Our school is blessed to be housed in a lovely church. The lobby area is flanked by floor to ceiling windows which provide a lot of natural light. Unfortunately, it is a regular deathtrap for our local birds. More regularly than we would wish, a student will greet us in the morning with the sad news of a little feathered friend prostrate on the ground at the building's entrance. We had such a situation this week. We collected the bird's body and we all examined her (or him). She was an Oregon junco. Pauline called attention to her specialized feet for perching and her conical beak for cracking seeds. She was so lovely.
Yesterday we buried her. We learned a wonderful song first thing in the morning in preparation for the funeral we had planned for our outdoor playtime. The song is "The Little Bird is Dead" by Patty Zeitlin and Marcia Berman from their "Spin, Spider, Spin" album. This is a wonderful collection of songs celebrating nature. I recommend it highly. Some of the lyrics tell us to "gather up some seashells, circle stones around. Place her in a silver box, lay her in the ground." And "gather us together, place your hand in mine. Shed a tear for she's not here to spend the summertime." Very nice.
We buried her, sang our song, placed a crocus on her grave and had a discussion about what the children think happened to us when we die. The conversation was wide-ranging and non-denominational. The Judeo-Christians were well-represented. Several children believed we went to heaven and met God. I mentioned the Buddhist belief in reincarnation and one child whose parents practice this religion said "Oh yeah! That's what I believe!" One child pointed out that the body of the bird would decay, become soil and nourish the plants. Then some children went off laughing and giggling, playing that they were in heaven with God eating unlimited cupcakes. This offended one child who felt this jovial attitude was inappropriate to the occasion. Essentially, it was like every other funeral I've attended minus the casseroles and dressy attire.
I'm so glad we got to honor this bird and demonstrate that she mattered to us. We will speak to the pastor of the church about placing some visual warning of some sort on those big windows. Perhaps if this bird's demise prompts us to protect others, her life will have meant even more than most.
Best regards,
Doni
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Monday, January 17, 2011
Click this link and scroll down to see the latest additions to our auction list! http://philomathmontessori.org/events.htm
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Learning to Read
Several of our children have recently discovered that they can read. It is such fun! The Montessori approach to reading is relaxed and follows the nature of the child. For one thing, our kids learn to write often long before they can read. First they learn that words are made of sounds. We play a game called "I-Spy" in which we hold up objects and say "I spy something that starts with mmm. That's right, monkey!" "I spy something that has an 'uh' in the middle. That's right. It's jug!"
Then we learn the letters. We refer to the letters by their phonetic sounds. We don't say "es" to name the letter S. We say "sss". For the letter B, we say "buh". When a child knows most of the sounds that the letters say and has a good phonemic awareness of the sounds that are in words, we introduce him/her to the Moveable Alphabet. It is a box with 26 divisions, each holding a stack of little cards with one letter printed on each. If one wants to write "dog", one sounds it out and places a little d, an o and a g on the work rug, spelling "dog". Now a child who is not ready to write with a pencil can still write words.
After writing for a while, a child often discovers that he/she can read, too! It is a wonderful feeling because the child has found this out independently. We usually do not have to teach children how to read. Their writing abilities have lead them to it indirectly. We teachers then help to refine their skills in various ways so that they can read words that are not strictly phonetic.
A new reader's eyes light up with wonder as they realize they can know another person's thoughts without that person speaking. Having taught themselves to read, their self-image is boosted. After all, if they can figure that out on their own, they must be pretty capable!
Then we learn the letters. We refer to the letters by their phonetic sounds. We don't say "es" to name the letter S. We say "sss". For the letter B, we say "buh". When a child knows most of the sounds that the letters say and has a good phonemic awareness of the sounds that are in words, we introduce him/her to the Moveable Alphabet. It is a box with 26 divisions, each holding a stack of little cards with one letter printed on each. If one wants to write "dog", one sounds it out and places a little d, an o and a g on the work rug, spelling "dog". Now a child who is not ready to write with a pencil can still write words.
