Montessori Unit

Monthly Themes: Ladybugs, Flowers, Summer Safety, Bugs, Butterflies

Season: Spring

Color: All Color Review

Shape: Review All Shapes

Letter: A-Z Review

Art Medium: Color Dots

Science: Metamorphosis and Life Cycles

Religion: God's Gifts of Spring

Songs: "It All the Raindrops"

Books: Goodnight Sweet Butterflies

Felt Board: Flowers

Wishing you a summer of fun and discovery!  We enjoyed our journey together this year!

" The essence of independence is to be able to do something for one's self."  ~ Maria Montessori

  “The senses, being explorers of our world, open the way to knowledge.”    ~ Maria Montessori 

“Children display a universal love of mathematics, which is par excellence the science of precision, order, and intelligence. “  ~ Maria Montessori 

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

“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

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

Have a wonderful summer!   We enjoyed our journey around the world with your children this year!   Happy summer travels!

Kindergarten is using the iPads to research and present animal facts, and to participate in a Nearpod lesson on the function of totem poles in Native American culture.  
 

March Accomplishments

Learning fun!

Kindergarten children visit the writing lab in ½ cluster groups three times a week. The Fundations program is incorporated into these sessions. Fundations is a reading program that uses a systematic and explicit approach to reading and spelling words with phonics.  The skills taught through Fundations, are laying the necessary foundations for your child to become a fluent, independent reader.

We have begun Unit 4 in Fundations. We are continuing to learn:

*how to read and blend three-sound words
*how to segment or pull apart sounds in a word
*how to spell three sound words
*how to read short sentences
*many new sight words
* digraphs wh, ch, ck, sh, th

Try these fun games to practice sight words at home.

 1.     Sight word swat- Write each sight word on a posted note.   Maybe start out with 10.  Get a fly swatter.  The adult calls out a sight word and the child finds the sight word and splats it with a fly swatter.  Sight word swat is a great way of giving the child repetition and they will achieve mastery while having fun.  

2.     Sight word memory – write two cards of each sight word.  Start out with 10 pairs of sight words.  Make sure cards are shuffled and arrange them face down.  The child picks one card and turns it over, the child reads the word on the card.  The child then picks a second card, turns it over and reads it.  If the child has a match then both cards are removed.  If they do not find a match turn both cards over and next player takes their turn.  If playing alone the child tries again to find a match.  

3.    Sight word disappear- If it is a nice day out you can take the sight word game outside. Write sight words on the ground with chalk.  Take a spray bottle full of water and if the child can read he sight word then they can spray the word until it disappears.  Can also be done with a large paint brush and water, they can brush the sight word away.

4.    Cup stacking sight word game – Write a sight word on a plastic or strong paper cup. As the child reads a sight word start to stack them up creating a tower in the shape of a triangle.  Start out with 10 sight words and then add more sight words to cups as the child masters the sight words.  Have fun building the tower and eventually knocking it down when done.  

5.    Sight word stomp – Write 10 or more sight words on an index card, spread them around on the floor and call out a word.  Have your child stomp on the sight word that you called out.  You can use this game for other skills as well. For example, numbers, math problems, letters and sounds.