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A Montessori environment is unique in many ways. From the child-size furniture to the art hanging just at their level, it is a truly special place. With such gratitude, I look forward to the year ahead getting to know each of your children and families, and watching them learn and grow. My goal for each child is to feel at home, empowered, and inspired to follow his or her own unique interests. Your partnership is so important in this journey and in building our classroom community! I look forward to a wonderful school year! Best, Kristi@traversechildrenshouse.org "That humanity which is revealed in all its intellectual splendor during the tender age of childhood should be respected with a kind of religious veneration. It is like the sun which appears at dawn or a flower just beginning to bloom. Education cannot be effective unless it helps a child open himself up to life." - Maria Montessori Room Parents
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Classroom Highlights
11/17/23
Dear Iris Families,
The past three weeks have been filled with joy in the Iris Community! We enjoyed Pumpkin Fun Day, welcomed a new member from one of the toddler communities, gathered for conferences, learned about Ruby Bridges, and now we are preparing for our Harvest Feast. Pumpkin Fun Day was a raging success. The children scooped out the insides of an enormous pumpkin. Some children were less than thrilled about this sensory experience, while others were lost in the slimy goop, anxiously awaiting their next turn to reach their hands inside! We roasted pumpkin seeds, made ghost toast, enjoyed a delicious snack from Katie Short and family, and participated in several fall-themed crafts! It was so much fun to see them interact with one another in a different routine. They were collaborative, helpful, and able to handle excitement while also keeping it under control.
So far this school year, we have welcomed three move-ups from the various toddler communities. Let me tell you; we have such a kind and nurturing group of children. They have taken each young child under their wings, shown them the classroom expectations lovingly, and helped them with transitions. This same kindness and compassion has also been extended beyond the newer members, offering hugs or redirections when a child is experiencing big feelings or struggling with boundaries or impulse control. It warms our hearts to see such empathy and compassion toward one another.
Last week, a group of Upper Elementary members visited us during our morning gathering to share information about Ruby Bridges. We learned that at six years of age, she was the first African-American to attend an all-white school in Louisiana. She was met with hateful protestors who were angry about the de-segregation of public schools. Ruby Bridges had to be escorted by four Federal Marshals. On November 14, 1960, when Ruby Bridges walked through the doors of William Frantz Elementary School, a mob of parents ran into the school and pulled their children out. That day, Ruby Bridges was the only child to attend school. As time passed and children returned to school, only one teacher was willing to teach Ruby. Her name was Barbra Henry—her class size was one child, Ruby Bridges. Not only did she learn alone, but she ate lunch alone and played at recess alone. Here is an article from The National Women’s History Museum if you would like to know more: https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/ruby-bridges. On November 14, we walked around the school property with our Elementary students, remembering Ruby Bridges' bravery! To support the children in understanding a little more about the importance of this event, we have been reading a book called “Our Skin: A First Conversation About Race” written by Megan Madison (Northern Michigan native), Jessica Ralli, and Isabel Roxas.
I had the delightful opportunity to sit with many of you for our fall conferences last week. It was a pleasure getting to know you and your family better. While I know it is helpful to know what your child is doing inside the classroom, it is equally helpful for us to know what life looks like for your child beyond our doors. I learned new interests, strengths, areas of growth, and so much more. We laughed. Told stories. Laughed a little more and collaborated on various strategies to support your child’s development. Thank you for your trust, support, and partnership.
Lastly, I am attaching many photos for you all to enjoy! Please, remember to send in winter gear *LABELED* as the weather looks like it is going to shift. Have a wonderful weekend!
Warmly,
Kristi
10/19/23
Dear Iris Families,
It feels like the past two weeks have flown by. So much has happened in those two weeks. On Monday, October 10, we recognized Indigenous People’s Day. A few of the older children attended a presentation by Eric Hemenway. He shared with the children what the word Indigenous means and that his ancestors were the first people to inhabit this land. Eric focused a great deal on pointing out how we are very similar. He also shared with the children a few artifacts from his life. The first was a basket that Eric’s mother weaved when he was ten years old. The basket came from a black ash tree. He referred to trees as family and how, before they harvested the tree, they thanked it for all it has provided and will continue to provide in the future. We learned that the black ash tree is in danger and needs our help.
