What an incredible first week and half! We intentionally spent the first days getting to know one another, establishing community norms and learning about the ins and outs of our daily routine. Together, we've written our classroom beliefs and we've discussed what is our job (as guides) and their job (as students) to make sure we uphold our classroom beliefs. We've also done a number of community activities such as songs, games and mindfulness practices and we are already seeing this group become a cohesive community that thoroughly enjoys each other in the classroom and on the playground. We couldn't be more delighted.
Lessons We've Had
Practical Life Lessons:
- How to work during work time
- How to come to lesson
- How to set up and clean up for beautiful lunch (ask them about the jobs they can do to set up for lunch in the classroom :)
- How to prepare and eat snack
Academic Lessons:
- Creating a World Map
- Classifying living and nonliving things
- Introduction to Cursive
- Short Bead Chains (introduction to skip counting)
- We are also telling stories about the beginning of the universe and how life came to Earth. Dr. Montessori coined these impressionistic stories as "The Great Lessons." There are more to come because, of course, there are endless stories across many cultures that each have their own idea of how the universe began!
Upcoming Events and Reminders
Thursday Folders will start coming home on this coming Thursday. In there, you will find some work that your child has done and also ideas for activities to do at home that would enrich and support your child's experience at school.
Buttermilk Falls Farm - Friday, Oct. 13 GRS has a strong partnership with Buttermilk Falls and the children will get to revisit this beautiful place throughout there time at Great River. More information to follow.
Snack Volunteers Please check to see if your snack week is coming up. Click here to check and see if you would like to sign up for any other volunteer opportunities. Here's who's up in the next two weeks:
Oct. 2- 6: Amos Keitel's family
Oct. 9-13: Faith Putz-Yang's family
Thank you!
To all of you for bringing your children to school on time with all of the things they need for the day (lunch, water bottle, appropriate clothing for crazy heat and rain). This truly helps them come to school prepared to take on the day.
Finally, we'd like to send out our gratitude towards Jennifer Rogers and Noah Keitel for taking care of our laundry this month. For Cynthia Putz-Yang for signing up to bring in flowers and for Andria Sibert and Mike Hang for volunteering to chaperone for our trip to the farm!
Have a wonderful weekend!
In gratitude,
Emily Bowar & Jessy Eaton Fabel
Clearwater Guides
"Our aim therefore is not merely to make the child understand, and still less to force him to memorize, but so to touch his imagination as to enthuse him to his inmost core." ~ Maria Montessori"
