Making Butter ~ Inspired by Literature

At our little yellow school, we love books!  Our personal library has more books than I care to admit, yet we are continually acquiring more.  You can never have too many books!  From old classics such as Where the Wild Things Are and The Very Hungry Caterpillar, to new classics such as The Paper Bag Princess and If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, there is a feeling of comfort in being surrounded by great literature.

This year, our students could not seem to get enough of our collection of 'My First Little House Books'.  Some of them are pictured.

My First Little House Books are based on the Little House on the Prairie series written by Laura Ingalls Wilder.  The books are about Laura's childhood memories of being part of an American pioneer family in the 19th century.  (Those of us of a certain age will also remember the television series which aired for nine years beginning in the 1970s.)   My First Little House Books allow the youngest readers to share in the adventure of Laura's life on the prairie.  Time and time again, our students wanted to hear about Laura's family - Pa, Ma, her big sister Mary, her little sister Carrie and their good old bulldog Jack.

In one of the books, Mary and Laura help Ma make butter with the churn.  The children were absolutely fascinated by the process of making butter. 

Mary using the butter churn.

Inspired by Mary and Laura, we decided to make our own butter.

We put some whipping cream into a jar.

Then we all took turns shaking the jar.

It is almost done, just a little more shaking.

Now it is all done!  We spread some of the butter on bread.  It was yummy!

Practical Life Materials - Dressing Frames

The Large Button Frame

The Large Button Frame is part of the Practical Life area of the Montessori classroom.  These activities are the first activities a child is introduced to when they begin their Montessori education. These activities - pouring, sweeping, hanging clothes on a hook, setting out a place setting and many more - allow the child to try doing the things they see the adults around them doing.  These activities fall into three categories.  The Dressing Frames fall into the category of Care of Oneself or Self Development.

The purpose of the Button Frame is to help the child develop co-ordination and independence.

Oh, The Things You'll Learn ~ A Conversation with a Five Year Old

One of the wonderful things about a Montessori environment is that each day is unique.  You never quite know what the day will bring,  what questions you will be asked or the new things you will learn.   

The following is a very informative conversation between myself and five year old J. that took place in April.

J:  My mom and dad told me that we are going to go to Paris this summer.  It will be the first place I visit in Europe.  

Mrs. P.:  That is very exciting.  I have been to Paris.  It is beautiful.  You can visit the Eiffel Tower.

J:  Oh, I can't wait to visit the Eiffel Tower!  My mom says our airline will be Air France, but I don't want to fly with Air France.

Mrs. P.:  Which airline do you want to fly with?

J:  Qantas!

Mrs. P.:  I believe that Qantas only flies in and out of Australia.

J:  Oh.  Australia is very far away from France.  That would be the longest flight ever!

Mrs. P.:  Yes, that would be very long.  Why do you want to fly with Qantas?

J:  Because Qantas is the number one airline on the top 100 list of the safest airlines in the world!  Air France is #10.

Mrs. P.:  Well, that is a very good reason.  I can see that you have quite a problem.  Do you remember any of the other airlines in the top ten?  Maybe one of those would fly to France.

J:  Oh yes.  Singapore Airlines is #2.  Then Cathay Pacific, Emirates and Qatar.

Mrs. P:  I don't think any of those would work.  What about number 6?

J:  I totally forgot number 6 and I forgot 7 all the way to 9.


Madame D. had a question for J.

Madame D:  I am going to Vancouver next month on Air Canada.  How safe is it?

J:  Oh, not so so safe.  Air Canada is #19.  If the number is low, that is safe.  If it is high, not so safe.

A fellow student asked about West Jet.

J:  West Jet is #23 or #24.  Not that safe.

She also asked about Sun Wing as she flew to Cuba on Sun Wing.  He wasn't sure about Sun Wing.

