Hello Friends,  A good rain has marked the fall equinox, and some telltale signs of the season are here. Yellow goldenrod and purple ironweed decorate the edges of pastures, and we harvested the first of many persimmons last week.  As to be expected, a lot has happened in the last couple of months. Most students waste no time making this farm their own. We begin each day doing yoga with John before moving to the field to harvest.  Many of you have supported the market on Thursdays (thank you!) and have seen what has come from the garden.  One less visible product of all this work is the completed circle that some students have drawn, beginning last year.  Farming is more than planting and harvesting. It ’s a wareness and response. Dependence and trust. Commitment and follow-through. When a child decides to eat a new vegetable (maybe that she has said previously she does not like), she does so because s...

What is self-regulation? Self-regulation is a vital skill that is at the core of all success in learning and life. It is the ability to: Control impulses Identify and modulate emotions Delay gratification Make thoughtful and conscious choices Set goals and achieve them Why is self-regulation so important? Self-regulation is an essential aspect of overall emotional intelligence. It is not an arrival point in children's development, but a journey. Children learn self-regulation gradually. One key source of learning self-regulation is through imitation of the adult role models in their lives. How can you help your child develop self-regulation? Get down on the child's level Demonstrate empathy Match the child's emotional tone Give them time Let them play 2.5 to 3 hours per day (free play rather than instructional play, and without screens)

A key feature of our Montessori classroom environment is that it is self-correcting.  A self-correcting environment is “prepared” to meet the students’ developmental needs. What does a self-correcting environment look like?  Lessons and materials are aesthetically appealing to the eye and hand. Objects in the classroom are breakable and real/natural. Materials are interesting and engaging. Materials are designed to teach a specific concept/skill. Materials are displayed in sequential order Furniture is child-sized   Why is a self-correcting environment important? Making mistakes is a natural part of learning. Children correct themselves rather than depending on an adult to do something for them. Developing self-correction skills helps develop confidence and decision-making skills.