After writing for a while, a child often discovers that he/she can read, too! It is a wonderful feeling because the child has found this out independently. We usually do not have to teach children how to read. Their writing abilities have lead them to it indirectly. We teachers then help to refine their skills in various ways so that they can read words that are not strictly phonetic.
A new reader's eyes light up with wonder as they realize they can know another person's thoughts without that person speaking. Having taught themselves to read, their self-image is boosted. After all, if they can figure that out on their own, they must be pretty capable!
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Love of Learning Auction Fundraiser Coming Up
This begins the official countdown to our annual Love of Learning Auction Fundraiser. In just 4 short weeks we will be in the midst of families and friends eating, playing, and bidding. And in case you're wondering about what you could be bidding on at the auction here are a few hints:
Gift Certificates from Gathering Together Farms and Troubadour Music, wine tasting and vineyard tour from Ankeny Vineyard, admission tickets to AC Gilberts Discovery Village, Maryhill Museum of Art, and the Lloyd Center Ice Rink, and a sea life cruise for 2 from Marine Discovery Tours.
Brian Irwin of Charlotte Guitars reports that he's making great progress on that one-of-kind guitar that we are raffling off. Tickets are available at Gracewinds and Troubadour Music and, of course, any PhMS family. You can follow his progress in photos at: http://www.charlotteguitars.com/current-project-2/
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Winter Break Fun
I know that the Winter Break all teachers love can try the souls of parents everywhere. As much as we love spending time with our children, a two week stretch in the dead of winter weather can leave us wondering "what can we do now?" Here are a few humble ideas.
String things! For the Christmas tree or for the birds outside, one can string popcorn and cranberries (fresh or dried) using a needle with a large eye and dental floss or sturdy thread. Don't be a hero. Use a needle threader. If you don't know how to use one, ask for a demo at the fabric store where you buy your needles. Even easier, string Cheerios or Froot Loops and you won't need a needle.
Cut paper snowflakes. I recommend doing this over a basin or large tray to help contain the scraps. Hang your snowflakes up on the windowpanes with clear tape.
Make ornaments or present toppers out of pipe cleaners and colorful beads.
Polish the silver and brass. Use small rags for small hands and a paste of baking soda and lemon juice.
Clean the windows with a spray bottle of a vinegar/water solution and newspapers.
Paper plate ice skating. This works best on wall-to-wall carpeting. Just place each foot on its own paper plate, put on some cheesy music and move the coffee table to the side.
Make paper chains. Any color of construction paper will do or use old magazines. A glue stick works nicely.
Cut up stuff. Children are so curious about what it is like to cut fabric. Perhaps they've taken a swipe at their own shirt. It is fun to cut material, so bring out some worn out clothing and let them have at it!
My favorite idea: Centerpieces. Go outdoors with a laundry basket and collect greenery, pine cones, rocks and moss. Give each child his/her own large tray on which to create a natural landscape. One can add ornaments or a pillar candle. The centerpieces can be re-created each day if one wishes and because they are portable they can be whisked out of the way to make way for the turkey or game of Chutes and Ladders!
We at the Philomath Montessori School wish you all a wonderful Winter Break and a very happy holiday season.
Best regards,
Doni
String things! For the Christmas tree or for the birds outside, one can string popcorn and cranberries (fresh or dried) using a needle with a large eye and dental floss or sturdy thread. Don't be a hero. Use a needle threader. If you don't know how to use one, ask for a demo at the fabric store where you buy your needles. Even easier, string Cheerios or Froot Loops and you won't need a needle.
Cut paper snowflakes. I recommend doing this over a basin or large tray to help contain the scraps. Hang your snowflakes up on the windowpanes with clear tape.
Make ornaments or present toppers out of pipe cleaners and colorful beads.
Polish the silver and brass. Use small rags for small hands and a paste of baking soda and lemon juice.
Clean the windows with a spray bottle of a vinegar/water solution and newspapers.
