Snowmen At Night

I believe that you can never have too many good books.  At our little yellow school, books and reading are an important part of who we each are.  From watching our youngest preschoolers in our reading corners fully immersed in a book and making up their own words to watching our second and third year students (JK and SK age) reading those same books to their younger classmates, books and stories bring us together.  At the end of our circle time each day, the teachers read a book to the children.  The children look forward to choosing which book will be read.  It is such a thrill to be reading a book to the children and hearing the older students reading right along.

Recently, we read the book Snowmen At Night.  It is a book about a little boy who notices that his snowman is a little disheveled each morning.  It makes him wonder what snowmen do at night when we are all sleeping.  Our preschool, JK and SK aged children thought the things the snowmen got up to at night were very funny.  Some were worried and asked "Is it real?''   

After reading the book, we asked each child "What would you do if  you were a snowman at night?"  

Here are some of the responses.  (You can click on the images to make them larger.)

Three year old A. said "I would dance."

Five year old S. said "I would write a book about being a snowman."

 

Three year old M. said "I would play outside with my snowman friends."

Five year old I. said I would decorate Christmas trees and hold hands around them."

Five year old D. said "I would play hockey."

Three year old P. said "I would play in the snow."

Five year old K. said "I would play with my sister."

Three year old O. said "I would jump around and play."

You can find magic wherever you look.

Sit back and relax, all you need is a book.

~ Dr. Seuss

Educating a Future King ~ A Montessori Journey Begins

As our students returned to school after the holidays, the eyes of the world were focused on a little English boy whose Montessori journey was just beginning.

Prince George of Cambridge on his first day at school.

Prince George of Cambridge is third in line to the British throne.  He will follow in the footsteps of his father, Prince William, and his uncle, Prince Harry, and attend a Montessori nursery school.  Prince George is now a student at Westacre Montessori School in Norfolk, England. 

Westacre Montessori School

When news of Prince George's nursery school was announced in December, the Montessori community was thrilled with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's choice. As an admirer of the late Diana, Princess of Wales, her influence was undeniable.  Before she became the Princess of Wales, Lady Diana Spencer worked as a nursery school assistant at the Young England Kindergarten in London.  It was there that she experienced the Montessori method first hand.

Lady Diana Spencer with some of her students.

As the Princess of Wales, she broke with royal tradition by sending her boys to preschool.  She chose a Montessori based school, Mrs. Mynor's Nursery School in Notting Hill, for Prince William and Prince Harry.  (These images are from my royal book collection.  Click on the images to make them larger.)

Prince William's First Day of Montessori School

Prince William's First Day of Montessori School

  

Prince Harry's First Day of Montessori School

Prince Harry's First Day of Montessori School

I shared the news of Prince George's first day at Montessori with the children at our school.  They were so excited that he is going to a Montessori school very much like ours and wanted to wish him luck.

Good Luck Prince George!

Good luck Prince George!  We hope you grow to love your Montessori school as much as we love our little yellow school!