Handwriting is an important part of our Language curriculum, which supports speaking, writing, and reading. In Montessori, cursive is the first writing method taught to young children. It is the easiest to learn, presents words as blended sounds, and children don't have to switch to another method of writing. It also reinforces the left-to-right direction of reading. In a Montessori classroom, the act of writing letters is taught in conjunction with the lesson of the sound that letter makes.   The handwriting lessons in a Montessori environment are taught in steps. The first lesson, Sand Paper Letters, introduces the sound the individual letter makes while the child traces the sand paper letter with the first two fingers of his or her dominant hand.  This use of multiple senses helps the child connect the shape of the letter to its sound. After some practice, the child will create the same letter in a sand tray, then on a chalkboard. All of this prepares the chi

Early Childhood A is studying the continent of Asia.  To integrate art in their cultural learning, they created these Chinese lanterns. Early Childhood B artist studied the self-portraits of Frida Kahlo .  Inspired by her work, ECB artists drew their own self-portraits. Early Childhood B artist also read The Mitten by Jan Brett and made their own mittens. They traced their mitten, cut them, and colored them. Then they laced them through the holes. Lower Elementary artists collaborated with Kolidiko to create a winter painting to add to our season collection.  Each student painted a winter scene.  Kolidiko took the paintings and cut them up to create this large collaborative painting. Lower Elementary artists created these hands to represent their individuality to honor the life and achievements of Martin Luther King Jr. Middle Elementary artists did a unit on pop ups, beginning with simple folds and cuts and working to more complex three d

Lower and Middle Elementary are working on a chapter in Spanish about the Human Body.  Here are some of the steps and activities that reinforce the vocabulary:     •    Practicing with vocabulary flash cards.     •    Drawing an outline around another student’s body, then labeling the parts of the body.     •    Playing Simon Says or Manos en La Boca.     •    Writing a story about a boy who is a vegetarian.     •    Discussing the importance of healthy eating.     •    Making a play about going to the doctor.     •    Singing songs.     •    Playing telephone, using words about the body in sentences.         As we say and do, “Repetition is the key to learning another language.” Lower Elementary is working on how to tell time. Our stories are based on a boy or a girl who need to be on time to school. Middle Elementary students are getting ready to go to a Mexican restaurant to practice our Spanish while we eat together. The students are designing their own menu in S