Other artifacts Eric brought to share with the children included a box made of birch bark and porcupine quills, as well as the remnants of a tool dating back over three thousand years. The children were especially excited to see this ancient hammer! It was an honor to share this moment with the children and to learn more about those who came before us. His visit with us also reminded me how important it is to talk to children about where things come from and all the hands that are involved before it makes it to our hands. This is a great dinner-time conversation to have as a family, especially surrounding food. Where did the food on your plates come from?
Here is a poem we say together before we eat:
A few other songs we have been singing are:
Building Bridges
Austrian Yodeling Song
Once, an Austrian went yodeling
Beyond the visit from Eric and our time spent together reading and singing, the older children have been hard at work giving lessons to the younger children. They are working on learning the sounds associated with letters as well as matching rhyming objects. It has been a delight watching the older children grow into leaders while the younger children learn joyfully from their peers.
Thank you to those who were able to come for Primary Up Close. It was fun getting to do Golden Bead Addition with all of you. For those of you who were not able to attend, I love showing parents lessons. If you have any questions, I am happy to schedule a time to show you the various materials. Additionally, a huge thank you to everyone who came to Parent Visiting Day this week. It was a huge success, and the children all commented on how fun it was to show off their work!
I look forward to sharing more in the coming weeks with each of you at the beginning of November for conferences! If your family has a busy schedule, please be on top of scheduling right away for a slot that TCH and I have set aside for November 6-10. The link to sign-up will be available in Waypoints this afternoon.
Quick Reminders:
- Please label all seed butter foods in home lunches, as we are a nut-free community.
- Label, Label, Label all clothing and gear. It helps us keep track of your child’s belongings.
Thank you for your continued support!
Warmly,
9/21/23
Hello Iris Families!
I want to start with a few housekeeping items. We are a nut-free community which includes both tree nuts as well as peanuts. If you send in something containing seed butter, please label it clearly so we know it is nut-free. Additionally, please remember to remain in your car during carline until we arrive with your child. This helps us keep our order as well as support our boundaries surrounding walking with a guide to their car. Thank you for helping us keep our community safe!
Sitting here today, reflecting on the start of the year, I am filled with gratitude for the children, the assistants, and, of course, all of you. Seeing how much we have accomplished as a community already has been a joy, and we are only wrapping up week three. The start of the year is a lot like getting many plates up in the air and spinning. It is humbling. Some of those plates fail to launch, some come crashing down, and some are a raging success as if you have gifted them a present they never knew they needed, and they cherish it and practice it with the utmost care and attention.
There is a beautiful buzz throughout the environment. The bells are singing, children are counting, tables are being scrubbed, snacks are being prepared, letters are being traced, and almost every child has their very own “letter book.” I can confidently say those letter books are the most significant item in the eyes of the children. When the children walk in the door, they rush to retrieve their letter books from their drawers to read to me or a friend. Let me explain.
Language in the Montessori community looks different from most other approaches. In our environment, we have something called sandpaper letters. These are cursive letter boards with individual letters that the children learn to trace with their fingers while also learning the sound associated with that symbol. Three letters are presented at a time, and once they have been presented, they are then written into a unique little book your child has chosen. Over that week, the children practice their new letters, and once they have “mastered” a letter sound, a little heart is added in the top right-hand corner to show they know it by heart.
Aside from the presentations with the materials that live on the shelves, there are the ones being given to create a better world, a world that is safe, supportive, nurturing, and inclusive for all. We have talked extensively about advocating for ourselves while being kind and respectful community members! This is a lifelong journey, but we are already seeing the difference. These conversations are being supported with beautiful children’s literature and songs collected over the years. Their favorite book so far is:
The Tale of the Unwelcome Guest: Nasruddin Teaches the Town a Lesson; A Circle Round Book written by Rebecca Sheir, illustrated by Mert Tugen
Each day, we see the children run in with huge smiles, and the day begins with all of the children checking in with one another. They are truly at home in their environment, and it is an honor to be part of their worlds.