Goodbye, March! Hello, Spring!

At the end of February, we welcomed our new friends into the environment. Throughout March, the children have been so kind and patient with them, and in showing them the new routines. Now they are holding hands with each other, drinking “tea” together, and being helpful friends. Their relationships are blossoming. We had a friend from Primary ADM spend the morning in our classroom and the children were enthralled with her. She had a small breakfast with us, which the children help to prepare. We also finished our Auction project!! Take a look at some of the pieces just before we added the final touches.

After Recess, we have been taking the children on a walk through the building. Some days we visit one floor, two floors, or all of them. Sometimes we get to stop and observe the Primary children who are working in the hallway. We pass by Toddler ADM and say hello to our old friends, and we introduce ourselves and say hello to others who we might encounter along our walk.

Another highlight from this past month was inviting Ms. Shelby’s snake, Hoagie, who resides in Mr. Patrick’s room, into our classroom. The children listened as two friends read books about snakes like they use their tongues to breathe. Then the children were able to pet Hoagie and some were interested in holding Hoagie… and some were not, and that is ok too.

Parent Observations

Observations are in person again!! This is really exciting. Your observation will be from 10:00-10:15 am and you will be able to observe from outside of the classroom. During this time you may see your child working, and you may also see your child in a period we call “false fatigue.” False fatigue is a Montessori term that describes the time when children end their period of concentration and they take a mental break. This is a time when the energy and noise levels tend to rise and the children appear to be tired. This moment will occur, but the classroom will typically settle back into a work cycle within 5 minutes (sometimes it feels like 20). 

Depending on the classroom, I may be able to step out to say hello. Please forgive me if I do not. 

Take a look at GTMS’s Hints for Observing:

Parent Teacher Conferences

Parent Teacher conferences will be held on Fridays, April 21st and 28th. During your conference time, you are welcome into the classroom where we will sit and discuss your child. The meeting itself will be for 25 minutes, with 5 minutes for any last questions. If the discussion requires more time, we can always schedule a phone to respect others’ time.

Previous Blogs

For families who started in February, I thought it might be nice to share the blogs from previous months.

September 2022: This month’s blog highlights the new routines children learn to adjust to upon transitioning into the new environment, with new children and adults. I also share some common phrases along with a guide for redirection.

October 2022: This month’s blog highlights the food preparation work in our classroom, allergen-safe treats for birthday celebrations, ingredients and instructions for independent baking work, and how children can practice “up & over” which is how we show them to put jackets on without any assistance.

November 2022: This month’s blog highlights the Prepared Environment, how materials are designed, and more specifically the importance of Montessori.

December 2022: This month’s blog highlights how changes in routine, even fun ones like travel, might cause emotional dysregulation, and how to respond to big emotions or tantrums. I included activities to do at home during Winter Break. These are also great suggestions for the weekend or any time at home.

January 2023: This month’s blog highlights how children become interested in caring for the environment, and the relationship between caring for the environment and social-emotional development.