He then informed us that Hong Kong Airlines is #12.  #21 is Korean Air, #23 Phillipeans and #47 is Olympic Air.  It flies to the Olympics.  #50 is Jet Star. 

Mrs. P.:  Jet Star?  I've never heard of that.

J:  I knew I found an airline that you never heard of!  I am going to try to remember 6, 7, 8 and 9 now.

He walked around the room a few times and came back.

J:  I can't remember.

Mrs. P.:  J., how do you know all of this?

J:  I watch the videos on You Tube!  But, don't watch the videos that say "Top 10 Airlines".  Those ones are not true.  It has to say "in the world".

He promised he would go home and watch the videos again to find out the names of the airlines he couldn't remember.  He will tell me the names on Monday.  

On Monday morning, J. came in with the following three lists for me.

When I asked why all the lists were different, he said it was because they were different years.  As I said, you just never know what fascinating things await you each day.  This is very valuable information indeed!

Madame D.'s Little Prince

After years spent being an honourary grandmother to the students at our school, Madame D. finally became a real grandmother this year!  The day after school finished, Little Baby M. arrived on her doorstep for a month long visit. 

We went to visit him this week.  We know that so many of you are anxious to see pictures of him.  Here are some of the pictures we took on our visit.

Little M. on the sofa.

Hello.

A beautiful smile.

A smile for the camera.

Lovely large hands.

Beautiful long feet.

All tuckered out.

Little M., thank you for letting us spend some time with you.

School's Out For the Summer!

Last Friday was our last day of school before the summer holidays.  We had such a great time!  

The morning began with The Amazing Magic Show.  The Great Larry entertained us with his magic tricks.

The Great Larry pulling coins out of the air and from behind ears.

V. suggested the magic word should be Belly Button!

 

The yellow balls kept multiplying in E.'s hands.

 

The Great Larry asked for a show of hands and this is what he got.  It
definitely is a show of hands.

The magic wand kept going limp in A.'s hands.

We were a captive audience.

After the show Larry told us that our little yellow school was 'exceptional'.  He felt it the moment he walked up the walkway from the parking lot.  He was impressed by the natural outdoor environment, the bright classrooms, the staff and of course, the 'calm' children.  He has performed in many preschools and daycare centres and could not say enough about how beautifully our little students behaved and responded.  Although I don't know about 'calm', it was so nice to hear his words.  We are so fortunate each year to have such lovely children and supportive parents in our lives.


After the show we went outside to eat some popsicles and enjoy the hot summer day. Thank goodness for the shade of our tree! The children had fun playing What time is it Mr. Wolf?, tag and just enjoying each other's company.

Our last day together ended at lunch time.  Some children didn't want to leave.  Little 3 1/2 year old C. told her mom she always wanted to go to Mrs. P.'s school.  Even when she got big, she still wanted to go to Mrs. P.'s school.  C. herself told us:

C. on the right with her good friend M.

"I want to come here for 100 seconds!  That's a long time you know."  This truly made us smile.

It was hard to say goodbye to some families who have been with us for many, many years.  Instead of goodbye, we prefer to think of it as until we meet again.  Our former students and families know that they are always welcome at our school.  We have had so many visits from former students this year as well as news of their achievements.

Thank you to our parent community for your support and your belief in the work we have done with your children.  It has been both an exceptional and memorable year.  

V.'s and Z.'s mom was very busy creating this fantastic gift for the school.
It is so beautiful we don't want to take it apart!  Thank you.

Wishing all of you a summer full of adventure!  See you in the Fall.

School's out for the summer!

A Spectacular Night ~ Part 2 of Our Concert and Graduation 2013

The second part of our evening was a time to celebrate our graduates.  

Our graduates on stage with their teachers.

June is such an emotionally charged month at our school.  By the time we reach the graduation I am usually too overcome by emotion to say all that I would like to say about our graduates. This year I wrote down everything that I wanted to say so that I could stay focused.   I still broke down, but at least it didn't happen until the very last sentence.