Paper plate ice skating. This works best on wall-to-wall carpeting. Just place each foot on its own paper plate, put on some cheesy music and move the coffee table to the side.
Make paper chains. Any color of construction paper will do or use old magazines. A glue stick works nicely.
Cut up stuff. Children are so curious about what it is like to cut fabric. Perhaps they've taken a swipe at their own shirt. It is fun to cut material, so bring out some worn out clothing and let them have at it!
My favorite idea: Centerpieces. Go outdoors with a laundry basket and collect greenery, pine cones, rocks and moss. Give each child his/her own large tray on which to create a natural landscape. One can add ornaments or a pillar candle. The centerpieces can be re-created each day if one wishes and because they are portable they can be whisked out of the way to make way for the turkey or game of Chutes and Ladders!
We at the Philomath Montessori School wish you all a wonderful Winter Break and a very happy holiday season.
Best regards,
Doni
Friday, December 10, 2010
Sir Ken Robinson
He was the keynote speaker at a Montessori conference that we attended and somehow he was able to be both very funny and very profound.I was moved to blog about him today because one of our former parents (from way back) sent me the link to a recent video by him called Changing Education Paradigms: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDZFcDGpL4U
And then you'll want to watch his TED video which is very entertaining and yes, enlightening, too. http://www.ted.com/talks/ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity.html
Enjoy!
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Santa Lucia Day
Here at school, we are learning about Sweden. Our big celebration will be Santa Lucia Day, which traditionally ushers in the Christmas season in Sweden, Italy and Bavaria. Lucy was a devout Christian girl martyred by the Romans. Today the celebration is a joyful one. Many towns have pageants and contests to select the most worthy girl to represent Lucia. Most families call upon their eldest daughter. She rises early, dresses in a white gown with a red sash about the waist and wears an evergreen crown topped by glowing candles. She may be accompanied by junior attendants, the girls dressed similarly, the boys wearing a conical hat decorated with stars. "Lucia" serves her family a traditional bun called Lussekatte or "Lucy cats."
At school, Raine, who is our eldest girl, will be our Lucia girl. She will wear the traditional costume including a crown made by our very handy dad, Bill and she will serve buns baked by our domestic goddess mom, Barbara. We have been making blue and gold paper chains to adorn the classroom as well as cut paper snowflakes. The kids have been making the starboys' signature hats and star-topped wands, too. We will carry these as we dance in celebration of Sweden and Santa Lucia and Christmas.
Sweden is fascinating. We have told stories about life near the arctic circle and the cold and sparse population which is very similar to the northern Canadian experience. We studied Canada earlier in the year. We have told stories about hotels made of and furnished with ice, the artist Carl Larsson, Swedish gnomes called "tomte" and Vikings. We also discussed how Sweden enjoys a high standard of living including generous vacations and maternity leave, no slums, health care for all and the 50% taxes that pay for all that. Swedes are some of the most content people on earth and they also have a high level of democracy and civic involvement. Go Sweden!
At school, Raine, who is our eldest girl, will be our Lucia girl. She will wear the traditional costume including a crown made by our very handy dad, Bill and she will serve buns baked by our domestic goddess mom, Barbara. We have been making blue and gold paper chains to adorn the classroom as well as cut paper snowflakes. The kids have been making the starboys' signature hats and star-topped wands, too. We will carry these as we dance in celebration of Sweden and Santa Lucia and Christmas.
Sweden is fascinating. We have told stories about life near the arctic circle and the cold and sparse population which is very similar to the northern Canadian experience. We studied Canada earlier in the year. We have told stories about hotels made of and furnished with ice, the artist Carl Larsson, Swedish gnomes called "tomte" and Vikings. We also discussed how Sweden enjoys a high standard of living including generous vacations and maternity leave, no slums, health care for all and the 50% taxes that pay for all that. Swedes are some of the most content people on earth and they also have a high level of democracy and civic involvement. Go Sweden!
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