// Photos: First week of December! //
// Week of Nov. 26: Curriculum Update //
This week we started a discussion about food! We discussed the kind of foods we eat and what we like most!
We talked about healthy foods and what they did to our bodies, where we got these foods from and how it makes us feel. The discussion was endless, the children had so much to share... some quotes "It's good for your body! It makes our muscles bigger and stronger! Makes us grow, and Help make bad germs go away!"
They also named a variety listing from vegetables, fruits and dairy products.We will continue this study to learn more...
// Photos from the last week in November //
So what's the big deal about arriving to school on time?
// This week at HPMS //
Dear Parents, thank you for attending your child’s scheduled conference, we truly enjoying sharing with you what your children have been working on and the skills and independence they are developing. In the classroom this week, we changed many of the Practical Life shelf works and the children had so much excitement trying and practicing them. It was a delight to see them engaged and always asking for a new lesson.
Enjoy your Thanksgiving break and we look forward to seeing you back next week!
// The Days Leading up to Thanksgiving //
// Curriculum Update: Week of November 5 //
Happy Diwali to all families that celebrated this week and Thank You to the parents for coming in and sharing your culture and sweet threats with our classroom, the children enjoyed and served themselves to the delicacies!
In the classroom, we read the book Stone Soup An Old Tale told and pictured by Marcia Brown that introduced our upcoming Harvest Stone Soup Celebration to our new students as the returning students were already familiar with the story and discussions and led the discussion which our new students quickly picked up and contributed too. Also, we introduced a whole group lesson that involves using our olfactory system, or sense of smell with scents being lavender, peppermint and orange. Some comments were made where the children expressed their thoughts by stating... "Lavender smells so good," "Orange... I like oranges, its my favorite! fruit!"
Have a wonderful week and we look forward in celebrating the progress of your child with you next week!
// Photos: Week of November 5 //
//Curriculum Update: Week of October 29 //
The spookiness has ended and we enter a new month of festivities! Thank you for keeping the costumes and candies at home.
We continued the study of fall activities as we expanded our pumpkin activities… cutting and opening up a pumpkin to learn its parts (stem, fibrous strands, seeds, pulp, leaves, rind), studying the life cycle of a pumpkin, and getting some practical lessons of tweezing and scrubbing a pumpkin. The children delight in these lessons and then practice on their own, using their fine-motor skills, concentration, order and coordination— all skills that will prepare them for real-life work.
“The exercises of Practical Life are formative activities, a work of adaptation to the environment. Such adaptation to the environment and efficient functioning therein is the very essence of a useful education" M. Montessori.
// Photos: Week of October 29 //
Brought to you by "The Media Mavericks" (Upper Elementary & Middle School Students @HPMS)
// Week of October 22: Curriculum Update //
It’s the fall season and we are getting more familiar with themes and new works in our classroom! We continued observing daily the changing leaves as we see more colorful leaves and so many on the ground when we make our way out to the park. We also noticed that the squirrels are searching for their food! In the classroom, we are learning the parts of a pumpkin, it’s life cycle and other fun pumpkin-themed activities like scrubbing, counting and tweezing pumpkin seeds.
Special Thank you for those of you who made it out on Curriculum Day, it was a success....we loved seeing you...
// Week of October 22: Photos //
// Week of October 15: Curriculum Update//
What a busy and fun week we had, time goes by so quickly! This week we voted on Blue Room’s most favorite apple. Among the various apples discussed, we tasted Granny Smith, Gala, Red Delicious and Honey Crisp and found that the most tastiest was Red Delicious. We also had so much fun spending the day at Abma’s Farm, getting on a tractor hayride through the field, picking pumpkins and enjoying lunch together. We then proceeded to the see the animals, and got to pet some goats, rabbits, donkeys, to name a few. Thank you to our parent chaperones for joining and helping make our field trip a success!
In other news, we also celebrated Ms. Karen’s birthday on Wednesday, surprising her by singing “Happy Birthday” and sharing some personalized cards.
Have a wonderful weekend everyone….
// Week of October 15: Photos //
// Curriculum Update, week of Oct. 9 //
We welcomed everyone back from their long weekend! The children had so much to share and were eager to get back to where they left off! This week we introduced a new art project! We presented the lesson where the children will be using leaves and tree barks they collected to incorporate into art by placing paper over the tree bark and using crayons to rub and print leaves using paint. These techniques also assist with the development of their fine-motor skills, sense of order, coordination and concentration.
Also, we discussed to the children about the importance of safety. We mentioned what they are suppose to do when they hear a fire alarm and how its very important to stop what they are doing to quickly line up at the door to evacuate the building together. We also practiced our “safety circle” and stated if whenever they see the “Blue lights” flashing they all stop what they are doing and go to our safe spot in our classroom.
We are also so excited to go on our first field trip adventure together to Abma Farm next week with all the other Early Childhood classrooms and have the opportunity to pick our very own pumpkins!
Have a wonderful Fall weekend ahead.......
// Photos from the week of Oct. 9 //
//Curriculum Update: Week of October 1 //
Happy 12th Birthday HPMS!
The last two weeks the children has been practicing graciously the songs “Peace like a River, and Light a Candle for Peace! They were very excited to join the whole school outside in the gazebo to celebrate! Thanks for joining us too!
Wow! In other news, we are all enjoying the weather outside! Through our daily walks to the playground, we have been doing some observations. Each day we look around and witness that the leaves on the trees are all changing…. Here are some of the statements from the children… “Wow, look, that tree is almost red!” “This one is turning yellowish, brownish!”
Update…. with fingers crossed, we have begun to see the children become “Normalized!” With that said, we have noticed most children saying their goodbyes at the door, and entering the classroom, choosing their work independently and building strong friendships with endless ongoing conversations. Routines and transitions are happening smoothly as they look forward to their “Specials” – Spanish, Music, Art, Movement/PE, and Kindergartener’s Writers’ Workshop and Literacy!
“When children come into contact with nature, they reveal their strength.” Maria Montessori
// Photos from the Week of Oct. 1 //
