  Takes me back to a christmas when I was a kid and my sister got one and we all fought over turns.  I set this up so the children could practice making their own constellations.

Lastly, this is our art table project this week.  I know Cork Street is making the Milky way and we will be next week.  I made this ample last year and forgot we even had it.  You can see the big sun and the planets.  The children are really enjoying making their version of the solar system.

Winter Wonderland

 We had a lovely time at the playground today. One of the perks of
teaching preschool is that I get to go play at the park.  Today after
donning our winter gear we marched to the playground to the tune of
"Willa be wallaby wee an elephant sat on me." I find that at the
playground children spend a great deal of time exploring the
properties of snow. Outside time is as important as inside time
because the children need the physical outlet and they need the
opportunity to practice their social skills in a less structured
setting.  Even the process of putting their snowsuits on and walking
in a line with a partner teaches valuable lessons about independence
and safety.  ~Ms. Melanie

Yoga Bliss at Cork Street

{this moment} - A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.  ~Ms. Michelle

All the goodness of today

 Oh the days are chilly and snow covered and yet it is blissfully warm and yummy in our classroom.  The day stared today with roast pork in our oven and home made apple sauce on the stove top.  I decided i just couldn't handle mashed potatoes today and so we had beautiful roasted potatoes and carrots to compliment our roast pork today.  Smelled wonderful and tasted even more wonderful!!

 Yay Yoga today!!  I actually got the children in Shavasana for 5 minutes today!  They really do need that time to settle their body and connect with their mind.  We listened to Shaina Noll on the cd Deeply Relax and Meditate.  Go have a listen to You Can Relax Now.  So beautiful.  How's your Wednesday?  Mine was fantastic!!
~Ms. Michelle

With Thanks

 It is with love and gratitude that I say, "THANK YOU" to each and everyone of our families at the school.  I ask and you give.   It is so appreciated.  Thank you for bringing your children along to see where it all goes and what kind of difference it makes to those in need.

The children worked so hard on their gift bags this year.  I was moved to tears by all of the beautiful art work that graced our food bags this year.  Such amazing children you all have.  It is truly a gift that they all gave.  Thank you also, for allowing me to post their pictures and share this moment.

From the bottom of my heart, Thank you all and Merry Christmas!  ~Ms. Michelle

Mel and the group from Maple Tree

Giving Tree Bags for Parker Street

More Merry Making

 It has been a lovely day making decorations, gifts and cookies.
Christmas in a Montessori classroom is a lot of fun with lots of
opportunities for fine motor activities.

Making and Gifting

 It is such a flurry of activity right now in our classrooms.  I commented to one parent this morning that I will be happy when we get back to our regular routine.

But right now, right this moment, it all feels good and secret and special.  We've been working on some special gifting this past week.  It was not planned.  I have a very dear friend who keeps an amazing garden in the valley and she stopped in to see me this week with bags full of seeds that she dried and kept and labeled with pictures for our Maple Tree Children.     Her idea was that we could collect the seeds and make seed packets as gifts.  LOVE IT!!!

So we did just that.  There were scarlet runner beans, calendula, morning glory, zinnia, dill and marigold seeds.  So enjoy and make sure you make them part of your garden planning and planting in the Spring!!

Seed collecting

Seed packet

 Other gifts are coming in different ways this year.  We made a lot of gift tags and ornaments.  Back again this year was our lovely pine cone weaving and popcorn and cranberry stringing.

And so as we wind down this week, we are taking great care to package and wrap and tidy.  Yes it is busy but such a good kind of busy.

Wool Wreaths with hand dyed wool from Fleece Artist!  Thank you Jana!!

clay impressions with fine glitter