This is how the graduation portion of the evening unfolded. 

The children you see here before you have been at our school for anywhere from one to almost four years.  We have witnessed their transformation from shy, scared and unsure 2 1/2 to 3 year olds into mature, knowledgeable and caring individuals.  As the oldest children in the classroom, we marvelled as they set the tone of the classroom and became leaders who looked out for and cared for their fellow students.  While they have learned to read, write and do arithmetic, the lessons learned go far beyond that.  I'd like to share a few thoughts about each graduate and the lessons they have taught us.

Our Half Day Graduates ~ (from left to right) Lucas, Christopher, Emily Z. and Julian 

Lucas ~ Thank you for your determination.  You learned many new things this year.  You impressed all of us with your fantastic math skills and the ease in which you solved math problems.  Other areas of the classroom were more of a challenge for you.  Instead of shying away from these activities, we admired your initiative as you continually chose them.  Day after day your classmates saw how hard you worked and became aware that if something is tricky, working on it will make it get easier.  Thank you for showing us that learning is not something that happens instantly, but it is something we all work at every day.


Christopher ~ Thank you for your empathy.  One of your classmates was having a hard time adjusting to school and you understood exactly how he was feeling.  It was most likely very similar to how you felt when you first started school.  Right from the first days of school, we watched as you took Cristian under your wing.  You have gently guided and supported him, always making sure he was okay.  He looks up to you and has learned a great deal from you.  Thank you for reminding all of us that when we care for and support one another, there is nothing that we cannot achieve.


Emily Z. ~ Thank you for your grace and helpfulness.  You have transformed from the little girl crying in the corner of the classroom to the unofficial leader of the half day classroom.  This year we watched as you were there to selflessly lend a helping hand to your classmates young and old.  Whether it was helping them get ready for the outdoors or with their work in the classroom, your classmates turned to you in their time of need and you responded with the grace and maturity of an older child.  We sometimes felt like you were the third adult in the classroom as you seemed to instinctively know what needed to be done.  Your helpful ways made our newest students feel connected to a warm and caring community at school.  Thank you for showing us what a wonderful place the world can be when we face each day in a helpful way.

Julian ~ Right from the moment you joined our school just over a year ago, we knew you were a kindred spirit.  It was as if you were meant to be here with us and all of your classmates felt it too.  Thank you for your compassion.  When one of your classmates is feeling sad, you are the first one there.  Whether it is bringing a tissue, giving them one of your huge smiles, or saying something to cheer them up, you bring comfort to those around you.  Thank you for sharing your big heart.

Our Full Day Graduates ~
Back Row (l to r) ~ Emily C. , Emily A., Alla
Front Row (l to r) ~ Stefan, Jonathan, Vince

Emily C. ~ Thank you for your optimism and encouragement. At home your mom calls you 'Sunshine'.  In the classroom, you were our Little Miss Sunshine, lighting up the room with your joyful spirit.  You have shared many things with us at school.  This year at recess, we watched as you shared your love and skill for gymnastics with your classmates.  The younger girls lovingly called it 'Emily's Gymnastic Club.'  In the classroom you were always there to give encouragement to those around you.  When one of the four year old girls didn't think she could finish the last pages of her printing book, you said to her "You can do it, you're a hard worker!"  When she did finish, the first person she showed was you, her face beaming with pride.  You gave her a big smile and a high five.  Thank you for reminding us how beautiful life can be when kindness touches it.


Emily A. ~ Thank you for your patience and endurance.  Ever since we have known you, you have always been a girly girl who loves frilly, pretty things.  When you told us you were taking karate lessons, we were pleasantly surprised.  Karate is not easy.  Yet, when faced with a challenge, like grading to get the next belt, or learning something new in the classroom, you didn't get scared or frustrated.  You displayed an inner calm and continued doing what you needed to do to succeed. We watched as you practiced your karate moves at recess and shared this with your friends.  Your achievements in karate have amazed us.  Thank you for showing us that in a world where everyone seems to want everything now (!), some things are worth waiting for.


