Our class had a very exciting week and we would like to share some of the happenings in our Montessori class community. We are grateful to you, our parents for entrusting your students to us. We are a team - parent, child, teacher. Our goal as Montessori educators is ever before us: to aid each student to rise to their potential and find his path to contribute to society in his own unique way. This is our overarching vision as we have the joy of presenting our lessons in a way that appeals to the human tendencies and the superior reasoning mind of the elementary child. Part of this process is learning how to negotiate and how to get along with each other in our class community.
This week we presented the Fourth Great Lesson entitled "Communication in Signs" which is a history of how letters came about. We are grateful to the Phoenicians who took the cue from the Egyptian hieroglyphics. As famous traders, the Phoenicians, whose name means "dealers in purple" learned about writing symbols for sounds from the Egyptians and took it a step further to look like the letters we have in our alphabet today. The students are glad we have these letters too so that Ms. Siciliano can continue to read our latest book in class "Little House on the Prairie".
You can reach us at Rosalinda.Siciliano@phxschools.org Happy Thanksgiving!
P.S. We found a wonderful series on Holiday Histories from the Heinemann Library. We read "Thanksgiving Day" isbn number 1-58810-224-6.
Friday, November 19, 2010
Science at Home
The students are excited about their new science magazine! We hope you are having discussion with your child about the scientific method. Here's an outline for discussion. Elementary students are so interested in learning new, long words and their meaning.
What is the title of this experiment?
What questions do you have about this experiment?
What do you think will happen? (Called the hypothesis.)
What supples do you need? (Must be collected first before doing any activity.)
What is the procedure? (What do you do first, second, etc.)
What happened? (You have to observe closely.) This is called the result.
Sometimes, a student may need a certain piece of equipment such as a balance scale. They are welcome to do that portion of the activity in class.
Please send back the science magazine to school on the Friday it's due and eventually we will return the magazines to your child to add to his collection of science magazines at home. encourage your child to re-read and revisit her favorite experiments. This will be fun over the Thanksgiving and Winter break too! We are planning to make a special science folder at school to send home for the student's magazine collection.
What is the title of this experiment?
What questions do you have about this experiment?
What do you think will happen? (Called the hypothesis.)
What supples do you need? (Must be collected first before doing any activity.)
What is the procedure? (What do you do first, second, etc.)
What happened? (You have to observe closely.) This is called the result.
Sometimes, a student may need a certain piece of equipment such as a balance scale. They are welcome to do that portion of the activity in class.
Please send back the science magazine to school on the Friday it's due and eventually we will return the magazines to your child to add to his collection of science magazines at home. encourage your child to re-read and revisit her favorite experiments. This will be fun over the Thanksgiving and Winter break too! We are planning to make a special science folder at school to send home for the student's magazine collection.
Class Pet News
We recently adopted a female parakeet. We love little Olivia, the name chosen by the students today in our community meeting. The top four favorite names were Strawberry, Blueberry, Olivia and Turquoise. Olivia won by a strong majority.
We can always use romaine lettuce to give fresh food to Olivia in addition to her bird seed.
The students also discussed the loss of our dearest pet, Marshmallow and how they felt. They expressed the desire to get a new guinea pig, however we are waiting to arrive at the final decision on that. The decision will be based on the students' research at home and drumming up financial support to purchase a better cage, food, appropriate water bottle, toys and supplies. The students also realize they need to do more research at home to learn how to keep a guinea pig happy and healthy. We have a big responsibility to care for an animal in captivity. We will gather this information at our next community meeting after Thanksgiving.
Angelica did an awesome job of leading her first meeting as the new class President for the second trimester. She had strong support from Vice President Emily and Secretary Abby. All applicants gave short speeches last week. Students voted by private ballot.
We can always use romaine lettuce to give fresh food to Olivia in addition to her bird seed.
The students also discussed the loss of our dearest pet, Marshmallow and how they felt. They expressed the desire to get a new guinea pig, however we are waiting to arrive at the final decision on that. The decision will be based on the students' research at home and drumming up financial support to purchase a better cage, food, appropriate water bottle, toys and supplies. The students also realize they need to do more research at home to learn how to keep a guinea pig happy and healthy. We have a big responsibility to care for an animal in captivity. We will gather this information at our next community meeting after Thanksgiving.
Angelica did an awesome job of leading her first meeting as the new class President for the second trimester. She had strong support from Vice President Emily and Secretary Abby. All applicants gave short speeches last week. Students voted by private ballot.
New New New Field Trips
Here's a quick overview of some of our upcoming field trips. We'll send the permission slips home after Thanksgiving.
December 3, Holiday symphony at symphony Hall, leaving 9:45 am. Walking. Cost: Please send $1 for students and $5 for chaperones. The number of chaperones is limited to 4. Returning about 11:45 am. Lunch at school.
December 8, The Arizona State Capitol, leaving 8:30 am, includes mystery hunt at Wesley Bolin Plaza and brown bag lunch. Returning about 12:45 pm via public bus. cost: $0 but please send $3 for a goody bag with interesting Arizona items. Chaperones needed. Thank you.
December 15, "The Nutcracker" by Ballet Arizona at Symphony Hall, walking, leaving at 9:15 am, returning about 11:30 am. Lunch at school. Cost is $4 for each student and each chaperone but send only $2 each. the other $2 will be paid by tax credit dollars.
January 26, 2011, live theatre at the Greasepaint Youtheatre "Unstoppable Me" in Scottsdale at 7020 E. 2nd Street, Scottsdale. Leaving at 9:25 am, PBJ brown bag lunch provided. Please send the cost, $8 per student. We need driver/chaperones for this trip. Chaperones' cost is also $8 per person. Thanks!
December 3, Holiday symphony at symphony Hall, leaving 9:45 am. Walking. Cost: Please send $1 for students and $5 for chaperones. The number of chaperones is limited to 4. Returning about 11:45 am. Lunch at school.
December 8, The Arizona State Capitol, leaving 8:30 am, includes mystery hunt at Wesley Bolin Plaza and brown bag lunch. Returning about 12:45 pm via public bus. cost: $0 but please send $3 for a goody bag with interesting Arizona items. Chaperones needed. Thank you.
December 15, "The Nutcracker" by Ballet Arizona at Symphony Hall, walking, leaving at 9:15 am, returning about 11:30 am. Lunch at school. Cost is $4 for each student and each chaperone but send only $2 each. the other $2 will be paid by tax credit dollars.
January 26, 2011, live theatre at the Greasepaint Youtheatre "Unstoppable Me" in Scottsdale at 7020 E. 2nd Street, Scottsdale. Leaving at 9:25 am, PBJ brown bag lunch provided. Please send the cost, $8 per student. We need driver/chaperones for this trip. Chaperones' cost is also $8 per person. Thanks!
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