Montessori Unit

Tuesday- Music

Wednesday- Spanish

Thursday- Gym

See all Special Days 19-20 here!

UPCOMING:
Thanksgiving Feast
Time: 9:30 AM
Date: November 21, 2019
Location: Stepping Stones' Classroom

RSVP HERE

Mrs. Beth Mahan
Ext: 200 VM: 351
bmahan@ancillae.org

Mrs. Nicole Giorgione
Ext: 390
ngiorgione@ancillae.org

Mrs. Barbara Caffey
Ext: 340
bcaffey@ancillae.org

“Within the child lies the fate of the future.” ~ Maria Montessori

This area of the preschool environment exposes the child to an understanding of our world.  Starting with the whole and moving into smaller parts, the children first learns our world is made of air, land, and water.  The lands have been given names called continents. Within these continents, we explore the cultures, wildlife, natural treasures, countries, people and celebrations.  The children are exposed to the fine artists connecting with their weekly art class. This area develops the sense of our place in our world- to care for it and for each other.  We are all part of the world community.

"We especially need imagination in science. It is not all mathematics, nor all logic, but it is somewhat beauty and poetry." ~ Maria Montessori

This area introduces several disciplines of science:  botany – our study of plants, zoology -- our study of animals, physics -- our explorations and discoveries,  health – our study of our bodies and senses. It is an area of discovery and wonder as we take a closer look at the world around us.

“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 the enthuse him to his inmost core.”              ~Maria Montessori

This area develops the various components of language that lead a child to be able to communicate as well as understand what is being communicated. The readiness skill to recognize differences and similarities, sequence and retell a story, understand position, and classify assist in a growing comprehension in both visual and auditory instruction.  In preparation for reading, all materials of the environment organize in a left to right, top to bottom layout to prepare the brain for tracking print. Children use multiple senses as they are introduced concretely to the symbol and sound relationship of letters. As this relationship develops, children will begin to blend the sounds to form words- a phonetic approach to reading readiness.   Children also experience extensive vocabulary in all areas of the environment. Many activities involve matching and labeling using the written word – a whole language approach to reading readiness. Children are moved at the pace in which they are prepared to be successful and gain confidence in expressing ideas and approaching the start in their reading journey.

To Start our day:

Spirit of Life, we thank you for our new school day.
St. Raphaela Mary, Pray for Us.

Before lunch:

Thank you dear Jesus. This day is for you.
We ask you to bless all we think, say, and do.
Amen.

Our travels land us in Australia for the month of November. The children will be learning where Australia is located on the globe, that Aborigines are native to Australia, and the unusual animals that are unique to the continent and much more. Children are welcome to bring in artifacts, books, and items that connect to our travels which will be displayed for the month on our windowsill display. We would like to invite our parents to come in and share your travels or heritage during the month we are studying the continent. 

Each month in Kindergarten, an animal is featured.  Children will be exploring turkeys this month.  

Thank you for the wonderful mountains

Thank you for the wonderful oceans

Thank you for the wonderful snowflakes

Thank you for the wonderful flowers

Thank you for the wonderful vegetables

Thank you for the wonderful trees

Thank you for the wonderful rain

Thank you, thank you, thank you GOD!

                                                Amen

The Moveable Alphabet is cutouts of the lower case letters that allow your child to handle the actual letter shape.  The Moveable Alphabet is fun for the child to practice alphabetic order, beginning sounds, ending sounds, middle sounds and the formation of entire words.  When your child has mastered six to seven letter sounds using the Sandpaper Letters, we introduce those same letters from the Moveable Alphabet.  For example, the c, a, and t.  Your child will learn how to use these letters to form the word cat.

Specials teachers:  
Gym- Aleah Conlin       Mon.: KA  KC   Fri.:  KB 
Art- Alexia Perrine Tara Carlos  Mon.: KC Wed.:KB Thurs.: KA
Music- Matthew Esposito   Wed.: KA KB KC
Library- Karen Sabatino   Thurs. KA KC. Fri.:  KB
Spanish- Dena Brown    Mon.: KB Tues.: KA KC
Religion- Jane Diorio    Mon.: KB Tues.: KA KC

On Wednesdays, Kindergarten rotates through afternoon enrichment classes taught by each Kindergarten teacher: Sign/Spanish (Bodnar), Religion (Ragg), and Yoga (Farrell).

Our theme for November is We dare to explore the possibilities. We discussed what new and challenging things we would like to try this month and drew a picture of the new skill onto a magnifying glass or an explorers hat.