Alla ~ Thank you for your consideration.  You were always a calm and quiet presence in the classroom, never rushing into anything.  You took the time to give careful thought to answers and suggestions.  You have shown us that you do not have to be loud and boisterous to be heard.  Amazing things can surface if we take the time to listen to our inner voice.


Stefan ~ Thank you for your generosity.  You were always so willing to give of yourself, whether it was helping a classmate with their work or zipping up a coat.  We particularly admired how you would share your artistic abilities with your friends enabling them to realize on paper the ideas they had in their heads.  We often felt like you were the glue that held our full day group together.  Last week when one of your classmates was upset because she wanted to sit at the table you were sitting at because all of her friends were there, you gave her your chair and moved to a different table.  When we asked you about it you replied "She wanted to sit there more than I did."  We all have a light that shines within us.  You have shown us that when you share your light with others, it has the potential to shine back even brighter.


Jonathan ~ Thank you for your curiosity and ambition.  You continuously showed us that the world outside of our school is a big and interesting place with so much waiting to be learned.  Recently at circle, we passed around the huge iron key that used to open the front door of Mrs. V.'s childhood home in Italy.  You shared with us that Italy is a country in Europe.  It is a peninsula and an island called Sicily.  There is also an archipelago off the coast near Pompeii.  You encouraged all of us, including the teachers, to never stop learning.

Vince ~ Thank you for your perseverance and your ability to always see the bright side of life.  We admire how you never let anything get you down for very long.  When you are faced with a challenge, you always give it your all, your beautiful smile never far from your face.  One day I watched as you worked with the Unit Division Board.  It is one of the hardest materials in our classroom and it was tricky for you at first.  I watched your delight as it all began to make sense to you and how happy you were when you looked in the little cup and said "Remainder 3, I have remainder 3!" and wrote it in your book.  That piece of work is so easy for you now.  You have shown us that with perseverance comes success.



It has been a spectacular year at our little yellow school.  Earlier in the year we read a story about a baby deer called Lost in the Woods.  In that story, the deer meets some baby birds who are getting ready to fledge, to leave the comfort of their nest and fly out into the world.  While we all miss our graduates more than words can express, the time has come for them to 'fledge'.  They are ready to move on to elementary school and we wish them all the best as they begin a new chapter in their educational lives.


The day before the graduation, Stefan's mom asked if she could speak at the end of the evening for just one minute.  The full day graduates knew what was going to happen but not one of them would tell us.  "I can't tell you, it's a surprise."  is what they all said.  On behalf of all the families of the graduates, Stefan's mom spoke words of thanks and praise for all that the teachers have done for their children past and present.  It was very touching and brought tears to our eyes.  The children presented us with gifts and beautiful bouquets of flowers.  It truly was our pleasure to have everyone in our lives.   The following day at school the half day children did an equally beautiful presentation for the teachers.  We are so very touched and thankful.

Stefan's mom saying a few words.

Then it was time for cake!

Funny Faces

Hooray!  We did it!

A Spectacular Night ~ Part 1 of Our Concert and Graduation 2013

Last week we held our annual end of year concert and graduation, a night we look forward to all year.  It is a chance for the children to sparkle and shine singing the songs they love and helped to choose.  It is also a time for our extended Montessori family - parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends - to come together to celebrate the lovely year we have spent together.

The first part of our night is the concert.  Here are some pictures from the concert.

The audience await our arrival.

Here we come.

Welcome to our concert!

Madame D. leading the children in a medley of  French songs.

We are doing a fingerplay called Three Little Monkeys.

Voices raised in song.

Voices raised in song.

Our Finale.

At the end of the concert portion of our evening, our graduates remain on stage while the rest of our students join their families in the audience.

Part 2 ~ Our Graduation